Jim Greenman Remembered

“In every culture, childhood is a special time. It is perhaps the most powerful period of our lives. Our experiences form the foundation of what we become, the core of our being - our ability to learn, our sense of ourselves in relation to the world of nature, of people, of things. It is a time for powerful experiences that forever fuel the scientist, poet, artist, and creator within us,” wrote Jim Greenman in his classic book, Caring Spaces, Learning Places. Greenman, a champion for children and self-described ‘philosopher king’ passed away this day in 2009. Responding to the ExchangeEveryDay message announcing his passing, fellow Exchange Press author Margie Carter commented, "Jim's message about creating places for childhood has always kept me grounded in my work. His ideas and lyrical writing are needed more than ever in this time of standardizing and commercializing childhood. His passing leaves a big hole in our hearts and our professional landscape. Let's vow to quote him often and keep his message moving forward." Upon editing the updated version of Caring Spaces, Learning Places, Mike Lindstrom, an architect of children’s spaces wrote, “Jim Greenman was a designer, philosopher, and provocateur, but he was first and foremost a teacher. His teachings and insights live on through his writing, and while I was stunned at how up-to-date and pertinent Caring Spaces remains, I shouldn’t have been. After all, I use things that Jim taught me every day.” Bright Horizons, where Greenman worked for many years has released a new short documentary for those wanting to learn about and celebrate Greenman’s legacy.

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