There is a version of the hedonic treadmill in education too. It could be called the achievement treadmill. Educators feel pressure—along with their students—to chase an elusive image of the successful adult. The treadmill is powered by the promise (and veiled threat): The better students do at school, the better they will do in life! Progress is also measured by accomplishments and status. But here, it’s about constantly delivering more curriculum, always improving student grades, and implementing yet another education initiative. And, like the u-curve, even when students are successful academically, neither student nor educator may feel successful personally. There is always more to do. As a result, educator burnout is high, and more students than ever feel anxious and depressed. Getting off the achievement treadmill means doing different, instead of more. The Third Path encourages educators to rethink the what, how and why of education. It starts by clarifying that the curriculum (i.e., the what) shouldn’t be narrowly viewed as a series of tasks, initiatives, or checklists. It should be a flexible tool used to achieve the true goal of education (i.e., the why)—that of human development. In order to truly facilitate the unique development of each student, what matters most is how the curriculum is taught. The Third Path clarifies the how of education by emphasizing the critical importance of relationships, as well as outlining the Eight Conditions that support learning and development for every student.

Educator strategy guide condition 1: Safety -- Educator strategy guide condition 2: Regulation -- Educator guide condition 3: Belonging -- Educator guide condition 4: Positivity -- Educator guide condition 5: Engagement -- Educator guide condition 6: Identity -- Educator guide condition 7: Mastery -- Educator guide condition 8: Meaning.