Education
What schools are getting right
TEKOS SCHOOL – EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE
This is the school founded by Mikhail Shetinin which Anastasia presents in her books as a powerful example of how empowering education should be to bring out the most in our children.
Children are valued and respected for the wise beings they are and appreciated for the innate wisdom and creative abilities they all have. Education is seen as drawing this out, not putting information in. There are no adult teachers. Children are given responsibility for their own education, learning together and teaching each other in small groups of mixed ages (8 and 17 years) and covering the entire high school syllabus in a year or two, while also managing the school, its administration, meals, maintenance etc all by themselves. They focus on one academic subject at a time, mastering its core principles before adding the “fat” around this before moving on to another area. They are encouraged to delve as deep as they desire into a subject, moving into university level – there are no restrictions to their learning. All areas of learning are connected and understood as parts of one big jigsaw puzzle that all fit together beautifully.
This is a disciplined orderly environment yet children feel free and independent to grow to their full potential. The students themselves have built and decorated the school from scratch, brick by brick and written their own text books. The school develops the whole person with much time being devoted each day to the arts: music, dance, culture exploration, exercise, and all this in a healthy outdoor environment; learning from nature, in nature and with nature. This is a school for the future where the outdated model of our current school system is seriously challenged and an inspiring example of how things can and should be is presented.
Mikhail Shetinin together with Leonid Sharaskin, who brought the Ringing Cedars books to the English speaking world, are investigating ways to bring this positive example of education to the Western world. Shetinin’s book on his philosophy of education will hopefully be available in English in the near future. A international tour of Shetinin and his pupils is planned for late 2010.
I have asked a local bookstore to purchase 10 copies of “The School” which they were happy to do. Thank you so much and I thank all of the children who together make up the school. This is a great inspirational offering. Several of the local libraries have reserved a copy of “The School” as well as Catamount Arts our local alternative theatre and arts center. Jamie Dimick, head of the local Community Access TV station is interested in getting permission for a public showing on KATV. So, I am doing some wonderful networking about the film and people are very responsive. The children’s section of the local library The Atheneum in St. Johnsbury will have its own copy as well as one for the adult section. How is permission granted for two or three public showings of the film and perhaps a discussion. Where will your 2010 trip take you? Can you consider coming to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Riverside School is an alternative school that my younger children went to – grades 4-8. The children worked together building a solar car and were part of the Tour de Sol car race. I have emailed Pine Hill School, a Rudolf Steiner School about The School. Pine HIll and High Mowing which is the Steiner High School may be very interested in having representatives from The School visit. Well, let’s see what can be developed here.
I look forward to learning more and understanding more about “The School”. I learned about The School through The Ringing Cedar Series. Thank you so much for your love and full embrace of creation. I thank Anastasia and all others who are helping to bring the books forward.
I will bring the film to Peter Schuman, himself originally from Russia, an artist,a puppet maker and creator of Bread and Puppet Resurrection Circus. i will also bring the film to a Russian philosophy professor and his wife at Lyndon State College and St. Johnsbury Academy, a boarding and public school. I shared the film with a dear friend, a Native American Elder, RoseMary Wereley. She will share it in her area. She has purchased one of the 10 copies to introduce it to others. There is a beautiful place in Craftsbury, Vermont called Craftsbury Outdoor Center that may be a wonderful facility for a gathering about “The School”. There is also a gathering place called The People Barn in Greensbory, VT as well as Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT. They recently had about 1,000 cross country skiers there and they were fed and had music and chair massage at the Sterling College cafeteria, a college dedicated to; the study and stewardship of the environment.
I extend my love and gratitude for all you are bringing forth and the freedom to start living life now with joy and greater wisdom, openness and compassion. Even though duality is not the true reality, I look forward to finding freedom in my heart to embrace life more fully.
Sidora Ziegler, Peace Way Artist and Reconnective Healing Practitioner. see http://www.thereconnection.com Reconnective Healing frequencies connect with an axiatonal system of light, energy and information. I would like to send a copy of the DVD – The Living Matrix to you. What is your address? I have watched it 10 times at least as study material. This has many examples of “The Field” and “Living in the Field”, our beliefs and intentions. Do you watch films ever? I am very glad that you made your film and I get to watch it. Each time I see something in it that I previously missed. I like watching the subtitled version with the voices of the young people, but also have noticed details in the dubbed version that I did not notice when I watched the subtitled version.
Thank you again.
Sidora Miriam Ziegler
802-633-2627
P.O. Box 804
St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819
Dear Sidora
Thanks for your awesome comment. If you want, please send a copy of the DVD to me
Haroun at
PO Box 42525
Fordsburg
2033
South Africa
And I’ll pass it on to the relevant people here
Hi Sidora,
THE SCHOOL
According to Deep Snow Press who markets “The School” DVD: “Until further notice, the public screening fees for The School DVD are generously waived by the right holders, making it easy for you to spread the message by inviting your friends to watch and discuss this film together.”
http://www.deepsnowpress.com/school.htm
Leonid Sharaskin (editor of the English language Ringing Cedars series) is planning a tour of the Western world with Shetinin, the founder of the school, later this year in order to promote it outside Russia. Shetinin is particularly interested in promoting it to Russian expats abroad. Leonid is also currently arranging the translation into English of Shetinin’s “bible” on his philosophy behind the school. I suggest you make contact with Leonid via his Deep Snow Press at the link provided. There is also another longer DVD on the school called “Bright Tidings” which provides more info and can be purchased from http://www.ringingcedarsofrussia.org/store.php?id=listof_2kinsschool.
All the best in your endeavors!
Dear Faye
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your insider knowledge on this subject!