Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A Child's Right To SELF

APOGEE Learning ~ A Child's Right To Self ~.

If indeed each emotion is an expression of the context, circumstances, relationships, needs, that define the moment, are we not to heed well the learning, growing child's expressed and experienced emotions? The child's emotions are the sensibilities, understandings, and responsiveness to the reality perceived. Perception defines each child's call. Heed well their call...TRUTH be their plea.

"What Makes Us Individuals?" ~ a shared perspective...

"When we consider our physical bodies, we discover that we are, really, a collection of recycled molecules. Cells of our body are created, die, and are replaced many times throughout our lives. We are constantly remaking ourselves. In order to regenerate, our bodies convert the food we eat into basic building blocks of life.

The earth itself provides the nutrients we need to renew ourselves, and when we shed cells, they are returned to the earth. We might say, then, that we are constantly transforming our physical bodies by recycling earth.

Next, consider our emotions. Emotions are just recycled energy. Emotions do not originate with us. They come and go depending on situations, circumstances, relationships, and events.

Emotions are never created in isolation; they always come about because of some interaction with the environment. In the absence of circumstances or relationships, there is no emotion. So even though I may fly into a rage, it is not actually my anger. It is anger that has settled on me for the moment. Each emotion is dependent on the context, circumstances, and relationships that define your reality at that moment.

And what about our thoughts? Well, our thoughts are recycled information. Every thought we have is actually part of a collective database. All but the most original thoughts are actually quantum leaps of creativity that occur from that same collective, recycled bed of imagination.

So if our bodies are recycled earth, our emotions are recycled energy, and our thoughts are recycled information, what is it that makes you an individual? According to many of the great spiritual traditions, one of the great truths is that “I am the other.” Without the other, we would not exist."

Adapted from The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press).

Children are to be understood for their needs, their desires and their ever present quest for understanding, support and acceptance. Responding, respecting, defining, and supporting need and individual differences to develop and enhance competencies, define the very purposes of APOGEE Learning.


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A Post Script:
A call from a parent whose child was 'not qualified' for kindergarten, has stirred up a host of emotions and the need to address those issues that persist to hurt, confuse and stress children and families. Today the words of the 'WALL." are clearly heard... YouTube - Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

I will not be heavy of heart for what is "NOT", but will as I meet with the "disqualified" kindergarten applicant, see the potential to be developed, the love that is within, the knowing that has yet to be expressed, and look to the power to be defined.

This song, "The Wall," was used as an introduction to a workshop that I put together for teachers. It was in the 80's, to remind those in attendance that our mission as teachers was to bring out, not suppress, the best of potentialities in each of our students. I have not abandoned such a focus. In 1983, APOGEE Learning™ was founded to offer viable educational opportunities to the divergent and creative learner. My students are NOT destined to be another brick in the Wall!!

We can change the script. Our willingness to be engaged, to become fully aware, our willingness to constructively confront, our willingness to respect our intuitive and heartfelt feelings, as parents, as grandparents, as educators, free of institutional constraints and circumscribed thinking, all this by our knowing that within each problem defined, rests a resolution beckoning for attention.



2 comments:

  1. A number of current situations have prompted today's post. Being a mother, grandmother and working with children and adults across the age span, these perspectives call to be heard. Your interest and support are most welcomed. Do not hesitate to share, if so inclined. Our children need more of our support and less of labeling and arbitrary judgments. Yes, I am a fully certified educator, learning disabilities, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, gifted... and know beyond the labels, within each is a heart, deeply endowed with love and a soul sparked with spirit and a quest to BE.

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  2. When a false comfort is held as reason to ignore the real needs of children, to assure their healthy growth, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, challenges are indeed defined. It is appalling to witness judgments of 5 and 6 years old children as 'problematic' because they do not measure up to an arbitrary standard of 'kindergarten' readiness. Especially since the particular standard is flawed and limiting on many levels. Ah if all education was MUSIC...
    Movement
    Uniting
    Spirit
    Inspiration
    Creation...

    So felt this day are the words of the "Wall."
    YouTube - Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

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