[ba-unrev-talk] RE: Deschoolin Society / Creating Learning Communities
Henry, (01)
Thanks for forwarding this to the list. (02)
I found it interesting enough to discuss it with the next person who called
me on the phone! (03)
It also reminds me that Eugene had started a reading group on Ivan Illich's
book(s) and that it disappeared. (I am one of the culprits that didn't
follow through.) Maybe one step we could take would be to revive that
activity. (04)
The Illich - Drucker (and Maslow) connection is also worth exploring. But I
suggest the thing to do is take another run at Illich's ideas. (05)
I want to say more. I think it is about the language of disaffection. I
find that I have to restrain myself and listen for the positive aspects of
the experiences that people describe (such as an account about studying at
The International University in Japan) and let the generalizations about
what's wrong with education and society and our economic modes just slip
past while I look for the positive in what is being reported. I find that
it works for me if I discount the negativity and keep looking for the gems. (06)
The second thing I notice is that this is a gigantic topic. "Education" is
not separate from civic life and the working of society and the absorbtion
of culture. And vice versa. We are speaking of major disruptions to alter
the model for schooling in our society. People's lives (and the
institutions of society, including economic life) are not organized for
this. It leaves me with a lot to ponder. (07)
What is there in this to be *for*? It is easy to be against something,
there just isn't much power in it. What, then, can I be *for* while I look
at this? I say it is for a sustainable (global) society that works for
everyone. Everyone. Including our co-inhabitants of this planet, whether
embracing our culture or another. I am going to look deeper into this from
that perspective. (08)
-- Dennis (09)
-----Original Message-----
From: Henry K van Eyken [mailto:vaneyken@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 08:59
To: Bill Ellis
Cc: albert.m.selvin@verizon.com; jackpark@thinkalong.com;
corbetre@webster.edu; mindyr@synmhs.usa.com
Subject: Re: Deschoolin Society / Creating Learning Communities (010)
Dear Mr. Ellis. (011)
I cannot but be sympathetic to your cause. That is not to say that some of
the points strike me as needing thoughtful contemplation. Allow me to single
out :he very first one: (012)
* Everyone has the right to decide what s/he wants to learn and have the
chance to learn it. (013)
Off hand, it seems to me important that the children from infancy upwards do
not have that right. In a world where we are increasingly dependent on one
another, it is important that children be raised with an awareness of and
concern for people everywhere as well as of the limits to our globe's
capability to sustain us all. (014)
[ ... ] (015)
******************* INVITATION *********************** (016)
Making Ivan Illich's "Deschooling Society" become real. Read it on: (017)
<http://philosophy.la.psu.edu/illich/deschool/intro.html> (018)
------------------------------------------------------- (019)
[ ... ] (020)