Grauer 2025 Middle School Spelling Bee

In an age racing toward artificial intelligence, one of the most radical things a school can do is remain intensely human. Sometimes this means being a spiritual gangster.

I just read a new 57-page report on the health of our students—your children. What is it telling parents and teachers we need to do differently right now?

What if the classroom isn’t where human beings were meant to do most of their learning?

f you are new to this column, its purpose is to help make educating and raising kids more humanitarian and liberating. Today’s question: What if the people teaching our kids the most aren’t their teachers or parents—and aren’t experts at all?

The first day of school for the 2026-2027 school year on Tuesday, August 18, was filled with smiles and hugs as students greeted their friends and teachers. As classes began, teachers introduced new students, invited everyone to share stories about their summers, and shared syllabi and schedules. 

Grauer faculty and staff spent the day at Paradise Point in Mission Bay to build connections, overcome obstacles, and bond as a team. The group participated in a series of Survivor Team challenges where they had to work together to accomplish team goals.