Occupy Education

2011-11-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

Before we can talk about school reform or education revolution, everyone needs to first ask themselves...

"What is education?"

You may be surprised to hear the diversity of people's answers, but the basic idea shared by most is "a journey through which a person becomes prepared for successful adult life". And herein lies all the controversy. Because people just don't agree on what prepares individuals for successful adult lives, let alone how to achieve those goal. All we can do is articulate our opinions on these things and fight for our right to educate our own in the matter which we believe is ideal.

I personally believe that success is fulfillment & fidelity to your personal truth. This could look like anything... working on cars to pay for your family's life in the suburbs, living in a electricity-less shack in the woods with your garden and pet birds, or homemaking in a 3-story mansion overlooking the ocean. The end result doesn't matter. We all find fulfillment in different things. And that's just fine.

The next question is how to prepare our children for fulfillment & fidelity. I believe that with a strong sense of confidence, a deep connection to oneself & a general state of homeostasis, people are capable of doing anything to get where they need to go. I believe that undamaged people can learn whatever they need to learn, whenever they need to learn it. I believe that it is the pupil, not the teacher, who knows best for himself. I believe that their is not one thing that everyone needs to know & that your life starts NOW, regardless of your age.

So, how can we assist our children in discovering and achieving their goals? Simple... get out of their way. Children are born with the ability to sort out the world and their lives. Albert Einstein said...
"It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty."
And stimulation is sought after by confident children. If we are there to offer guidance & support when requested, this kids can do amazing things.

The challenge then becomes not breaking this confidence and connection with internal-motivation. The foundation for an educational foundation lies with respectful, tuned-in parenting. Then the teachers and mentors must continue to model respectful behavior by treating students as capable, well-meaning human beings with a lot to offer.

What would education look like without the damaging practices of compulsory attendance, coercion & top-down decision making? I know it sounds like a radical idea to most people, but it is founded in the research of many brilliant individuals. The not-so-new idea has proven effective without causing damaging chaos & unorganized anarchy through the lives of unschoolers, life-learners & democratic schoolers around the world. It looks like varied-size classes taught by people young and old, attended by students young and old. It looks like community centers where people meet to talk, create & play. It looks like decision making that includes ALL of the stakeholders. It looks like friendships and working partnerships between people from many walks of life, beliefs, lifestyles & ages. It looks like a musical written, directed, produced and preformed by a group of tweens. It looks like a girl spending days on end reading or playing Dungeons & Dragons. It looks like people starting businesses. It looks like whatever you make it. And it ends in people passionately alive, deeply in-tune, living the lives of their dreams.

That's my stance. I hope you see the beauty in what I'm suggesting & are inspired to contribute to the movement toward respectful, individualized & creative education.

I am Kaya Kirks, & I Occupy Education by pursuing, supporting & creating places for respectful, non-coercive learning.

Super Happy Fun Land

Occupy Education