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2.3: "News" - Page 6-7   |
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ÖHealth in education - 2 Dhyan Vermeulen visited Halsofrämjande skola in Västmanland Sweden. This visit was very special. 33 Schools in 10 city's in the State Vástmansland in the middle of Sweden about a hour by train from Stockholm are working together to re-create there education to make real multiple, emotional and social intelligent education. I visited some of this schools and had a meeting with a group of school managers who showed me there way of working. They use the same metaphor to show me what they are doing. All education is real multiple intelligent. In the schools I visited children worked individual and in mixed groups, making music together, working in a group to make a sculpture and big ornaments. Everywhere at the walls of the school you see beautiful ornaments made by groups of children, in another place in the school children give massage to each other. They are 8-9 years old and did there massage work as if they are professionals doing this work for a long time already. In the library everywhere children are sitting in low seats, the environment is feeling like home, very save and its a pleasure to be there. If we go trough the school we see children eating, cooking (doing an eat good, feel good project). Some boys are playing outside in the snow for a long time. I ask a teacher who walk around. "Can they play outside for such a long time?" Why not,is the answer, the children are self-responsible, they all have there own plan and they do there work well, let them play. After a time they will come inside to do other exercises. By playing like this they learn in a more bodily way how to live together. Learning by playing in a multi intelligent manner is our goal. Look to the math work of this boy. He is playing outside now, but he is also doing very well in mathematics and physics and Geographical matters. I take a look to the materials. No special methods, a lot of montessori material but also a lot of 'self made'materials, very colorful. Children can use the computer if they like. There are also classes livskundkap (art of living) and forumspel (forum play) where the children learn to solve little live problems in a circle and do exercises with Boal and open group talkes in circles. This opentalks and dialog exercises develop a warm social climate. I am wondering, this circle method is in the basis similar to the circle time methods schools in Liverpool use to do. They never meet each-other. I recognize that this schools of the Swedish project: Nibbles skolan (children from 6-13), Ullvigymnasiet and Ullvi High School are real good practice that involve emotional and social grow for children. I ask for the pedagogic behind this practice. Then they are telling me I have to meet Olle Ähs, he is the man behind the vision called involving pedagogic. Ullviggymnasiet school for secondary education gives the practice outline and mission for involving education in the Hálsoframjande Skola: The mission is to create a school where everybody feels at ease. they offer the students the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need in order to become independent and creative thinkers and learners. The care safety and well being of the students is an aspect of education we feel strongly about. Learning at Ullvig should be an enjoyable part of the students experience. The principal of Karlaskolan gives her vision. There tree has leaves no apples but the ideal and practice has the same elements. The Ramnasomradet has apples in yellow, green and red. I never experienced such a coherent and consistent developed of good education in a group of schools in different cities. This is very special. The Västmansland community forbund and especially Olle, Inger and the other workers/trainers in the field of education. This is something to be proud of. I ask the principal of the schools how many students they have and from what families. The Nibbleskolan has 250 to 300 children coming from two parts of Köping. 50% of the children is coming from the flats, most of them are children from parents who originally are coming from other places in Sweden or/and countries in Europe to work in the industries in Köping. A lot of multi problem families are living there. The other 50% of the children are coming from a middle class neighborhood. In the school all are working, playing and eating together. Every child meets the school nurse 12 times in a year together with the parents to find out what is good for them. Yes there are a lot of problems and there is a special classroom for children who need special care too. Yes there are also difficulties, especially to contact with parents for participation gives a lot of difficulties. And another thing. The teachers are telling me the same teachers in The Netherlands in renewed schools are telling me. "We need more time and space, to slow down, for reflection." Dear people in Sweden: Inger, Olle, Barbro, Margit and all other kind persons: I hope to meet you again. Perhaps NEXUS 2005. Perhaps earlier. Best wishes, From The EQEE board, Dhyan Dhyan E.W.M Vermeulen International Ambassador: HVO Humanist Ethical and Worldview Education President of EQ Europe Education European Network on Emotional Quality © 2002-2008 |