Educational Work - On Fear
Fear
Working with the education of the young we are committed to an exploration into the nature of fear and are certain that fear and coercion have no place in learning.
A number of our processes and structures of learning at school attempt to move away from the traps of fear.
Students learn in mixed age groups where learning may be evaluated on the individual student’s ability and not measured against standardized expectations.
Students learn in a variety of ways – lectures, discussions, drama, presentations, projects and activities – and different ways are legitimate and encouraged.
Students learn and take help from each other for their work – being resources to each other.
The teacher works to create an atmosphere for learning, to introduce, explain and connect the topic at hand, and helps students to engage with their tasks and with each other purposively.
The teacher and students understand that learning is grounded in a relationship of affection and respect between the teacher and student.
Each student is encouraged to take responsibility for his or her learning, participation, behaviour and work.
“Then we can ask what is the teacher teaching and what is the pupil receiving, and more widely – what is learning? What is the educator’s function? Is it to teach merely algebra and physics or is it to awaken in the student – and so in himself – this enormous sense of responsibility? Can the two go together? That is, the academic subjects which will help in a career and this responsibility for the whole of mankind and life.”