A democratic school in midst of anarchy

Two years ago, I heard it's name 'Be Me' from the director of the school where I was working.She gave brief intro of the school 'Be Me' to all teachers, after her visit to the school. I had very little knowledge till than of Summer Hill school and Democratic way of school system. It would be appropriate to say democratic learning. I had seen book in library and went through the summary. But nothing more then that I knew. I was fascinated and thought I would visit this school one day. Visit to 'Be Me' school happened on 12th of September 2018. Actually, I had forgotten about them. It was by my friend who reminded and gave contacts to be there. I went through there website very superficially before visit. I reached there almost on time they had given me. One child opened the gate and welcomed me. Another guided to a place, where co-founder and sakha and their student were discussing. (Sakha is a term used to call teacher. Sakha literally means a friend. Here a person who helps and provide support in learning.) Children were all around engaged in their own task. Few were busy preparing home for lizard and collecting lizards for their study. One girl was burning various material from thermocole to rubber to synthetic and natural part to see what happens. She was supervised by an adult and helped to light the fire. Few were engaged in discussing good , best and worst part of triathlon , which they participated just a day ago. Pair of kids were busy in cutting a wooden piece to make guitar. While younger ones were either making something or doing their independent learning task. I can go on and on...What kids were doing, exploring and learning.. or I can tell how school tour, my engagement and other stuff like that. I doubt whether any of that would make a sense. Where our eyes are acustom and mind condition to see square rooms, grilled window (may be glass ones thanks to air-conditioned classroom and helping our way for pollution😢), black/green/white boards, benches and chairs, teacher in front. You will not find any such things here. What you will find is utilizing the best of every portion of the building to its maximum. You will see computer zone to game zone, discussion, library and meditation room. Resource room and open verandah, self directed learning zone and literacy & numeracy block , science and carpentery area. All well arranged and managed by children. From fixing it's budget to running and doing. They also meet in assembly but it's democratic in nature. Where work been decided, issues are raised and resolved. However couldn't witness it in running. Still, whole of its functioning seems beautiful. Point to be taken is learner learns raising voice and resolving issues among each other, respecting each other. Off course adults interventions and guidance will require. But till what extent and when remains in question? Untill we do not try, how can we come to know? I liked their frankness and were happy to see their own learning journey. I forgot to tell you sakha(teacher) also has a one vote only. No vito power except in some case (I might be wrong here.) They have created their constitution, which they refer on time to time basis. They do not ask superior authority (means adults with more knowledge , infornatiin) for telling what to do in certain situation but all refer to same constitution. It can get change in fortnight assembly meeting after discussion and dialogue on it. Another surprising element is their judiciary system comprise of one sakha and student lead chief. Where issues are posted and resolved. With 60+ learner below 18 years and 10+ learner above 18years, whole place is thriving from morning 8 to 4. It's been three year in existence and fourth year going on... Small, simple things works much better. Here sakhas role becomes very important and requires good amount of alertness, awakening and awareness of each and everything. Some questions are hard to find answer while for some it's not always good to allow learner to explore and take long time.. yet eventually learning takes place at much faster rate and with interest. I found our own ideas, theory and concept are tested while working with the kids here. As Sakha's learn and grow, I am sure place will blossom more with the flow. Children are also smart and tries to take advantage and manipulate things. That's where one needs to be vulnerable, work with intelligence and be in Now. Just talking with them(student) for almost an hour or more, very interesting questions came up. A simple and small discussion can ignite so many thing and various small and important learning takes place. It can inspire someone, generates ideas and solutions, clears the doubt and much more. Thank you BeMeian for wonderful session 'lets talk about it' . I salute to the spirit of sakha, parent and mostly of student to making and keeping alive such place where learning truly happens in leisure , in freedom. Among all anarchy based system, such school stands apart and gives hope, a courage to just Be. Not to run away from the school or situation but wind-up clear the confusion and conflict while music of eternity plays on. (Yes, no bells. A music , soft goes on and children arranged and keep the materials back, organizes their stuff before leaving the school). I hope and wish this small sphere of Be Me, expands into Be We. As Me and We are not different. They are one and the same..

Here is a link to their website.

http://beme.org.in

Responding to a Call: A journey begins

It's exactly 905 days ago, I went for a call.
Today I am travelling again, in the same train. Last time call was for the service and offering. This time it's for sourcing our oneness.
Call is always felt inside and outer responds to it.
Destinations are different yet aims are same. Person has changed.
Last time I had a travel partner and unreserved ticket. This time (atleast in train), I don't have any travel partner but a reserved ticket. Last time I didn't had plan to return back home. While this time I have not only plan but reserved ticket for return journey.
What's similar is few things planned and few unplanned. Oneness to embrace the unknown. This time more prepared.

Drawing parallel between this two journey itself bringing so much insight, that looking forward with open receptivity for more.

A call from Himalaya
Many time I had planned to be but it's always a call which makes it happen.
It's been always a journey more within then it happens outside.
One needs to prepare for listening and following the call.
Physically, psychologically and mentally there is always more to prepare. As journey happens more frequent and you become a traveller. No, you are on pilgrimage.. preparation becomes shorter and shorter. This happens on physical plane more and goes inward too.
At psychological plane to it takes some time to bring that shift and work.

As I observe, mind has become more ready and in Present moment to receive.
Very less imagery to achieve. Rather welcoming all that comes. Unlike last time, there is more calm to reach and meet himalaya. Not much of thinking of what and how of things to be done and going to happen. When you will reach and all anxiety of journey..Nothing of that sorts comes into view... Memory seen now, past in Present.. future is present as journey unfolds.

Golden Temple Mail

Name of train in which I am moving towards the destination.
Never been at Golden Temple though but feels like going to it.
I don't know when I will visit such holy place nor I want to make another desire for such visit. Let CALL come.
Himalay calling is nothing less then making a golden temple within. So lord can come and stay over there.
Journey makes you little more strong, little more sensitive... As one goes into this TAPAS... One becomes more refine, pure..
जो जले सो कुंदन होवे
To be a gold, a pure gold... One need to go into this fire.
In contrast himalaya fire is more hidden from outside it looks and really feels so cold..
Isn't it testing you, how much fire you are holding within. Not only to survive the extreme weather and climate condition at high altitude but also how you keep this fire for progress burning in the world.
With each journey, I have found that himalaya actually rekindle the fire within. It never exhaust fire within, rather it ignites the new and fresh.

Himalaya.. shall I tell you father or mother. You have been all.
यह राधा, यह धारा, तुमसे ही निकली है।
आज फिर तुम और चली है।
यह जानने के, में कौन हूं?
तुम तो जानते हो सब, देखते हो सब।
तुम्हारी गोद मे फिरसे में वह सब देखना सुनना
चाहता हु।
तुम अटल हो, अचल हो।
में चंचल और तेज।
तुम उच्च शिखरों से गगन से बाते करते।
में निम्न, बस ज़ोर ज़ोर से उसे पुकारता।
बस में इतना ही हु जानता तुम्हे,
तुम और भी बहुत कुछ हो।
कुछ मेरी समझ मे, और कही कुछ मेरी समझ के बाहर।
आज फिर तुम और चली हु,
खुदी को ढूढंने,
खुद को तुझमे खो देने।
यह धारा, यह राधा
उल्टी नही बह रही।
आभास तो यही होता हे,
पर यह सिर्फ आभास हे, हकीक़त नहीं।
मुझे बस इतना पता हे,
में तेरी औऱ चली हूँ।

doing breaking making

20/09/2018

Following words pen downed 3 years back holds true, right now.

--------------------

First he came and told very silently like a whisper, I want you to build something on this ground.
I was so joyful, I stopped all other activity and straight started working for building as per the image shown.

But he didn't wanted that. So without my knowing he turned me towards real work. Yet while working, I kept on imagining about building those walls, floors, putting carpets and chandelier, decorating, welcoming and transforming. Many time it happened that I got so tired and disinterested in the work given, that I threw it aside and went back to various images. I went to take strolls to others plots and ...

This time when He came, silently he showed me work done so far and given main work to be done. I told of him, it will take lot of time.... before I say anything more, He went away with a smile.

Digging that very ground was the work given by him. While doing that work, I found many things good and bad, beautiful and ugly, joyful and painful and all sorts of things. I happily accepted good ones yet I don't know how to use them and keep them for loner run. Sadly I accepted those negative one too, because He made me do that. Yet I don't know how to use them and How to reject them completely - to throw it very very far and transform it.

Building a foundation is a work given by him, this time. At the same time, He told don't stop digging.

I am thankful to Him for such a Grace.

I will dig more, build that foundation. With patience, endurance and smile...

Eti Shubham

from FB wall 20/09/2015

Teaching Style vs Substance in education

Namaste,
In past few days I wrote, talked, did and reflected a lot about education. From the need of education till the satisfaction of those needs. Learning and Teaching Style, was a topic where some more reflections took place. Started questioning the belief system, research proven work which endorse both side. Tried to see what actually matters in learning style in one of the previous blogs.
{
Links of previous posts:
Why style matters in education? Or does it really matter? http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/why-style-matters-in-education-or-does.html

Learner, need and style http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/presence-makes-difference.html
}

In this post, in short will share about teaching style. Actually there is nothing more to say. You might have just guessed it right from the title itself.

Style basically means a manner or a way in which something is done.It's a phenomenon emerging from a person's presence. Which can be recorded and put forth as a typical method.
A lecture method or discussion way or experiment or hybrid or demonstrate or delegate or whatever other names.
All can be used depending upon the nature of the subject. But demand of meeting learners style is something different altogether. That can only be meet when learner and supporter has a freedom. From teachers perspective it's more about bringing subject alive. That's only possible when one has a right knowledge of the subject. That's only possible when person has lived that subject and still humble enough to live with the young fellow learner. To dive deep and find out hidden meaning beneath. Teacher needs to bring presence of such truth , knowledge that makes style work.

We can not put one teaching style against the other. As every teaching style has its own pros and cons. So teacher need to be careful while planning the lesson.

Still, when just followed those step, as mentioned in method. To follow a particular style. Result ought not to be the same as expected emerging from the presence, a style mastered or generated by a person.

Person, in our case teacher's presence. His/her own life and living, not the level of acquisition of information but level of understanding brings the spirit in any method. Bringing this spirit, knowledge and seeking of truth into the methods makes it a style.

We cannot denounce or ridicule any method. All depends upon readiness of a learner and presence of a facilitator.

Whichever style best suits the personality. One which comes very naturally spontaneously should be the teaching style of that teacher. Should not break head and heart too much on completely changing and remodeling one style. Teacher need to be open and once a while see, try and improve skills of other teaching style without living own.

Changing a mere teaching style will not help to meet the need of the learner as well as of the teacher. Rather taking inward journey and finding ones own unique way. along with that teacher continues the search of truth, alignment of thoughts, speech and action ... Are things which will bring presence into the method..
That's the real substance , a core and not just an outer decoration of style.

To start journey of bringing substance. Here is a few task (sharing again) which can be initiated.
21-day challenge for teachers http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/21-day-challenge-for-teachers.html

21-day challenge for teachers

Happy Teacher's day!
(To people in India.*)

Happy teachers day to all the people who came into life and played their role. Without which certain learning would not have been possible. Few played a very big role. From my parents, near relatives, neighbours, friends, school and class teacher, few institutes and many more.

Before 2008, exactly 10 years back. I denied being a teacher and working as a teacher.
From 2008, u started seriously thinking about teaching.still many times (almost all, I kept on saying I don't want to become a teacher. I am not a teacher.)
Today in 2018,
I humbly accept and feel grateful of The Divine on being a teacher.

Why I never liked calling myself as a teacher. As I always thought and firmly believe that teaching is noble profession. It's a true service. Teaching for me is not  an occupation, a career. Teaching is more of learning. And more than learning it is about living the life. Living the life in its true form. As a learner seeking the truth, moving towards light. I can go on writing and describing all this thoughts and feelings. There is already enough on social media and on internet about this topic. Specially today, they are in circulation a lot.

Here I want to present something little different. Many of us might be doing something alike or similar.
Today, I want to share them as a challenge to the teacher.

This 21 day challenge is for the teacher.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OrzlNiVrCp2WLhcqvxBAOTCOgEkpjZr8G5UMkEY_ktk/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=112414330940144438553

I have put 24 challenges.

You can select any one and do them for 21 day.
Or select one for a day and go on for 21 days.

You can share your feedback, experience of challenge and your stories, to me on

jiyomaitry@gmail.Com
Or
9560839287
Or just put a comment on google document.

This 21 set of challenge is a work in progress. So pls share valuable insight what works more, any such challenge which we can include here.

I am grateful to following organization and people. Either I learned few practiced presented here their or got an opportunity to do them on campus. People who inspired and supported.
mirambika - on becoming director of my life. Bringing me more near to my true self, near to The Mother and Sri Aurobindo. I love you. Special thanks and wishes to tara di, kamala di, srila di, sulochana di, baren bhai, rashmita di, minati di, nithya shanti (my connection is through mbk only), ramesh bhaiya, matthijs bhaiya and neeltje di and all other didi bhaiya of past, present and future. Children and their parents who were always there for new learning and opportunity.
Few other people from Sri Aurobindo Society, vetal ben, kaivalya bhai, shiva da, vijay bhai, shantanu da and sampadanad bhai and more....

Gayatri Parivar - without whom I would not have came to know about Sri Aurobindo. And also providing me my first chance to work with the children at borivali, mumbai. Nivedita ben, amar bhai, truptiben, poonam ben, darshit bhai, manish bhai, sheetal ben, manisha ben and others for supporting and allowing to be part of sunday school. And also vajpayee ji for trusting and giving responsibility to conduct workshop in uttarakhand.

The Yoga Institute, Santacruz, mumbai.
For consolidating my learning and giving back the faith. Anjele mam, krunal sir, hansaji, varsha mam , vandana mam and many more... It's a place where few ideas and belief got reconfirm and also got new fresh to test and move on the path.
Few ideas of challenge are from there and few I had been practicing in my own sense but here it got refined and reconfirms.

The Polymath school and EL education
My last ground where I did few experiments and lived with children. EL from where I found new ways and making simple thoughts and idea work. Few challenges are take from EL core practices. Some of them were followed at the polymath school.

Service Space, Nipun bhai and wonderful people associated with moved by love.

Mihir pathak - for taking initiative, pushing  and supporting me for beautiful learning curve.

At the end today, happy teachers day to all. Special thanks, love to all wonderful divine , soul who came as a student, children to this life.

Eti Shubham.

*UN celebrates teachers day on 5th October.

Need and Time

After writing yesterday's portion on learning style, today some sharing and reflections took place at friends place. One word which drew more attention was need. Finding learners need of learning, what learner must have or must do to become knower, doer in its most perfect way.{ Grateful to the teacher who asked few questions on my previous article. Without which could not have went little deeper into this word and it's aspect. Also grateful to srila di and the yoga institute for exercise on need, want and desire.}

One of the question which came to my mind was, does need has a tense?
Here are few random, unorganised chains of thoughts on answer of above question.

In simple terms..
Needs are always in a present.
Leaving apart need of breathing, eating, sleeping, and others such general ones. Needs can not be in past or of future.

I looked into dictionary. It says need is a verb with two different ways of knowing.
Something one must have or something one must do.

Needs are of two types, one which is constant and every moment/day one has to fulfilled it. Another which changes as per the development and cyclic nature of growth/person. Means in summer you feel a need to make yourself cool. But in winter same need is completely opposite in nature.
Need is nothing much but a bare minimum necessity. We as human crossed the bridge and made it two crowded , where we mixed need and wants..

Need is taken as a verb, except as common noun. As per business dictionary, need is a motivational force that compels action for its satisfaction. Needs are finite and wants are boundless.
Needs can be of necessities ,basic survival (should be called living) and those created by human per say social, intellectual and cultural, can be called necessaries. Still without few necessaries need one can live healthy, safe life.

Talking in learner need, it is a necessary point of development which learner wants to move ahead.

Needs are define primarily in present moment.. moment needs starts defining in future, as must have or must do... It becomes very easy to turn and sleep into demands, wants, desire..

There is something call developmental need. Like chile as it develop, at different stages it will require different sets of things. If one makes a progression graph of such need, it will mostly linear in nature. In terms of wants progression graphs keeps on growing even after satisfaction of it,some time quite exponentially.

What I really require? My basic needs to live a life on this beautiful earth.

Learner, need and style

On Saturday, I paused while writing the blog post on style of teaching and learning.

Today, little more insights, an understanding has been developed on same ground.

Before diving deep into the topic
some process and purpose needs to be stated in terms of education, teaching and learning.

In very simple words there is a person who feels a need to know, do, develop for own progress so one can do something more better or do something which never done before, know something little better. To be able to participate in worldly affairs. And list can go on from knowing things within to knowing things without.

In this process there is a learner, who has a need. And someone or something who is able to help in fulfilling the need. This someone or something , can be friend, teacher, mother, father, book, songs, movie, experience..

Unlike taking both the strand (learner and learner supporter /teacher/others) together for this part, we will take learner in our center.

A process of pause and listening is a first thing to be done. Listening here stands for observing and finding , hearing those parts.
What we going to pause and listen is real need of learner.
This pausing and listening can be done by learner himself or herself, in consultation and guidance. In case of small children  the Parent can do pausing and listening. (Here small children taken are below 10 and maximum age allowed is18, that to progressively keeping child invovle in the process and giving freedom. Some might get wise by age of 14 too and may be before.) It's a role of parent to find real need of a learner and not to impose some demands as per own, society or any other agency.

Needs of learning is what needs to kept at center.
To meet this need learner has to take certain steps, put ones hand, heart and head into it. In simple word use whole body, mind , intellectual complex system fir this learning.
What we have seen style is some outer behaviour and ways.
When we work in the world, whole of our life... It's not that we only use one sense or one particular part.

When I am accessing information and knowledge, it's all sense.. through all sense only an integral picture can be made. Some sense will work predominently while few in dorment. With activities it can be different.

Finding out predominent style of Learning. Then people defend and give as much as possible information to instruction to knowledge through that style only.
This sounds like, if I am visual learner I will use eyes more than the ear.
Is it possible?
Such lope sided attempt builds and slowly brings disharmony.

Knowing ones predominent style is good. But should not be made a case for a learner in terms of not developing and using other ways of learning. Rather focus can be refinining and making instruments better in all domain. Such should be our approach. Mastering one side will easily lead to master others too.  If practiced sincerly, one can develop more.

Many time it has been seen finding such learning style give another fancy of working in one direction and trying that method absolute on other. Interest of learner also has some stack in it. Learner might not have got that sense of need completely. So much that learner can identify a right support who can help in fulfilling those needs. Whether it can be teacher or a book ot a video or internship.
If learner doesnt have a choice to select support to fulfill need, learner mind should always keep higher end of aim, the need. Also other in any ways not suggest about or disrespect learner support. Not to tell that such teacher or books are useless and degrading talk. If learner finds such things , tries to find a way, change the support or develop such capacity through which it can adapt the teaching style. Asking someone else to change is much more difficult and expect other to change. It's easy to change oneself. Here to one is not actually changing ones style just enhancing less predominent style or using them more. Which eventually going to produce better result and develops learner into much better learner.

In short we, learner, parent, teacher need to come out of mindset that only and only through this way I can learn something. Finding style is good but macking it exclusive is not. Rather one can work in direction of improvement holistically. Sense development and awareness through body program are such things which can help learner to become better adapter to learning in different forms and style.

PS: at the end quenching the need of learning is the goal. One cannot give away learning from some very knowledgeable or experience person just because it doesn't match or doesn't cater to our learning style.
I haven't done editing and reading thrice this time.. if any mistakes , pls help..

Link of next post , teaching style
Style vs Substance in education http://godsknow.blogspot.com/2018/09/style-vs-substance-in-education.html

सुन day

सुन day.

सोन day।

Sunday is a day to listen... Your body and heart....
Monday to saturday ... You done enough o hand  leg and brain to get...
Let us also do something...

Let me sleep, you didn't allowed that too easily.

Writing this note today in lighter laughter not.

I wanted post of sunday little bit less research and heavy.

But can't stop.
Was checking history of sunday.

It's just 19th century no work day as per government and other sector.

But way back in 9th century as church getting autonomy, had declare no physical labour on that day. Even some church had told one should not travel on that day...

Whatever....

Right now I am musing with this सुन day।
Listen good music
Listen to your family member, friends and relatives...
Listen to your house.
Listen to your own body... (Isn't on regular day we force or ignore certain physical need and desires. But on Sunday with special attention we see gases moving, hunger striking, rest and relaxation.)
Listen to demands of relationship

Listen to _______(pls fill yours) on सुन day।
आज किसकी सुनी sunday ko?

Why style matters in education? Or does it really matter?

{ps: prerequisite before reading it, this topic consider person has fair bit of idea about different learning style (auditory, visual, kinesthetic and others) and teaching style (model, facilitator, lecture,etc.). If not use any of the below reference resource and read them. Thanks. You are free to read otherwise too.}

There are two main definition of the english word - style. (In hindi : शैली)

1. The way that something is done, built, etc.
2. The shape, fashion or design of something.

Now when we put this word along with Learning and Teaching. We can derive few meaning out of it. Each tells whether it is static or dynamic, fixed constant or changeable variable. I am not going right now in details to take each combination and analyse them

In general, few believes are prevalent in education domain, specially in today's time. They are,
1. When we use word learning style we generally, mostly use second definition of style, with fixed notion.
And
2. While using teaching style we generally, mostly use first definition of style and in changeable notion.

Above statement comes from general observation, few reading and research finding. (See the video given in link. Again not going into details)

But why I am suddenly talking about this? That to in short description.

I found this Learning quite amusing. Seeds of it is quite old. While current root lies in one month yoga course.

On first day of our course, during  orientation we were told there's going to be many teachers. Some time two to three teacher for same areas. Each with their unique style.
That's hard fact for any institute, school, university. Every individual going to be unique. Teachers, professors are not a machine robots which can produce same thing.

As a student, I tried to adopt and adjust all learning style appropriate for that particular teacher to best (and some time low too) of my capabilities.
It was interesting mix of things.

But in those few days what I show as a student and conversation with fellow student. As well past observation of teacher and student. I develop little more understanding about life and education. It posed few questions too.

I found we have somewhere got caught in our own believes about our style and capability. Our mindset has restricted us. Also as a system, on one hand we are telling teachers to change style of teaching, differentiated learning and so on.. but same thing we don't tell to student who can actually get more benefit by doing so. (In terms of development). We label student (it's happening at many places) or start comparing student with student, teacher with another teacher. To a certain extent that parent and even other teacher don't hesitate to tell to their children, your teacher doesnt know 'how to teach?' ' your teacher is third class teacher .' and many such phrases and sentences.

At same time, providing a child with learning style most dominant or preference base, really helps that child. In life, at work scenario at many other learning and development level can we keep on creating, catering to those style. And if you don't find such occasion and teacher which suits your learning style, then what will you do?

What are we doing?

Again a big question, here I would like to take a pause..
I would like to take a pause for two reason.
1.
Bring down a level down and present questions, understanding in smaller chunk... While maintaining that interconnectedness.
2. I have already presented something which many have tried, challenged and proved by research, a kind of myth we have generated on learning style.

Also, you might to read again or watch the video.
As above write up is kind of summary and next steps..

Reference resources:
https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/557687/

https://blog.cognifit.com/teaching-styles/amp/

Multiple intelligence by Howard Gardner

https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/5-types-of-classroom-teaching-styles/
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/rhubarb/fingerprints-learning-styles.html

https://youtu.be/855Now8h5Rs
(Must watch...)

Images front tes.com and internet sources.