Archive for March, 2008
* Haunting strings
Posted on March 25th, 2008 by jill. Filed under Poems.
Ich bin Kunstler baby.
Like Hitler I went to Berlin
to seek my fortune.
On my return I stood
barefoot and bereft
on Mariahilferstrasse.Jagged faces smile out at me
like eerie death masks,
bruised by my fingers
around their necks.
I stroke my chin, for I remember
making each one take a shovel
and dig the bodies well in.
Like a threatening old lady
defending your inheritance with each breath,
once her lifeless corpse
lies on the slab
we can laugh and toast
the old Reaper in.
I tear off the last rings
from her fingers,
gaze at the ostentation
in her still steely face,
dance round in the wake,
perhaps in irony, the waltzing steps
you taught me; and though
I never liked that kind of music
when I was young,
I press repeat, and your haunting strings
Play on and on.
Related posts
* Are Embryos Life?
Posted on March 25th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
The difficulty we’re experiencing deciding whether or not we can use empryos as we want expresses perfectly the difficulty we have in the Western world in determining what status to attribute to embryo material in terms of life. since God created man to hold dominion over every beast which crawleth and what not, we have had a distinction between lower and higher forms of life. Man is, of course, at the very top, at the right hand of God himself. Woman comes quite a bit further down, with cattle and other clean animals which can be made use of. Male babies if they can be shown to be genuinely of the father’s sperm are later, and girl babies a long way below. Unclean animals, crawlie things and so on come down the line. trees were way down, and many civilisations destroyed vast regions of forest to wage wars and so on, leaving the Sahara desert in their wake.
Darwin challenged this, suggesting that God seemed to be, in fact, ‘inordinately fond of beetles’. In terms of sustainability, probably trees are quite high on the agenda, along with other life-sustaining aspects of life on earth. Sustainable thinkers, whilst holding high hopes for mankind to see the light in time to save himself (and herself), view life as being the key issue, life itself. More complex life-forms have developed to process life itself more efficiently. what is important is sustaining life.Modern science, like Buddhism, sees life on earht in a holistic sense.
On a moral level, the important thing is happiness, and of course health is part of happiness. Sustaining life, and promoting the genuine happiness of individuals, is the basis of Buddhism. Since embryos are not yet fully developed into concious and independant beings, they do not have as yet a sense of their own happiness. You cannot make an embryo happy. Stem cell research which may indeed solve health crises in those now living seems therefore to accord with Buddhist thinking.
Why then does it feel so ghastly to the instinct?
Tags: Art, Buddhism, embryos, Genesis, God, Gordon Brown, jill, life, Sea, stem cell research, WarRelated posts
* Soka Education - Humanitarian education for the new century
Posted on March 25th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
Although many people consider themselves to be Soka Educators, there’s no qualification or obvious signifier which identifies an individual pedagogue as a Soka Educator. “Soka” means value creation, and the basic humanistic principle of Soka Education is that human beings always and necessarily have the potential to create value, and that fulfilling our potential to create value in our own way is what makes us happy. The difference in the Soka educator is that we believe in the intrinsic capacity of each child to be themselves better than anyone, and we respect them for who they are in themselves.
The idea of value-creating education was first formed by the Japanese educator Tsunesaburo Makiguchi (1871-1944) as a response to the trend in education at the time to train the children to be war-machines for the fatherland. Makiguchi had already written a (later) influential book “The Geography of Human Life”, showing the need for critical thinking and creativity to enable the individual to fully contribute to a free society. He had been strongly influenced by the American educator John Dewey whom he had seen speak in Tokyo, but the expansion of thought in Japan was seriously arrested by the increasing militarism which came to engulf all society and led to the terrible experience of war in China, and then the World War which culminated in the disaster of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. By this time Makiguchi had died in prison, where he had been taken for refusing to compromise on his pacifist beliefs, by now strengthened by his practice of Nichiren Buddhism.
His beliefs were continued by Josei Toda, also a teacher who had worked for many years alongside with Mr Makiguchi, had become a Buddhist with him, considered him to be his master in faith, and had gone to prison for also standing up against Japanese militarization of religion. Josie Toda went on after the war to reform the lay Buddhist organisation Soka Gakkai, extending its reach beyond only educational philosophy into all walks of life, and helping many people struggling to recover their lives in the devastation of post-war Japan. It was the current President of Soka Gakkai International, Daisaku ikeda, who has established the Soka Universities and encouraged the activities of educators within the Soka Gakkai.
So Soka education is broadly based on the Buddhist belief in the intrinsic value of and respect for all life and for each individual, and the Soka teacher bases his pedagogy on his Buddhist practice, challenging issues which arise by referring back to our Buddhist faith. There is no strict code of practise for the Soka educator, as the style of teaching will depend on the situation faced within the educational environment. The main thing is the unique importance of each individual child, and the refusal to make use of the child’s individuality for an external purpose, such as grades or the needs of employers. Each child is valuable in his or her own right.
Of course the Soka environment is notably happy and relaxed and the children have confidence and highly developed questioning and communication skills. The reputation of the highest achievers in the Soka Universities is beginning to serve as a testimonial to the success of this educational practice. However Soka educators are to be found all around the world, in the Makiguchi Project in Action in Sao Paulo, Brazil*, as well as in Malaysian kindergartens, applying effective solutions to areas with grave social and economic problems.
I first came across Makiguchi when I was training to be a teacher, and studied him in more depth as part of post-graduate research on classroom behaviour. The Soka method has comparisons in the systemic theory of education which is also having dramatic effects in problem classroom areas, and which is gaining respect in many circles at this time. Gregory Bateson (1904 -1980), who started the whole systemic theory, drew on the Buddhist ideas prevalent in Hawaii when he lived there. (G. Bateson “Steps to an Ecology of Mind” New York Chandler 1972; Molnar and Linquist, “Changing Problem Behaviour in Schools” Jossey Bass 1989). By applying his basic principles in the classroom, I was able to solve the problems of motivation, self-esteem and disruptive behaviour exhibited by my classes and lead them to begin to enjoy learning and start to think more as “global citizens”. but the reason I originally liked Makiguchi came when I read that when the poor children arrived from the frosty streets in the morning, Makiguchi had lit the stove and prepared hot soup for his pupils to eat as they dried their socks on the stove. The Soka Educator is first and foremost a caring human being and a fine example to his students.
Since 2005, Soka Educators worldwide have expressed their views and shared their findings on the international forum confernces which you can find through the link below or contact Stephanie at tansey@usa.net at the website http://www.soka.ed.jp/kyoiku/k0004.html or see the latest newsletter below.
______________________________________________________________________________
Carl Rogers on Humanistic education article
Note 1. **Some background (Thank you to Kwabena Siaka from Earth Charter Communities Education Forum) I
‘The MIA effort in Brazil is widely supported by the communities they are involved in. Not because of any directed attempt by the members to spread the word, so to speak, but by the participants and administrators of the schools in which they have or are working with. Schools contact them to ask for the MIA project to come to their schools. This process happens almost exclusively through word of mouth. The MIA program was also helped by a timely government initiative to help develop a more humanistic mode of teaching. It was felt by the new government that the traditional way of teaching was too narrow and that teachers should be reoriented to teach to the whole child. Therefore the government has initiated a requirement for teacher professional development of 2 hours a month, with pay. Furthermore, parents, who were excluded from the process, to a large extent before ( by the educational system) were not seen as a part of the solution. The relationship between teachers and parents could be characterized as quite hostile. This is not the case in MIA schools, today. Parents in the MIA program are welcomed and in fact, are given the same treatment, when possible, as the teachers. Parents involvement is seen as crucial to the long term impact and sustainability of the program. Family involvement (an important community factor) is a key element in Makiguchi’s paradigm.‘Classroom methods and process
The MIA approach is very subtle and very respectful. And at the same time very direct. During an art class session, for example, teachers are given an art project to work on individually. In one of the classes I visited, the project was to make a drawing, which they had to cut afterwards into a shape. Three to four assistance circulated around the class, encouraging and praising the participants (teachers) at various stages in the process. Parents were also welcomed to join the activity. Throughout the session (treatment) the lead moderator would quote something from the Buddhist perspective on life or teaching. There was no big lecture on teaching or anything of that sort. In fact, I was wondering when that would come. Instead, from time to time, the lead moderator would say something like this, “Every person is precious, each of us has a mission that only we can fulfill.” The content of these messages and the philosophical influences came from a variety of thinking such as Friere, Dewey, Jung, Ikeda, Toda, and Nichiren. The materials that the participants had at their disposal were kept to a minimum to encourage cooperation. The notion of interdependence was introduced in this way and a simple quote or comment was made to reinforce this point. No pressure or dictates were applied or given to the participants.‘Community involvement of non members
The interaction with the schools and the community is essentially a dialogical process. What I mean by this is that a process of negotiations (dialogue) begins as soon as a school contacts the program. The MIA have found that it is better to have a liaison situated within the school context. This key person helps facilitate the introduction of the program into the school “community”. Which includes the family as well. This person can advise the program on local concerns and customs. That is not to say that there is no resistance to the change. One of the common questions is “are you trying to covert us to Buddhism.” This question is dealt with head on by introducing the organization of SGI and its principles, goals and activities through a short 15 minute video followed by a question and answer session with the school community. This kind of dialogue continues throughout the project, which is conducted in four phases over a two year period, each phase lasts six months.’
Note 2
Related posts
* Ten Tips for Classroom Control
Posted on March 25th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
Ten teaching tips for classroom control1. Own the room. It is your classroom, the students are guests. Your actions should be relaxed and confident, as if you are in your own home. Students should be asked to look after the room, not make a mess, sit properly on the furniture, tidy up after themselves. Your room should be decorated with your stuff ie displays to do with your subject and interests, as well as the children’s own best work.
2. There should be a clearly delineated start to the lesson. Decide how you want to do this. Experienced teachers may be able to have a relaxed atmosphere, then clap their hands and say ‘OK class, let’s get started.’ It is best if you enter the classroom before the children, giving them permission to enter your space. Whole school policy may ask that the children stand until asked to sit. In difficult schools, there may be an introductory task on the board for the ‘good’ kids to do while the others get settled. Once started, there should be no interruptions. If a latecomer arrives, or someone wants to change seats, or loses their pencil, you can assure them you will deal with it later.
3. Attention span is 10 minutes plus their age, up to 20 minutes. So a 14 year old will be able to concentrate for up to 14 minutes. People can’t concentrate for longer. They will react passively or actively, either going to sleep, drifting off or drawing, or talking to friends, calling out, dropping pencils, throwing planes round or some other diversion technique. It’s your fault: you’ve gone on for too long. Activities should last 10 - 15 minutes. You can have two or three different activities, but you must break it up. Working on their own or in groups can be for longer, because they will find their own breaks.
4. If you are boring, they will be bored. Become a personality so that when they see you, they will think about whatever it is you’re trying to teach them. What do you remember about your best teachers? My maths teacher had eyebrows shaped like Isosceles triangles. That’s the one with two sides the same lengths and two angles the same.
5. Everyone has a dominant learning style: visual, audio or kinaesthetic. You need to find out which of these learning styles a student has. If they look to the side, towards their ear, or close their eyes, they are audio. These students will listen to you. If they look up and to the right when you ask them a question, they are visual. You must provide a visual way for them to understand what you are saying. If they are kinaesthetic, they will have to move. If they can learn by movement, by signs, by drawing diagrams, by games involving movement and coming to the board, perhaps with the electronic whiteboard, they can keep up. Many children who have problems in schools are kinaesthetic learners. Most kinaesthetic learners are boys. If you don’t provide the right sort of learning opportunity and they don’t learn, it isn’t their fault, it’s yours. You must teach according to their learning style.
6. Lessons should be planned to progress: introduction which doesn’t give all the game away but tells them exactly what they can expect. What is the aim of the lesson? Write it on the board. The plenary should be a reminder of where you’ve got to, or a way of presenting the question you are intending to solve this lesson.
7. Teach one point at a time. Think what you want them to come away with. Even if it’s quite simple, it will be new to them. They will have to hear it nine times before they remember it.
8. Short term memory last three days, after which it will disappear unless reinforced. Do homework set between lessons, or a lunchtime club, mention it if they’re in your tutor group or you see them doing sport. Every time they see you they will think of it, so be around.
9. At the end of the lesson, the Plenary can check their understanding. Ask to give a signal, thumbs up for ‘yes I’ve got it’ horizontal thumb for ‘er I think I understand’, down thumb for ‘have I woken up too late for school, Mum?’ this should inform your next lesson plan. If lots of them didn’t get it, reassure them that you’ll explain it in a different way next time.
10. Take responsibility for their understanding. You are the teacher. If you have interested them, explained everything in a way which is appropriate and clear to them, set interesting and exciting work, and followed up with a fatherly care, they will lead a great life of success. If you fail, they will fail. You can’t let that happen. Keep finding ways to improve as a teacher. You’re the greatest! If you’ve read this far, well done. You’ve proved how good a teacher you are because you care.Good luck with all the lives in your hands.
Jill Rees
Related posts
* Crucifying God Again
Posted on March 20th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
A waitress flicks cigarette ash off the table
thoughtlessly, as you and only you
are able, Vienna, to act
consistently without thought, clearing your streets
of vermin, and believe you are doing
what is right. She knocks my newspaper
to the floor.In the train, the waiter too,
put his fingers into your tea to amend
the recklessness with which you had arranged
your tea bag, and the obliviousness
with which these interferences arise
is terrifying.
A Jew, you defend
Clearing the streets of beggars and Roma,
oblivious too, because that’s what you do.
The shuffling wrapped lady with her borrowed baby
led off by three armed policemen and two nuns.
Immigrants selling the Big Issue, a Turkish boy
beaten up in the school yard with the teacher
looking on, and constantly the clarrion call
to clean up, clear up, lift the corners of the rug
and brush the dark secrets under.
I stood bewundert by the Stephansdom, and only I
could hear the sky split in terrifying thunder
as God is crucified over and over.
Related posts
* Worthy representatives?
Posted on March 19th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
It wasn’t a great surprise to me that Florida was yet again incapable of holding a legal election for the primaries. It seems someone made the decision that the Florida poll should take place ahead of the others, which is outside the rules of the election system, so Florida’s vote will be invalid. To organise an election within the clearly stated and well-established rules seems to be quite beyond the Democratic Party. Ho could this happen? According to the Conspirators’ motto, we should be asking ourselves, ‘Who benefits?’ The Democrats have made themselves look like an incompetent Party who has little respect for the electorate. This is potentially a large vote loss for the Party during the election itself, whichever candidate wins the nomination. Democrats fear that, come the Presidential election, many Democrats in Florida will be too disillusioned to vote, giving a greater chance of success to the Republican candidate. The Democrats may be shooting themselves in the foot.
In the Presidential elections of 2000, the Democratic rival to George Bush, Al Gore, won the popular vote but, because of irregularities in Florida, many of his votes were discredited, allowing the present incumbent to enter the Whitehouse, with the disastrous consequences the world is suffering today. George Bush’ refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol and reduce US emissions has enabled Climatic disaster to continue on a global scale. The increasing support for oil producing regimes, interference in democracy in South America, warmongering with China and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan that can be for no other reason I can see but to maintain the US weapons industry. The world’s citizens now live in a general fear of what America does next. When you see the subsequent influence, intelligence and moral rectitude of Al Gore’s recent work for ecological action, you just weep at the thought of what might have been.
Whatever George Bush’ weaknesses, at least he’s got contacts in the Arab world. This new Republican candidate is not likely to be any better and might be a lot worse. It will require more than a fair campaign to get him elected. This may, however, be the plan. Usually with Republican Presidents you get the strong feeling that they don’t really know what’s going on, but that they are just the patsy for the dark forces who really run America. With Democrat Presidents, on the other hand, the back room men are conspire and plot to block all their initiatives and re-establish the status quo. As E.M. Forster said, ‘Two cheers for democracy’.
If there is a Democratic President this time, there is plenty of scope for bullying tactics, for it will be either a woman or a black man, both types no stranger to attempts to ride roughshod over their opinions. Instead of the back room guys being the main obstacle to the Presidential projects, the President will be more like the obstacle to their plans for the 21st Century international redeemer America.
Inevitably, it seems people behind the scenes are the ones who are really running the scene. In Kenya it turns out that, far from being a sporadic response to the elections, the first attacks on the Kikuyu community of President Mwai Kibaki were well-organised reprisals on rival groups. There are calls for those who organised the original attacks to be prosecuted forcausing the death of 1,500 people. These secretly organised events employ ‘Rent-a-mob’, people who can be called upon to turn up for some ostensibly genuine protest. Whenever Sadam Hussein turned up in public followed by a pack of frenzied followers, the TV used to comment that they were his relatives, or people paid to turn out for him. Everything is a kind of movie nowadays, directed by unscrupulous individuals with their own agenda.
Elections in the more established democracies are proving to be increasingly problematic. Though usually fair and legal, there is increasing dissatisfaction among voters. Young people, in particular, aren’t bothering to use their vote. The last two elections in the UK had less than 65% turnout, only 56% among young men. The reasons cited are varied and depend on circumstances locally. People in areas of high employment and greater social stability tend to vote less. Stability tends to lead to voter apathy. Where there is an important local issue, or a national crisis, turnout increase. Voters may feel that their vote won’t count, for example where there is a long-standing popular candidate and the result seems to be a foregone conclusion. This seems fairly normal and harmless. More disturbingly, young people often don’t bother to register to vote, and this is also prevalent among ethnic minorities. These groups of people don’t think there is anyone in politics who can represent them.
If you are a poor black working class person in the US, can any of the candidates really represent you? Until the recent poll in Nevada, there was no real race split in the voting. Working class people tended to like both candidates, with some men expressing concern about a female president as a reason to favour Obama. Obama is so intelligent, worldly-wise, in every way the best candidate, and is increasingly in the lead for the popular nomination. In the world generally, his race will stand in his favour, especially as the next President will have to repair the damage the present administration has created in the world. In truth, however, he is not so much different. The policies of Obama and Clinton differ little from al the other Democratic candidates, and Democrat politicians. Although the skin of one is dark, the gender of the other feminine, they aren’t typical Americans, and they don’t represent the American myth that everyone has equal opportunity, if only they could manage to get a break. Both middle-class, from advantaged homes and with elite education, they will back the interests of the white middle class, like politicians always do.
Because everything is a movie now, we can feel hope and excitement about these unusual-looking candidates. it looks good on the screens of our TVs, which is where today’s reality is played out. But the sad, cynical truth is that everyone who grapples their way into any position of power or influence, supports the global capitalist system which has led to the dramatic widening of an already appalling poverty gap in the last 40 years .
Currently a fifth of the world’s population live below the official poverty line in their respective countries. It is estimated that 18 million people, mostly children, die each year from poverty related illnesses. Poor Americans are included in this, white as well as black. The number of extremely rich people has also increased dramatically, as if the money is being transferred from the poor to the rich, and indeed this is what is happening, and is the true meaning and the true cost of global capitalism. Neither Obama nor Clinton seem even aware of the increasing wretchedness of the world’s peoples. Yet the poor will vote, because where there is life there is hope, and where there is high mortality rates, there is even more hope, for hope is the only secure possession the world’s poor has, when no politician exists who claims to represent them.
© Jill Rees
19 March 2008
1217 words
Tags: Art, home, jill, jill, money, pet, Politics, War, WorkRelated posts
* Seeking To Build A Community of Life Through Humanistic Education - SEIN Newsletter Volume VI, Issue 1 Sustainable Education Solutions by Jill Rees
Posted on March 16th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
Seeking To Build A Community of Life Through Humanistic Education - SEIN Newsletter Volume VI, Issue 1 Sustainable Education Solutions by Jill Rees
In 2003, I was working as Head of Department at a school, in a depressing run-down town in the UK, which had just failed its inspection and was now in special measures. This was great for me, as it meant I could set up the department as I saw fit. The teachers were all new, and it was my responsibility to train them. Also, the government had just brought in two new initiatives which were fantastic, the National Framework and the Key Stage 3 Strategy. I had been teaching for 3 years, and was beginning to feel I knew what I was doing.
I had been to six-monthly sessions with the UK Soka Education Division at our national centre, Taplow Court, and had read the online Soka Education Newsletter. As I understood it, Soka education meant respecting each individual and adopting as the primary aim of education the happiness of each child. Of course, happiness is a difficult thing to define, and is different for each person, but it certainly involves following Sensei’s guidance about doing your best and determining to have victory in everything you set out to achieve. To transmit this attitude to the children in this under-performing school, most of whom were without ambition and often with little self-esteem, seemed difficult. Some of the children came from very poor and sometimes violent and abusive backgrounds. Their academic ambitions were slight, and their belief that they could make a happy and successful life for themselves non-existent. Unemployment in the area meant that opportunities for them were slim.
My department became the key to the whole school. I encouraged my teachers to work as a team by explaining about itai doshin and chanting for 2 hours each morning before work. Among other community based activities, I established an annual trip to France, to which over 80% of the year sevens subscribed, and a French exchange in liaison with the local partner school. My department led the next Government Inspection, in which the teachers were judged ‘excellent’, which is quite rare. The students showed great enthusiasm for learning languages, which is almost unheard of in British schools.
Late in 2003, I was offered the opportunity to take a Master’s degree as part of my school professional development, which would mean I didn’t have to pay! For the second part of this degree, I studied the systemic theory of education, which struck me as being essentially Buddhist. The principle of the systemic theory is that everything is interconnected, so if you change one part the whole changes, like a fisherman’s net. I felt I could attempt to establish Soka Education in my department by using some of the systemic ideas. I started using the systemic method with my classes, with good results.
When you teach systemically, your actions as a teacher are based on the idea that the class is a system, and other often unknown areas of the students’ lives are also affecting them; for example their home life, their other lessons, the ethos of the school, and their social experiences. If a child is under-performing, is demotivated, is misbehaving or is unhappy in the lesson, it is not seen as a fault in the child. Instead, a change within the holistic system is required. The child continues to be completely respected for themselves as they are, and the cause of problems seen as being systemic rather than the fault of the student. The teacher is always able to change, however, as is their own behaviour, and this will affect the whole class and each individual child. The teacher needs to work out the cause of the problem, and find a suitable solution. This isn’t always possible, as the teacher is lacking information, or hasn’t been able to perceive the true nature of the problem. However, any change in the teacher’s behaviour will then change the student’s behaviour. Either the problem will be solved, or it will change so that the teacher can get a better idea of what is going on. The teacher takes full responsibility for the problem and sets about changing the situation using the principles of Buddhist practice. By increasing one’s life-state, understanding and robustness to deal with the difficulties we face in teaching, the teacher can affect humanistic solutions.
I realized that these are Buddhist ideas, of cause and effect, of ichinen sanzen, and the interconnectivity of all phenomena. So, by creating systemic changes in the classroom, I was able to engage everyone and felt that each student was acting how they wanted to and taking control of their own way of learning. At first, however, I didn’t understand how this really worked. What was happening that enabled children with quite serious problems to become happy and to find confidence in their ability such that their assessment results improved so much? I felt this was beyond the scope of the systemic method I was using, that they had missed something.
The Soka Educators International Network (SEIN) forum is about humanistic and caring education. As I participated in such discussions with educators throughout the world, and chanted to find the deeper causes in what I was doing, I began to realize that something else was going on. By accepting each child as an essential part of the ’system’ - the class, as they are, and changing myself or the circumstances they were in rather than trying to change the child, I was actually deeply respecting and caring for each child’s life. I took full responsibility for their happiness and their learning in my class, and was willing immediately to do whatever I could to enable them to be more themselves. I had been able to discover in myself my fundamental respect for my students.
In trials in other schools, which I was studying as part of my degree, teachers and school managers had begun to apply systems theory, but had usually given up at a certain point. The view of the academics was that they hadn’t been able to take on board the philosophy behind systems theory, which is very profound and all-encompassing. However, I felt that it went further. The underlying principle of systems theory is Buddhism. The developers of systems theory had found truths which they were unable to access more profoundly because the Buddhist principles which understood the importance of enabling each individual to live an amazing life and develop his or her full potential were misunderstood. Before I went to work, I would chant to enable each child to be happy as if they were members of my district. The students were encouraged to think of themselves as the foundation of the society of the future. I would take time to explain that they would be the people who decide what the world will be like. They came to think of themselves as more connected to life outside school, and to think more positively about what they will do in the future. If they had difficult circumstances at home, I would encourage them to realize that they will one day be able to set up their own home, which could be a good one full of love. I began to introduce some of Sensei’s guidance for young people into my assemblies, and was amazed at how the naughtiest boys listened so carefully to guidance to work hard, do their homework and change society for the better. (They didn’t actually do their homework, thank goodness, or I might have died of shock!)
Many of the students changed their attitudes in other classes too, and teachers reported to me that such-and-such a child had stopped messing about and started working. The results were really miraculous. However there were other consequences. The children became used to speaking out, to being listened to, and to their questions being answered. Some teachers found this very challenging. At this point, the Soka teacher may face obstacles. These obstacles are proof that we are humanizing our part of education. They are the ‘persecutions of the votary’ which try to prevent humanism and enlightenment from spreading and which therefore impede Kosen Rufu.
As Nichiren wrote in The Opening of the Eyes: “But if I utter so much as a word concerning it, then parents, brothers, and teachers will surely censure me, and the ruler of the nation will take steps against me. On the other hand, I am fully aware that but if I do not speak out, I will be lacking in compassion, p.64….
I have considered which course to take in the light of the teachings of the Lotus and Nirvana sutras. If I remain silent, I may escape persecutions in this lifetime, but in my next life I will most certainly fall into the hell of incessant suffering. If I speak out, I am fully aware that I will have to contend with the three obstacles and four devils. But of these two courses, surely the latter is the one to choose.” Page 239 The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin.
The stark choice facing Soka educators today is whether to continue resolutely with faith, until the victory of humanistic schools is achieved, or to give up on Sensei’s vision in the educational aspect of Kosen Rufu. Time and time again I have heard Soka educators tell me how they found obstructions in their attempts to introduce humanism in their school, and how they fought to overcome them. Victory is our continued struggle - the actualization of Kosen Rufu in education may lie in the eventual actions of our students in the future, but for them, we must carry on. Every time we deal in a humanistic way with a child is a victory for kosen rufu and a cause for a more humanistic education in the future.
Before I left my last school, the children in my class decided that when they were adults, they would work in their children’s schools to recreate what they had experienced with me. Some of these will be leaders of education, and it is certain that schools will change when our students in turn make this sort of vow.
In systemic theory, it is advised that the whole school adopt the method. Authority over a class is based on soft power and may be mistaken for loss of control by traditional teachers. The child too may take time to change. Sometimes, children have lost confidence in teachers’ desire to genuinely have their interests to heart. It may be that a child doesn’t change in the way you hope, but you have to accept the decision the child makes as he or she becomes more self-aware. The children are beginning to create value, and where value is not the school’s aim, the value created may be to change certain aspects of the school. If the whole school was systemic, these ideas would be listened to, and a co-operative environment established. Because the class and the school is part of the wider community, I began to understand that a truly systemic education would involve more than just the school itself. Systemic education is often called sustainable education, and can be an essential part of our attempt to make life on earth more sustainable.
As I was beginning to have these thoughts, the SEIN Forum returned, this time discussing the Earth Charter. At the same time, my Head Quarters put on the Earth Charter Exhibition and I took an active part in this. This enlarging of my understanding of the role I might play in the world led me to feel I had a global mission, just as Sensei says! I am in the process of designing a programme for teacher training which I hope will be used throughout both the developing world, where the method can help set up in new schools, and in the first world where changes are also needed for the new world of the future. Systemic, or sustainable education, is a way to implement Soka education principles and methods within current educational institutions. It can be an instruction manual for how to actualize the happiness of each child.
Buddhism in society through the medium of education, which is the one of the key remits of SGI. Sustainable education will be used as a humanistic method of education which creates collaborative learning for the modern world, and just as soft power has taken over from hard power practices, systems theory will become increasingly accepted in the mainstream. This type of method also can serve well in places where Soka schools are not yet an option, and can be introduced immediately by Buddhist educators wherever they may work. It has academic credence and is secular, although based on Buddhist principles. For the individual teacher, using the systemic method in the classroom transforms the attitude of the students and makes teaching a joy once more.
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* التربية بين السياسة و الفلسفة
Posted on March 16th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
التربية بين السياسة و الفلسفة
التربية مسألة مشبوهة و غير مريحة في وقتنا الراهن ، لأنها إذ تستهدف خلق المواطن ، نجده مرتبطا بالأزمنة البطولية مثل زمن الثورة ، حيث يكون للإنسان الأعلى تجل فريد . إن مفهوم المواطن يحمل ذكرى عصر أسطوري فلا نجد له إحالة صلبة . و لم تعد المواطنة التزاما سياسيا يخدم قضية أو يعبر عن واجب ، فهذا المفهوم كذلك لم يوضع لتتداوله الأيام العادية ، لذلك ليس له تجسيد في العمل اليومي أو حتى في العلاقات الخاصة ، العائلية و الودية . إنه في أزمنة الحرب أقحم مفهوم المواطن . في هذا الوجود العادي و الخطير ، الذي يهدد كلية المجتمع دعا الفرد إلى الانتماء للدولة ، و في هذه الشروط بالذات ستكون المواطنة موضوعا للاحتفال ، مثل الثورة تماما .
ثم تأتي الدولة كنظام للسلطة حاضر بقوة في حياة كل فرد ، فنتساءل أليس من حقنا حماية أنفسنا و استقلاليتنا ، بأن نحتفظ بمسافة متاحة لنا كأحرار ، و ندعم يقظة الروح النقدية فينا اتجاه هذه السلطة . أليست التربية على المواطنة تضحية بالحرية الفردية في سبيل الوحدة الوطنية التي خرجت منها جميع النزعات الوطنية ؟
هذه الأسئلة تزداد تعقيدا إذا لم تتبدى خلفية الدولة الفكرية ، فتغدو مجهولة الوسم ، و مسيرة من طرف أناس لهم مصالح . و إذا تمكن هؤلاء الناس ، إن سمح لهم ، أن يفرضوا سيطرة طبقتهم علم الطبقات الاجتماعية الأخرى ، فإن تربية المواطن ستكون مجرد خداع منهم ، ووهما لمتلقيها . سيتجلى هذا الوهم و يتضخم ، إن تم الاعتراف بامتيازات الأقلية .
دور التربية يعمل في هذه المستويات بالذات ، و إن كان لها دور في جعل الوضع مألوفا عند الجميع ، رغم رتابة الأيام و ارتفاع الضغط الناتج عن القسوة التي يعامل بها أفراد المجتمع في مؤسساتهم ، فإن إمكانية الأمل تنبثق على الدوام ، ما ينذر بأيام بطولية جديدة ، و عصور أسطورية و ذهبية واقعية لا ميتافيزيقية . العلم يقول بإمكانية علم غير عادي ، و الفلسفة تواجه جهلها بحقيقة الجوهر حين تواريه التراب لتعلن ميلاد حقائق جديدة . صرنا بعصر ذهب فيه الوضوح بنورنا ، و ما عدنا نرى و لا نميز ، اليأس و الإحباط و النجاة بالجلد مفاهيمنا المفضلة ، و هذه السنة السيئة سنتها تربينا و سياستنا و اجتماعنا و اقتصادنا .
سأحاول أن أهم بنقاش ينطلق من الوجهة المقابلة ، من الفلسفة التي تدعي بكل إمكانياتها ، قدرتها على تجاوز المأزق الإنساني الذي ألقى بأوربا في خندق الإمبريالية ، من الفلسفة الأمريكية التي تفتخر بإخلاصها لتاريخها الذرائعي من جيمس إلى ديوي و دافيدسن و كواين و بوتنام . يعتقد الفيلسوف رتشارد رورتي أن اللغة نجحت أخيرا في وعودها بمجتمع لا يعترف بغير الحب مقدسا ، و لا يسيء لأفراده بل يغدق عليهم بالحريات البورجوازية التي تليق بهم كوريثين لخير سلف ، مجتمع لا يعترف بالكهنة و لا بأي معتقد أو حقيقة نهائية أو معيار . الموجه الوحيد فيه هو تحسين حياة الناس الذين يتقاسمون الوطن الواحد و اللغة الواحدة .
نظر في المجتمع الأمريكي حيث انقسم الجمهور إلى يمين و يسار و بدأوا يتحدثون عن أفضل طريقة في التربية ، التقسيم سياسي و الأدوات فلسفية و الحلم كذلك . بالنسبة لليمين السياسي عندما يتحدث عن التربية ، فإنه يعطي الأولوية للصدق على كل ما عداه ، و يسمح للناس بتعداد ما يأخذون به من حقائق واضحة و مألوفة ، لكنهم يأسفون على عدم ترسخها في أذهان الصغار مدة طويلة على اعتبار أنها حكمة اتفاقية للمجتمع . أما اليسار السياسي، فيقدم الحرية على الصدق ، و يرى أن الحقائق التي يسمو بها اليمين كأساس صلب لكل اتفاق ، لابد و أن تقوض ، فهي نمط قديم من الفكر ، و علينا تخليص الجيل الجديد منها . الواقع أن المسألة ترجع لاختلاف نظري فلسفي حول طبيعة الصدق و الحرية ، فاليمين يعترف بأننا إذا أوتينا الصدق بلغنا الحرية ، أما اليسار فيعتقد أن الحرية السياسية و الاقتصادية .. تقود إلى الصدق و تصالح الإنسان مع ذاته . تصور اليمين زهدي أفلاطوني بالأساس ، و تصور اليسار اجتماعي سقراطي ، لذلك تحقيق الاستقلالية و الحرية لدى جمهور الأول يقضي بالتخلص من الخطيئة و التغلب على الانفعالات ، و بذلك نحقق تمدين النشء . أما التصور الثاني مع اليسار فيأملون في التغلب على الاتفاق و الحكم القبلي ، و يرون بأن قهر الانفعالات في الإنسان ما هو إلا تقوية للغرائز الصحية الحيوانية مما يؤدي إلى عزل النشء عن ذواتهم الحقة ، فالمجتمع حسب روسو و ماركس و نيتشه سالب للنشء من حريتهم و من إنسانيهم الجوهرية بجعلهم أتراسا متباعدة و آلة سوسيواقتصادية لا إنسانية . وظيفة التربية عند اليسار هي جعل النشء يستوعب أن عليه ألا يرضى بسيرورة الاستلاب التي يمارسها عليه التأنيس ، و الصدق هو ما سيعتقد فيه حين تزال قوى المجتمع القمعية .
إن كلا من اليسار و اليمين يتفقان بين تماهي الصدق و الحرية مع ما هو إنساني بالجوهر ، أما الاختلاف بينهما فيظهر من خلال إجابتهما عن الأسئلة التالية : هل الحاضر الاقتصادي و الاجتماعي مبني على المواءمة أكثر أو أقل مع الطبيعة ؟ هل الحاضر في كليته تحقيق للطاقات الإنسانية أو هدر لها ؟ هل إخضاع مجتمعنا للتثاقف ينتج الحرية أو الاستلاب ؟
يتفق اليمين مع اليسار على نطاق واسع حول المواضيع الفلسفية المجردة ، أما الاختلافات بينهما فهي سياسية . و حين يعتقد المحافظون أن الحاضر القائم و إن لم يكن مكتملا بما تحمل الكلمة من معنى ، فهو على الأقل أفضل من أي بديل يقدمه اليسار الراديكالي . و يعتقدون أن بعض الشعارات التقليدية لمجتمعنا و بعضا من حكمته الاتفاقية محددة للفعل ، لذلك فعلى التربية أن تركز على بعث ما يسمونه بالحقائق التقليدية لمجتمعنا . على العكس من ذلك يتقاسم اليسار الراديكالي مع فرانك لونتريكيا رأيه في أن المجتمع الذي نعيش فيه هو بالأساس غير معقول ، و بالتالي فإنهم يرون الحقائق الأساسية للمحافظين بمثابة ما يسميه فوكو بخطاب السلطة ، و يعتقدون أن الاستمرار في ترسيخ الحكمة الاتفاقية هو بمثابة خيانة للطلاب .
إن حسم هذا الجدل و التوتر وجد تعبيرا له في الديمقراطية الليبرالية ، فاتجه اليمين لمراقبة التعليم الأساسي و الثانوي . أما اليسار فيراقب بشكل تدريجي التعليم العالي غير المهني ، لذلك فالتربية إلى حدود سن التاسعة عشر هي في الغالب مسألة تأنيس ، بإرغام التلاميذ على ضمان الأخلاق و الحس المشترك السياسي للمجتمع كما هو ، لكن بعد استكمال عملية التأنيس لهذا الجيل يتم دفعه في اتجاه اليسار لجعل أفراده أكثر وعيا بالقسوة التي تمارس في مؤسساتنا . و بحاجتنا للإصلاح و التشكيك في الإجماع المتداول و تشجيعهم على النزعة السقراطية الشكية .
اضطرب كل من المحافظين و الراديكاليين بعد معرفتهم بأن التربية ليست سيرورة مستمرة من سن الخامسة إلى سن الثانية و العشرين ، و قد تجاهل كل منهما أن كلمة تربية تخفي خلفها سيرورتين متميزتين و ضروريتين في الوقت ذاته ، و هما : التأنيس و إضفاء التفرد ، و كلاهما يسقط في شرك التفكير بأن مجموعة من الأفكار يمكن أن توظف في التعليم الثانوي و الجامعي على حد سواء .
سعى الفيلسوف رورتي بعد مجموعة من التأويلات التي حصلها بعد إطلاعه على التصورين السياسيين للتربية و مبادئهما الفلسفية ، أن المحافظين على خطأ حين اعتقدوا بأننا نملك ملكة تقود نحو الصدق و تدعى العقل أو الذات الحقة التي تحملها التربية إلى الوعي . و أن الراديكاليين على صواب في قولهم إنك إذا أوليت الاهتمام بالحرية السياسية و الاقتصادية و الثقافية و الأكاديمية فإن الصدق نتيجة لذلك سيعتني بنفسه . إلا أنهم أخطأوا في اعتقادهم بوجود الفرد الحق الذي سينبثق عندما ينقشع التأثير القمعي للمجتمع . ليس هناك شيء يشار إليه على انه طبيعة إنسانية بالمعنى الذي يضفيه كل من أفلاطون و ستراوس على هذا اللفظ ، كما ليس هناك شيء شبيه بعزله عن إنسانيته الجوهرية الناشئ عن القمع الاجتماعي بالمعنى العميق الذي اعتبر مألوفا مع روسو و الماركسيين . هناك فقط تشكيل لحيوان في الكائن الإنساني عن طريق سيرورة التأنيس التي تليها بنجاح عملية إضفاء التفرد و الإبداع الذاتي على ذلك الكائن الإنساني ، بتمرده أو تمردها اللاحق ضد السيرورة الأولى .
من الواجب أن يحصل التأنيس قبل عملية إضفاء التفرد ، و لا يمكن أن تبدأ التربية لأجل الحرية قبل أن تسبقها بعض الاكراهات . و ما قام به جون ديوي من إسقاط لمفهوم النفس الحقة من المقولة ” إذا حررت الذات الحقة من الاكراهات المتعددة ، فإنها ستتبين الصدق بشكل تلقائي ” ، علمنا أن ندعو صادقا كل ما يخرج به المعتقد خلال لقاء مفتوح و حر للآراء ، من دون أي تساؤل فيما إذا كانت هذه النتيجة تتفق مع شيء كامن خلف ذلك اللقاء .
إن نوع الحريات التي تضمن الصدق ، ليس هو التحرر من الانفعالات أو الخطيئة ، و ليس التحرر من التقليد أو مما يسميه فوكو بالسلطة ، إنه نوع الحرية الذي نجده في الديمقراطيات البورجوازية عوضا عن تبرير الحريات بالإحالة على الطبيعة الإنسانية و طبيعة العقل . إن ديوي يرفض تأسيس المؤسسات السوسيوسياسية على مبادئ مثيلة .
عندما أعلن جون ديوي بلغة داروينية بليغة أن النمو ذاته غاية أخلاقية و أن الوقاية و المساعدة و النمو المباشر هي الضوابط المثالية للتربية ، انتقده المحافظون بدعوى أنه لم يقدم معيارا للنمو . و ديوي ينفي وجود معيار مماثل يمكنه أن يحذف المستقبل على حساب الحاضر . إن البحث عن مثل ذلك النوع من المعيار كأن تسأل الديناصور إعطاءك المواصفات النوعية التي يمكنها أن تصنع أفضل الثدييات ، أو تسأل أثيني القرن الرابع أن يقترح عليك أشكالا من الحياة لمواطني الديمقراطية الصناعية في القرن العشرين . و يستند ديوي إلى إميرسن الذي لم يقدم صدقا بل قدم ببساطة أملا - قابلية الاعتقاد في أن المستقبل دون تحديد لمواصفاته النوعية ، سيكون مختلفا و أكثر حرية من الماضي - هو شرط النمو . هذا النمط من الأمل هو كل قدمه لنا ديوي ، و لأجل هذا صار فيلسوف الديمقراطية في عصرنا .
يقدم رورتي تصور ديوي لعملية التأنيس الذي على الأطفال الأمريكيين أن يخضعوا له ، و الذي يقوم على اكتساب الأطفال لصورة أنفسهم كوريثين لتقليد الحرية النامية و الأمل الطالع . يريد ديوي من الأطفال أن يفكروا في أنفسهم كمواطنين مخلصين و معتزين بوطنهم ، الذي استطاع بتأن و تحمل للصعاب ، أن يلفظ العبودية الغريبة عنه ، و يحرر الرقيق ، و يمنح الحقوق المدنية لنسائه ، و يرخص لممارسات اتحادات عماله ، و يضفي الطابع الليبرالي على ممارساته الدينية ، بل و توسيع تسامحه الديني و الخلاقي . باختصار يفكر ديوي في ترسيخ حكاية الحرية ، و يأمل في أن تكون نواتا للسيرورة التأنيسية . يعتقد رورتي كتابع مخلص لديوي أن الجامعات بعد عملية التأنيس ستساعد الطلاب على أن يروا بأن القصة التي تمركزت حولها تربيتهم غير حاسمة ، و يبدأوا في ملاحظة كل ما هو تافه و غير حر في بيئتهم ، و بالتالي سيكلل أفضلهم بالنجاح في تعديل الحكمة الاتفاقية ليربى الجيل الجديد على نحو مختلف عن تربيته السابقة ، على أمل أن يكون الطريق الجديد مختلفا جدا عن سابقه ، و سيكشف عن الأمل في أن المجتمع سيبقى إصلاحيا و ديمقراطيا بدل أن يهز بالثورة . آنذاك سيشعر الجيل الجديد شعورا مختلفا بأن يذكر نفسه بأن النمو هو في الحقيقة الغاية الوحيدة .
ينتهي رورتي بالعودة إلى التضاد المحافظي –الرديكالي ، محاولا الفصل بين تأكيد المحافظين على المجتمع و الراديكاليين على الفرد ، عن النظريات الفلسفية حول الطبيعة الإنسانية و أسس المجتمع الديمقراطي . فكلا الروايتين ، الأفلاطونية و الأفلاطونية المقلوبة لنيتشه تبدوان غير صالحتين للتفكير في التربية . و كبديل يعرض تمجيد ديوي للديموقراطية مراعاة لها و للنمو و مراعاة له ، باعتباره تمجيدا مثمرا و ناجحا بقدر ما هو غامض .
Education question suspicious and uncomfortable at the present time, as it aimed to create a citizen, we find linked Balazmenh heroic era such as the Revolution, where the top man venerates unique. The concept of citizen carries the memory of the era of legendary find it hard to transfer. Citizenship and no longer serves a political issue or express the duty, this concept also does not have ambition ordinary days, so it was not reflected in the daily work, or even in private relationships, and family friendly. That in times of war plunged the concept of the citizen. This presence in the ordinary and dangerous, threatening Community College invited the individual to belong to the State, and in these conditions will be very citizenship theme for the celebration, such as the revolution completely.
Then comes as a system of the state authority strongly present in everyone’s life, is it not our right ourselves protect ourselves and our independence, to keep a distance Kahrar available to us, and we support the spirit vigilant monetary us toward this authority. Are not the Citizenship Education sacrifice individual freedom for national unity emerging from all national tendencies?
These questions are further complicated if the State Intellectual reflected background, making unknown labels, and the march by the people who have interests. If enable these people, that allowed them to impose control class other social science classes, the Educational citizen will simply deceive them, and the illusory beholder. This reflected disillusionment and becoming too, it was recognized that the privileges minority.
Role of Education is working in this particular levels, and that had a role in making the familiar situation for everybody, despite the monotony of days, the high pressure caused by the cruelty meted out to members of the community in their institutions, the possibility of hope emerge constantly, as foreshadowing new heroic days, and legendary eras and gold and metaphysical realism. Science says the possibility of an unusual science, philosophy and facing the fact ignorance substance while Self soil to announce the birth of new facts. We are gone era when Bnorna clarity, and what we see and do not distinguish, despair and frustration and escape flogging our favorite, and this year enacted bad breath and our policy and our meeting and our economy.
I will try that the most important debate stems from the opposite direction, from the philosophy that claims all its capabilities, its ability to overcome the humanitarian crisis, which gave Paorba in the imperial moat, the philosophy of the American proud history of dedication to the instrumental of James and Dewey Davidsn and Koan and Putnam. Richard Rorti philosopher believed that the language finally succeeded in its promises Society is not recognized without love sacred, and no harm to its members but Did they bourgeois freedoms that befit their Korithin the best advances, society does not recognize the priests and not to any belief or truth or final standard. It is directed only to improve the lives of people who share the same homeland and monolingual.
Consider the American society where the public was divided into the right and left and started to talk about the best way in education, and tools division political and philosophical dream as well. For the political right when talking about education, it gives priority to the sincerity of all else, and allowed people to take the census of obvious facts and familiar, but they regret not established in the minds of young long as convention wisdom of the community. The political left, provides freedom to honesty, and believes that the facts that transcends the oath as the heart of each agreement, and must be undermined, it is an old pattern of thought, and we rid the new generation of them. Indeed, the issue is due to the different theoretical philosophical about the nature of truth and freedom, Vahlmyn recognizes that if utmost sincerity reached freedom, either the left believe that political freedom and economic .. Lead to truth and reconciliation with the same rights. Imagine right Zuhdi Platonic basically, and left social Socratic vision, the achievement of independence and freedom to the audience provides the first phase of sin and overcome the emotions, and thus achieve urbanization young people. The second scenario with the Left Viamilon in overcoming the agreement, tribal governance, and believe that oppression reactions in humans is only strengthening the instincts of animal health, leading to the isolation of young people from themselves true community as Rousseau and Marx and Nietzsche negative for young people of their liberty and the Ansanhm core being the Atrasa cheese and machine Sosioaguetsade inhuman. The function of education at the left is to make young people absorb that only satisfy Bsirorh alienation Humanizing exercised by him, and honesty is what tools it while still strong repressive society.
Both left and right agree similarity between truth and freedom with what is human substance, the difference between them appears through answers to the following questions: Is the present economic and social harmonization based on more or less with nature? Are present in its entirety to achieve the energies of humanity or waste them? Is our place of education produces freedom or alienation?
Agree with the right-left widely on the topics of philosophical eye, the differences between them are political. While conservatives and believed that the present and if not complete, including sense of the word, it is at least better than any alternative by the Radical Left. And believe that some of our traditional slogans and some of the specific convention wisdom of the act, a real education should focus on what they call the facts sent a traditional society. On the contrary, share the radical left with Frank Ontrekia view that the society we live in is basically unreasonable, and therefore they see the basic facts of what he called a conservative Foucault speech power, and believe that the continuation of the consolidation of wisdom Convention is a betrayal of the students.
The resolution of this controversy and tension found expression in liberal democracy, tended right to control basic education and secondary education. The left Viracb progressively higher education-professional, so to the extent of Education nineteenth age is often the question Tanis, forcing students to ensure ethics and common sense of political community as he was, but after the completion of the process Humanizing for this generation paid in the direction of the left to make its members more aware of cruelty which is practised in our institutions. And we need reform and questioning the unanimity rolling and encourage them to Alsagratih Alchukih trend.
Upset both conservatives and radicals after knowledge that education is not continuous Blankfort dissects age to the age and the second century, and has ignored all of them could hide behind the word Educational Sirortin distinct and necessary at the same time, namely: Humanizing and give exclusivity, and both fall into the trap of thinking that a set of ideas that can be inserted into secondary education and university alike.
Sought philosopher Rorti after a series of interpretations earned by having reviewed the scenarios politicians Educational and philosophical principles that conservatives are wrong when we have thought about Queen lead honesty and claims of reason or genuine self-incurred education awareness. And that radicals are right in saying that if you attention has been given freedom of political, economic, cultural and academic honesty, the result of this care themselves. Making mistakes, but they believed in the existence of the individual right that will emerge when melted suppressive influence of society. There is something referred to as the nature of humanitarian sense, which assigns each of Plato and Strauss on this word, as there is nothing like isolation from the fundamental humanity arising from the deep sense of social oppression which was familiar with Rousseau and Marxist. Only the formation of an animal in the human organism through Blankfort dissects Humanizing which followed the successful process of creativity and uniqueness of this self human being, Pettmrdh or subsequent revolt against Israelis first.
Must obtain prior Humanizing the process of exclusivity, and can not begin to education for freedom before that preceded some constraints. And his John Dewey rout of the concept of true self-assertion “if freed from the constraints of true self multinational, it automatically Stetbin honesty”, we learned that we call genuine everything out of the belief during a meeting open and free of views, without any question as If this result is consistent with the inherent something behind that meeting.
That the kind of freedoms that guarantee honesty, is not free from agitation or sin, not freedom from tradition, or the so-called power Foucault, that kind of freedom that we find in bourgeois democracies instead of freedoms justified by reference to human nature and the nature of the mind. Dewey rejected the establishment of institutions Alsosiossayash on similar principles.
When John Dewey declared Darwinism eloquent language that growth itself is a very ethical and that prevention and assistance and direct growth controls are ideal for Education, criticized conservatives claiming that he did not provide a criterion for growth. Dewey and denies the existence of a similar standard can be deleted future at the expense of the present. The search for such kind of test was given ask Dinosaur quality specifications, which can create a better mammals, or ask Athenian fourth century suggests that the forms of life for the citizens of industrial democracy in the twentieth century. And based on the Dewey Amersen who did not submit an honest, but simply hope - vulnerability in the belief that the future without setting specifications for quality, will be different and more freedom from the past - is a growth. This pattern is the hope of all of us by Dewey, and for this became philosopher of democracy in our time.
Rorti submit to the process of perception Dewey Humanizing by the American children to undergo it, and based on the acquisition of children for a picture of themselves Korithin tradition of freedom and hope fortunate countries. Dewey wants children to think of themselves as citizens and sincerely cherish homeland, which managed carefully and shoulder of the difficulties, the throes of slavery alien him, and freeing slaves, and granted civil rights to women and authorize the employment practices of unions, and gives the Liberal religious practices , and even the expansion of religious tolerance and Khulaki. Dewey thinks short story in consolidating freedom, and hope that the Nouatta Blankfort dissects Altanise. Rorti child believed loyal to Dewey universities after Humanizing will help students to see that the story, which centred around education inconclusive, and begin to note all that is trivial and non-free environment, thereby Avdilhm will be crowned with success in amending the Convention wisdom of raising new generation in a manner different from the previous upbringing, in the hope that the new route is very different from earlier, and will reveal the hope that the community will remain a reformist and democratic instead of shaking revolution. Then the new generation would feel a different feeling to mention that the same growth is, in fact, the only purpose.
Ends Rorti return to the antagonism Mahafezi - Radical, trying separation between the conservatives and the radical community on the individual, on the philosophical theories about human nature and the foundations of a democratic society. Both versions, Platonism and Platonism of the inverted-Nietzsche seem valid to think about education. Alternatively, presents Dewey glorification of democracy into them, growth and mind him, as the name fruitful and successful as it is mysterious.
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* Education between politics and philosophy التربية بين السياسة و الفلسفةby Naim Heimad
Posted on March 16th, 2008 by jill. Filed under jill.
التربية مسألة مشبوهة و غير مريحة في وقتنا الراهن ، لأنها إذ تستهدف خلق المواطن ، نجده مرتبطا بالأزمنة البطولية مثل زمن الثورة ، حيث يكون للإنسان الأعلى تجل فريد . إن مفهوم المواطن يحمل ذكرى عصر أسطوري فلا نجد له إحالة صلبة . و لم تعد المواطنة التزاما سياسيا يخدم قضية أو يعبر عن واجب ، فهذا المفهوم كذلك لم يوضع لتتداوله الأيام العادية ، لذلك ليس له تجسيد في العمل اليومي أو حتى في العلاقات الخاصة ، العائلية و الودية . إنه في أزمنة الحرب أقحم مفهوم المواطن . في هذا الوجود العادي و الخطير ، الذي يهدد كلية المجتمع دعا الفرد إلى الانتماء للدولة ، و في هذه الشروط بالذات ستكون المواطنة موضوعا للاحتفال ، مثل الثورة تماما .
ثم تأتي الدولة كنظام للسلطة حاضر بقوة في حياة كل فرد ، فنتساءل أليس من حقنا حماية أنفسنا و استقلاليتنا ، بأن نحتفظ بمسافة متاحة لنا كأحرار ، و ندعم يقظة الروح النقدية فينا اتجاه هذه السلطة . أليست التربية على المواطنة تضحية بالحرية الفردية في سبيل الوحدة الوطنية التي خرجت منها جميع النزعات الوطنية ؟
هذه الأسئلة تزداد تعقيدا إذا لم تتبدى خلفية الدولة الفكرية ، فتغدو مجهولة الوسم ، و مسيرة من طرف أناس لهم مصالح . و إذا تمكن هؤلاء الناس ، إن سمح لهم ، أن يفرضوا سيطرة طبقتهم علم الطبقات الاجتماعية الأخرى ، فإن تربية المواطن ستكون مجرد خداع منهم ، ووهما لمتلقيها . سيتجلى هذا الوهم و يتضخم ، إن تم الاعتراف بامتيازات الأقلية .
دور التربية يعمل في هذه المستويات بالذات ، و إن كان لها دور في جعل الوضع مألوفا عند الجميع ، رغم رتابة الأيام و ارتفاع الضغط الناتج عن القسوة التي يعامل بها أفراد المجتمع في مؤسساتهم ، فإن إمكانية الأمل تنبثق على الدوام ، ما ينذر بأيام بطولية جديدة ، و عصور أسطورية و ذهبية واقعية لا ميتافيزيقية . العلم يقول بإمكانية علم غير عادي ، و الفلسفة تواجه جهلها بحقيقة الجوهر حين تواريه التراب لتعلن ميلاد حقائق جديدة . صرنا بعصر ذهب فيه الوضوح بنورنا ، و ما عدنا نرى و لا نميز ، اليأس و الإحباط و النجاة بالجلد مفاهيمنا المفضلة ، و هذه السنة السيئة سنتها تربينا و سياستنا و اجتماعنا و اقتصادنا .
سأحاول أن أهم بنقاش ينطلق من الوجهة المقابلة ، من الفلسفة التي تدعي بكل إمكانياتها ، قدرتها على تجاوز المأزق الإنساني الذي ألقى بأوربا في خندق الإمبريالية ، من الفلسفة الأمريكية التي تفتخر بإخلاصها لتاريخها الذرائعي من جيمس إلى ديوي و دافيدسن و كواين و بوتنام . يعتقد الفيلسوف رتشارد رورتي أن اللغة نجحت أخيرا في وعودها بمجتمع لا يعترف بغير الحب مقدسا ، و لا يسيء لأفراده بل يغدق عليهم بالحريات البورجوازية التي تليق بهم كوريثين لخير سلف ، مجتمع لا يعترف بالكهنة و لا بأي معتقد أو حقيقة نهائية أو معيار . الموجه الوحيد فيه هو تحسين حياة الناس الذين يتقاسمون الوطن الواحد و اللغة الواحدة .
نظر في المجتمع الأمريكي حيث انقسم الجمهور إلى يمين و يسار و بدأوا يتحدثون عن أفضل طريقة في التربية ، التقسيم سياسي و الأدوات فلسفية و الحلم كذلك . بالنسبة لليمين السياسي عندما يتحدث عن التربية ، فإنه يعطي الأولوية للصدق على كل ما عداه ، و يسمح للناس بتعداد ما يأخذون به من حقائق واضحة و مألوفة ، لكنهم يأسفون على عدم ترسخها في أذهان الصغار مدة طويلة على اعتبار أنها حكمة اتفاقية للمجتمع . أما اليسار السياسي، فيقدم الحرية على الصدق ، و يرى أن الحقائق التي يسمو بها اليمين كأساس صلب لكل اتفاق ، لابد و أن تقوض ، فهي نمط قديم من الفكر ، و علينا تخليص الجيل الجديد منها . الواقع أن المسألة ترجع لاختلاف نظري فلسفي حول طبيعة الصدق و الحرية ، فاليمين يعترف بأننا إذا أوتينا الصدق بلغنا الحرية ، أما اليسار فيعتقد أن الحرية السياسية و الاقتصادية .. تقود إلى الصدق و تصالح الإنسان مع ذاته . تصور اليمين زهدي أفلاطوني بالأساس ، و تصور اليسار اجتماعي سقراطي ، لذلك تحقيق الاستقلالية و الحرية لدى جمهور الأول يقضي بالتخلص من الخطيئة و التغلب على الانفعالات ، و بذلك نحقق تمدين النشء . أما التصور الثاني مع اليسار فيأملون في التغلب على الاتفاق و الحكم القبلي ، و يرون بأن قهر الانفعالات في الإنسان ما هو إلا تقوية للغرائز الصحية الحيوانية مما يؤدي إلى عزل النشء عن ذواتهم الحقة ، فالمجتمع حسب روسو و ماركس و نيتشه سالب للنشء من حريتهم و من إنسانيهم الجوهرية بجعلهم أتراسا متباعدة و آلة سوسيواقتصادية لا إنسانية . وظيفة التربية عند اليسار هي جعل النشء يستوعب أن عليه ألا يرضى بسيرورة الاستلاب التي يمارسها عليه التأنيس ، و الصدق هو ما سيعتقد فيه حين تزال قوى المجتمع القمعية .
إن كلا من اليسار و اليمين يتفقان بين تماهي الصدق و الحرية مع ما هو إنساني بالجوهر ، أما الاختلاف بينهما فيظهر من خلال إجابتهما عن الأسئلة التالية : هل الحاضر الاقتصادي و الاجتماعي مبني على المواءمة أكثر أو أقل مع الطبيعة ؟ هل الحاضر في كليته تحقيق للطاقات الإنسانية أو هدر لها ؟ هل إخضاع مجتمعنا للتثاقف ينتج الحرية أو الاستلاب ؟
يتفق اليمين مع اليسار على نطاق واسع حول المواضيع الفلسفية المجردة ، أما الاختلافات بينهما فهي سياسية . و حين يعتقد المحافظون أن الحاضر القائم و إن لم يكن مكتملا بما تحمل الكلمة من معنى ، فهو على الأقل أفضل من أي بديل يقدمه اليسار الراديكالي . و يعتقدون أن بعض الشعارات التقليدية لمجتمعنا و بعضا من حكمته الاتفاقية محددة للفعل ، لذلك فعلى التربية أن تركز على بعث ما يسمونه بالحقائق التقليدية لمجتمعنا . على العكس من ذلك يتقاسم اليسار الراديكالي مع فرانك لونتريكيا رأيه في أن المجتمع الذي نعيش فيه هو بالأساس غير معقول ، و بالتالي فإنهم يرون الحقائق الأساسية للمحافظين بمثابة ما يسميه فوكو بخطاب السلطة ، و يعتقدون أن الاستمرار في ترسيخ الحكمة الاتفاقية هو بمثابة خيانة للطلاب .
إن حسم هذا الجدل و التوتر وجد تعبيرا له في الديمقراطية الليبرالية ، فاتجه اليمين لمراقبة التعليم الأساسي و الثانوي . أما اليسار فيراقب بشكل تدريجي التعليم العالي غير المهني ، لذلك فالتربية إلى حدود سن التاسعة عشر هي في الغالب مسألة تأنيس ، بإرغام التلاميذ على ضمان الأخلاق و الحس المشترك السياسي للمجتمع كما هو ، لكن بعد استكمال عملية التأنيس لهذا الجيل يتم دفعه في اتجاه اليسار لجعل أفراده أكثر وعيا بالقسوة التي تمارس في مؤسساتنا . و بحاجتنا للإصلاح و التشكيك في الإجماع المتداول و تشجيعهم على النزعة السقراطية الشكية .
اضطرب كل من المحافظين و الراديكاليين بعد معرفتهم بأن التربية ليست سيرورة مستمرة من سن الخامسة إلى سن الثانية و العشرين ، و قد تجاهل كل منهما أن كلمة تربية تخفي خلفها سيرورتين متميزتين و ضروريتين في الوقت ذاته ، و هما : التأنيس و إضفاء التفرد ، و كلاهما يسقط في شرك التفكير بأن مجموعة من الأفكار يمكن أن توظف في التعليم الثانوي و الجامعي على حد سواء .
سعى الفيلسوف رورتي بعد مجموعة من التأويلات التي حصلها بعد إطلاعه على التصورين السياسيين للتربية و مبادئهما الفلسفية ، أن المحافظين على خطأ حين اعتقدوا بأننا نملك ملكة تقود نحو الصدق و تدعى العقل أو الذات الحقة التي تحملها التربية إلى الوعي . و أن الراديكاليين على صواب في قولهم إنك إذا أوليت الاهتمام بالحرية السياسية و الاقتصادية و الثقافية و الأكاديمية فإن الصدق نتيجة لذلك سيعتني بنفسه . إلا أنهم أخطأوا في اعتقادهم بوجود الفرد الحق الذي سينبثق عندما ينقشع التأثير القمعي للمجتمع . ليس هناك شيء يشار إليه على انه طبيعة إنسانية بالمعنى الذي يضفيه كل من أفلاطون و ستراوس على هذا اللفظ ، كما ليس هناك شيء شبيه بعزله عن إنسانيته الجوهرية الناشئ عن القمع الاجتماعي بالمعنى العميق الذي اعتبر مألوفا مع روسو و الماركسيين . هناك فقط تشكيل لحيوان في الكائن الإنساني عن طريق سيرورة التأنيس التي تليها بنجاح عملية إضفاء التفرد و الإبداع الذاتي على ذلك الكائن الإنساني ، بتمرده أو تمردها اللاحق ضد السيرورة الأولى .
من الواجب أن يحصل التأنيس قبل عملية إضفاء التفرد ، و لا يمكن أن تبدأ التربية لأجل الحرية قبل أن تسبقها بعض الاكراهات . و ما قام به جون ديوي من إسقاط لمفهوم النفس الحقة من المقولة ” إذا حررت الذات الحقة من الاكراهات المتعددة ، فإنها ستتبين الصدق بشكل تلقائي ” ، علمنا أن ندعو صادقا كل ما يخرج به المعتقد خلال لقاء مفتوح و حر للآراء ، من دون أي تساؤل فيما إذا كانت هذه النتيجة تتفق مع شيء كامن خلف ذلك اللقاء .
إن نوع الحريات التي تضمن الصدق ، ليس هو التحرر من الانفعالات أو الخطيئة ، و ليس التحرر من التقليد أو مما يسميه فوكو بالسلطة ، إنه نوع الحرية الذي نجده في الديمقراطيات البورجوازية عوضا عن تبرير الحريات بالإحالة على الطبيعة الإنسانية و طبيعة العقل . إن ديوي يرفض تأسيس المؤسسات السوسيوسياسية على مبادئ مثيلة .
عندما أعلن جون ديوي بلغة داروينية بليغة أن النمو ذاته غاية أخلاقية و أن الوقاية و المساعدة و النمو المباشر هي الضوابط المثالية للتربية ، انتقده المحافظون بدعوى أنه لم يقدم معيارا للنمو . و ديوي ينفي وجود معيار مماثل يمكنه أن يحذف المستقبل على حساب الحاضر . إن البحث عن مثل ذلك النوع من المعيار كأن تسأل الديناصور إعطاءك المواصفات النوعية التي يمكنها أن تصنع أفضل الثدييات ، أو تسأل أثيني القرن الرابع أن يقترح عليك أشكالا من الحياة لمواطني الديمقراطية الصناعية في القرن العشرين . و يستند ديوي إلى إميرسن الذي لم يقدم صدقا بل قدم ببساطة أملا - قابلية الاعتقاد في أن المستقبل دون تحديد لمواصفاته النوعية ، سيكون مختلفا و أكثر حرية من الماضي - هو شرط النمو . هذا النمط من الأمل هو كل قدمه لنا ديوي ، و لأجل هذا صار فيلسوف الديمقراطية في عصرنا .
يقدم رورتي تصور ديوي لعملية التأنيس الذي على الأطفال الأمريكيين أن يخضعوا له ، و الذي يقوم على اكتساب الأطفال لصورة أنفسهم كوريثين لتقليد الحرية النامية و الأمل الطالع . يريد ديوي من الأطفال أن يفكروا في أنفسهم كمواطنين مخلصين و معتزين بوطنهم ، الذي استطاع بتأن و تحمل للصعاب ، أن يلفظ العبودية الغريبة عنه ، و يحرر الرقيق ، و يمنح الحقوق المدنية لنسائه ، و يرخص لممارسات اتحادات عماله ، و يضفي الطابع الليبرالي على ممارساته الدينية ، بل و توسيع تسامحه الديني و الخلاقي . باختصار يفكر ديوي في ترسيخ حكاية الحرية ، و يأمل في أن تكون نواتا للسيرورة التأنيسية . يعتقد رورتي كتابع مخلص لديوي أن الجامعات بعد عملية التأنيس ستساعد الطلاب على أن يروا بأن القصة التي تمركزت حولها تربيتهم غير حاسمة ، و يبدأوا في ملاحظة كل ما هو تافه و غير حر في بيئتهم ، و بالتالي سيكلل أفضلهم بالنجاح في تعديل الحكمة الاتفاقية ليربى الجيل الجديد على نحو مختلف عن تربيته السابقة ، على أمل أن يكون الطريق الجديد مختلفا جدا عن سابقه ، و سيكشف عن الأمل في أن المجتمع سيبقى إصلاحيا و ديمقراطيا بدل أن يهز بالثور