The Element

I've found another person to be inspired by.  My daughter introduced me to him and his ideas on education through a You Tube video (I love it when my kids start teaching me!).  Sir Ken Robinson, PhD has some thought provoking ideas on education.  I already believed most of this, but I usually hear this kind of thing from homeschool proponents.  His ideas on education are directed towards public education, but anyone involved in education can benefit.  He's so brilliant I don't know why I hadn't heard of him before!


Take 10 minutes to watch this and see if you don't find yourself shaking your head in agreement.  A lot. The talents of the RSA Animate makes it fun!  Then check below for a book review.

Awesome, right?  I think instinctively, most of us know this, but the "system" is what we've been raised on.  I searched around and found that he's written a book called The Element, How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything.  It's not your typical, "follow your bliss" type of book.  It's an amazing combination of personal development and education, two of my favorite subjects!   It's at once a guide for finding your passions and best self, and a scathing review of  our educational system.   Color me happy!

He discusses his educational philosophies and how he thinks schools should start over, not just "reform".  He discusses the importance of learning in a holistic way, where all the senses, modalities, and "intelligences" are engaged.  We  know that schools cater mostly to the linguistic and mathematical styles of learning, which leaves so many children feeling lost and sees many reach adulthood without ever having discovered that which they most love and excel at.  


Robinson gives  many real life examples of people's paths to happiness and success by finding and following their passions.  He also shows the difficulties and obstacles that often stand in our way to doing so, specifically in the school systems and societal expectations that so many of us grew up with.   As I shared in an earlier post, I'm struggling to find my passion; that Element where I belong.  Rather than answers, it's given me more to ponder.  In some cases, your Element and what you do to make a living aren't the same thing.  You may do what's necessary to survive financially, and immerse yourself in those interests and passions outside of work hours.  I'm stubborn though  (not a surprise to some of you).  I insist there must be a way for those things to meet in my life; passion and income.  If only my passions were accounting, or grocery store clerk, or receptionist, you know?  Life would be so simple then.  


I've realized too, that I may be doing better than the public school system in helping my children discover their true gifts, but I'm failing in many ways too.  As a product of that broken system, I  of don't often  think far enough outside of the educational box.  I  struggle to maintain enough of a schedule and routine so that I can  manage a household of nine and all the grunt work that comes with it and keep my sanity (ok....   keep what's left of it), and still allow the flexibility my children need to indulge their interests and gifts to their fullest extent.  With the number of kids, their age differences, and interest differences,  I struggle to feel I can meet all their needs in that way.  I've got a lot to think about over the holiday break!  Watch it, read it, and tell me what you think!