Toward a Human Curriculum by Dr Dennis Dennenberg

We need heroes, individuals who can serve as examples. A hero or heroine has the ability to persevere, to overcome the hurdles which impede others. We look to heroes for inspiration and as role models; they help us to think in new ways and enrich our lives. They are in our past and present but are largely invisible to our children who primarily see and experience the latest kid-culture animated hero. We have lost much that is important in human terms and human perspectives as we have increasingly used cartoon figures and other gimmicks to reach and teach children. The author argues that authentic heroes are important for children, and he includes a number of suggestions for introducing heroes and their accomplishments.

The book has many examples and a starter list of Canadian and American heroes, lest we have forgotten.