Education – Freedom – Choice

 

Education – Freedom – Choice

Education

When I was at school, at times when I found myself feeling very upset I was fortunate to have some lovely nurturing and kind teachers. Now I am eternally grateful for all the love and support that they gave to me.

There were also cruel teachers too who would stand you in front of the class and humiliate you with a ruler over the back of your hand. Simply because, when with a respectful hand over your mouth as you had been taught by your elders, the teacher rapped hard. Because you were coughing… Yes the irony of child abuse then as now is not lost on me as I write.

In fact the more I write the more I realise that this post has a flow entirely of it’s own from source. Because it is not quite how I set out to write today. I am remembering those childhood days. The great days of freedom, tree climbing, hopscotch, skipping, playing ball in the back yard, annual holidays by the sea… Those memories remain strong and true. The tainted memories long forgiven.

For the generations that have followed me I have seen and felt through personal experiences with my own children the destruction of our education system. Especially since the year 2000.

Faith

I am very passionate about education and the welfare of children. I believe children need spontaneity, creativity and freedom so that they may grow and blossom into who they truly are. And become who they came here to BE.

Freedom

I remember in my teens seeing a programme about a free-flowing school, Summerhill. And feeling how great it must be to go there.

While Summerhill School still thrives almost one hundred years on it can be replicated across the land. There are Montesoori schools which regognise an individuals thirst for knowledge, emphasising independance and freedom of choice. Also Home Education is preferred by many who actually seek to create a rounded learning environment at home and in the community for their children. Similarly covering all styles of learning eg; unschooling, structured and semi-structured. Unschooling means to follow a child’s leaning interests. The idea being that this way of learning is far better because children are actively interested in learning.

Following leaning interests is something I absolutely agree with otherwise children’s creativity and their ‘whole be-ing’ is simply stifled. As mine was. Today I recognise myself as a visual learner. Something not spoken of back then.

Back to my school days and not afraid to say. I struggled greatly with written exams gaining as little as 4% in some subjects whilst gaining 100% in practical exams. Written exams are simply a way of recording information on that day. Grades C in GCSE English language and 4 in CSE English, a 3 in Mathematics etc… wondering what sort of a job would those grades be acceptable for when I had been told women only really went into nursing, banking or secretarial work.

Trust

Being sensitive’s in essence we humans are not always in that place where specific information can flow through in that moment. Because we may be in a state of nervousness, or anxiety. We may be having any manner of feelings that would block memory flow in that particular space in time.

We all learn in different ways. And there are masses of people like myself who struggle with ‘academia’. Therefore having freedom of ‘how’ we learn is imperative so that everyone has a chance in life to flourish into the uniquely talented individuals that we are.

Choice

BE mindful in these times of Choice we all find ourselves in.

Show compassion for those who learn in a different way to us. Allow them the time to share what they have to say too, and without ridicule or judgement. We all learn from each other. Why not challenge yourself to find something new to learn from everyone who’s thoughts, beliefs, ways of working and communicating are different to your own?

I never realised until in recent years when I discovered my ‘human’ side just how little my school years had taught me about real life. Some of the insanity and suppression that goes on throughout the education system and in other organisations have come into my mind. Though as we move on in forgiveness I realise this is simply further releasing needed by my soul. Releasing to be acknowledged and let go of so as to allow more healing to come in.

I follow my own sense of knowing. Some may call this gut feeling. Never wrong on the odd occasion when I followed what others thought was best and went against my own inner knowing… And yes some big challenging lessons learnt there!

Believe

Never knowing that I had a creative side until I turned 50 years, I choose out of the blue to do a DIY job on a new home. Amazed. And remain so about my own mainly self taught talents and abilities as I continue to learn and do more!

I chose through my own sense of knowing, perseverance and my innate abilities. On leaving school I became a successful manager in retail for 5 years. After which I stayed home a while with my three beautiful children. Today, and yes with those grades, I have given talks at the House of Commons; NHS training days; Union meetings; Holistic Health events. I’m a self-published author of two books and a deck of positivity cards; a soul guide mentor; swimming teacher; health and wellbeing / mental health / education advocate; Mrs DIY!

Learning every day. I know there is so much more to come. Yet whilst my work with others is deep and profound it’s also full of fun and laughter. We learn so much more through our feelings and self-discovery.

http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/

http://www.home-education.org.uk/

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