When a young English teacher watched the movie "3 Idiots" and learned about India’s Riverside School, she did something bold and reached out directly to its founder, Kiran Sethi. That led to Kate Hsu bringing the Design for Change (DFC) framework to Taiwan over a decade ago, with a mission to nurture empathy, creativity and grit in children.
But the road began with doubt. Returning to her own high school as a substitute teacher, Kate faced heavy pressure from parents and a system where good grades come first. A heartbreaking moment with a student made her realize that no single teacher can force a change. Today, with the classroom being reshaped by falling birth rates, rising anxiety and AI, many are asking what kind of education children truly need.
In this episode, hosts Dena and Howard sit down with Kate to talk about “defensive teaching,” how to build trust with worried parents and why being human matters more than ever in the age of AI.
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