How do parents and educators reconcile the fervent clamor for rigorous national standards in education, with a simultaneous groundswell of yearning for greater diversity and educational choice: homeschooling, Montessori, Waldorf, democratic schools, charters and other alternatives?
As educators struggle to “Race to the Top” and “leave no child behind” why are schools also working increasingly hard to include farm-to-school programs, school gardens, experiential education, and environmental education? Does the need to educate for competitiveness in the global economy come into conflict with the need to educate for creativity, compassion, connection, and caring? Does this apparent tension have any relationship to wider social movements?
On Saturday, May 15, Salmonberry School will host a one-day education conference that will begin to answer some of these questions. The gathering will feature some of the country’s leading speakers, scholars, educators and activists in the fields of holistic education and the educational alternatives movement.
The conference, “Orcas Holistic Education Convergence,” will focus on the current global consciousness shift and its implications within the field of education. This symposium will take a close look at some of the diverse approaches to education during this era of social change. It will also help to place the entire educational landscape into a framework of broader social movements.
Ron Miller, author of “What Are Schools For” and many other books on the history, theory and practice of progressive and holistic education, will lead the visiting speakers. He will discuss the phenomenon of “The Self-Organizing Revolution” (the title of his most recent book) within the field of education.
Mike Seymour, author of “Educating for Humanity” and Director of The Heritage Institute will discuss integral education and the shift towards holism.
David Marshak, author of “Common Vision: Parenting and Educating for Wholeness” will speak about a range of post-modern approaches to education for adolescents.
Other educators and activists will lead small workshops and conversations ranging from science education for young learners to the Aurobindo schools in India.
“I am so excited to be able to bring this incredible assembly of people to our island,” said Salmonberry’s Program Director Paul Freedman. “In many ways it represents my ‘dream team’ of inspiring writers and speakers. Regardless of your background or prior knowledge in this field, I know conference attendees will be inspired and invigorated by the day’s end. I hope many islanders will come and help to welcome our traveling visitors.”
Cost for the day (the event runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) is $30 to 50 on a sliding scale. Discounts are available for small groups attending together. On-site childcare is available for a nominal fee. Salmonberry School is at located 867 North Beach Rd. in Eastsound.
For more information contact Paul Freedman at 376-5111.
