Many people have expressed ideas on how to improve education. These views often assume students are either the products or consumers of the education system. Russell Brown challenges these assumptions. He points out that their use is akin to constructing a building that fails to take into account the soil upon which it rests, resulting in structural failure. The failure happens because considering students as products or consumers results in their agency, ownership and responsibility for their education being stripped away. A better approach is to view students as clients. By seeing students in this light, richer and more innovative policies can be implemented that acknowledge students as agents in their education as opposed to the results of a market-driven industrial process. Russell Brown is a veteran teacher who currently teaches social studies at Poudre High School (Fort Collins, CO). He was also part of the founding team and is a current board member of Compass Community Collaborative School (Fort Collins, CO). His articles have appeared in Phi Delta Kappan, Principal Leadership, American Diplomacy, and The American Historian. Among the awards he has received include: a commendation from State of Colorado House of Representatives (2017), the Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History for Colorado (2014), and the Poudre School District Excellence in Education Award (2008). However, the greatest honor he has received has come from those students who have maintained contact with him after graduation, resulting in many deep friendships. In addition, he has the incredible distinction of being the officiant for the weddings of sixteen former students (and counting). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
Many people have expressed ideas on how to improve education. These views often assume students are either the products or consumers of the education system. Russell Brown challenges these assumptions. He points out that their use is akin to constructing a building that fails to take into account the soil upon which it rests, resulting in structural failure. The failure happens because considering students as products or consumers results in their agency, ownership and responsibility for their education being stripped away. A better approach is to view students as clients. By seeing students in this light, richer and more innovative policies can be implemented that acknowledge students as agents in their education as opposed to the results of a market-driven industrial process. Russell Brown is a veteran teacher who currently teaches social studies at Poudre High School (Fort Collins, CO). He was also part of the founding team and is a current board member of Compass Community Collaborative School (Fort Collins, CO). His articles have appeared in Phi Delta Kappan, Principal Leadership, American Diplomacy, and The American Historian. Among the awards he has received include: a commendation from State of Colorado House of Representatives (2017), the Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Teacher of American History for Colorado (2014), and the Poudre School District Excellence in Education Award (2008). However, the greatest honor he has received has come from those students who have maintained contact with him after graduation, resulting in many deep friendships. In addition, he has the incredible distinction of being the officiant for the weddings of sixteen former students (and counting). This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
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