This is a unique collection of leading examples of education grounded in alternative philosophies and cultures--from initiatives to create more democratic schools, through Quaker, Buddhist, Islamic, Montessori and Steiner/Waldorf schools, to Maori and First Nations education in Canada and Palestinian Jewish schools in Israel. Aimed at educational practitioners, leaders, and policy-makers in all types of educational settings, as well as academics and researchers, the book is a resource to help educators think creatively about education at a time when the need to find new ways to nurture spiritual and holistic growth and democratic citizenship has never been greater. After an introduction by Philip A. Woods & Glenys J. Woods, this book contains the following: (1) The K20 Model for Systemic Educational Change and Sustainability: Addressing Social Justice in Rural Schools and Implications for Educators in All Contexts (Mary John O'Hair & Leslie A. Williams & Scott Wilson & Perri Applegate); (2) Democratic Schools in Latin America? Lessons Learned from the Experiences in Nicaragua and Brazil (Silvina Gvirtz & Lucila Minvielle); (3) The Touching Example of Summerhill School (Ian Stronach & Heather Piper); (4) Quaker Schools in England: Offering a Vision of an Alternative Society (Helen Johnson); (5) A Buddhist Approach to Alternative Schooling: The Dharma School, Brighton, UK (Clive Erricker); (6) Islamic Schools in the US and Netherlands: Inhibiting or Enhancing Democratic Dispositions? (Michael Merry & Geert Driessen); (7) On Their Way Somewhere: Integrated Bilingual Palestinian Jewish Education in Israel (Zvi Bekerman); (8) "Alternative" Maori education? Talking Back/Talking Through Hegemonic Sites of Power (Hine Waitere & Marian Court); (9) Starting with the Land: Toward Indigenous Thought in Canadian Education (Celia Haig-Brown & John Hudson); (10) Montessori and Embodied Education (Kevin Rathunde); (11) Education for Freedom: The Goal of Steiner/Waldorf Schools (Martin Ashley); and (12) Pathways to Learning: Deepening Reflective Practice to Explore Democracy, Connectedness and Spirituality (Philip A. Woods & Glenys J. Woods).