Space to Figure Things Out

The theme of this Monday's walk-and-talk is the importance of kids having space to figure things out. It's part of August's larger theme of the importance of space.

Kids need space to figure out what's important to them. Boredom is time to digest the changes of growing up, time to rediscover the answer to the question "What's important to me?", an opportunity to take responsibility for one's opportunities. It's important to have a school that intentionally supports space for this.

Kids also need space to get to know the world, its realities and its concepts. For example, I see a lot of kids, in their play, working on relationships, groups, community. They often source from the unjust behaviours they hear about on the news. Kids need a safe, orderly, democratic environment in which to figure out these challenging aspects of our world.

I'm back from my trip, and look forward to this Monday's walk-and-talk. We meet at 7:00 in front of City Hall and begin walking at 7:15.

Creating Spaces

The theme of this Monday's walk-and-talk is the actual creation of safe, orderly, empowering spaces for children. It's part of August's larger theme of the importance of space.

It will be a practical discussion, relevant to your own life today. I won't be at the talk, as I'm still at camp. The camp is mostly for adults, and many bring their kids. How can we support freedom and empowerment for kids in a large camp environment? More relevant for Kingstonians, how can we enhance kid-active places in Kingston, such as our parks?

This practical discussion will generate understandings that will prepare us for creating spaces at our school.

Space to Learn

The theme of next Monday's walk-and-talk is the effect of having space to learn. It's part of August's larger theme of the importance of space.

I'm back home from England, and leaving tomorrow for almost 2 weeks in the U.S.. I'm going to a camp in New Hampshire, just past Lake Winnipesaukee.

Lake Winnipesaukee is the beloved setting of What About Bob. Do you remember that scene on the dock when Siggie's father is demanding that he learn to dive? Siggie has frozen up, and it looks like it might take him a semester or two, and even a couple of sequels, to learn to dive.

In a later scene, the father is gone and Bob shows up (good ol' Bill Murray). Suddenly Siggie switches from being a downcast incompetent to being a motivated teacher of diving. Given the sapce, and a personal motivation, the task is quite natural, and quickly accomplished.

Sudbury-model students have the space to discover their interests and motivations. In this spacious environment, Siggie's quick learning is a normal event.

As I won't be at next Monday's walk-and-talk, if you'd like to discuss this topic with me, please leave a comment below.

Room of Their Own

The theme of this Monday's walk-and-talk is the importance of having ownership over one's space. It's part of August's larger theme of the importance of space.

Having ownership over the school space means that students have majority say in what each room is used for. It's comparable to the difference between being in a home and a hotel. Students' personalities come out more, and they take better care of the space because it's theirs.

Having a "school of one's own" means that the school quickly adapts as interests appear and change. It means that students speak up for what they believe in, because they know that they can affect change. It supports relevant, respectful behaviour. It leads to the deep concentration that Virginia Woolf elucidated in her talks at Cambridge on "A Room of One's Own".

I was curious whether this England trip would delay progress with the school, but in fact it has given me a fresh perspective on the importance of space. I won't be at this week's walk-and-talk. If you'd like to discuss this topic with me when I'm back, please leave a comment below.