|
Welcome to the August 2004 issue of the email newsletter. This month:
If you have any feedback about this newsletter, or if you'd like to share your experiences of SSEHV, please write to us. Kind
Regards, |
|
A group of SSEHV volunteers headed by Lark Beecham in West Sussex have been running values-based play sessions at Arundel Lido on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons throughout August. Groups of 12 children, aged up to eight years, have been diving into human values through activities based on stories from the SSEHV manual for 6-8 year olds. Goldie, the contented goldfish, and Daffyd the helpful Welsh dragon have become well-loved characters through creative play that includes painting, sticking, modelling with playdough, beadwork, face and mask painting, and parachute games that even the youngest children are able to engage in. The sessions have been run as part of the summer programme of children's entertainment provided by the lido, and are free to attend (although there is an entrance fee to enter the pool.) This is the first time SSEHV has been used alongside swimming and paddling, and it has been a tremendous success with parents as well as children. One father who joined in with his 18 month old daughter commented, "What you're doing here is really ace!" |
|
Fifteen children aged five to 11 have spent a week experiencing human values at a five-day Values Alive Event in Fitton Hill, Oldham, from 23rd to 27th August. All the children are older siblings of under fives who already participate in the government's Sure Start programme, which incorporates early education, childcare, health and family support. Activities included silent sitting, stories, singing, games, drama, art and puppetry. Barbara Edmonson, one of the organisers of the event, said, "The children enjoyed puppets, dressing up and the journals most of all. We have found that they respond very well with the use of puppets and are able to express themselves more easily with them." At
the end of the week, the children were asked to evaluate their experience
by drawing faces. "If they enjoyed the week they could draw a smiley
face," said Barbara. "If they hadn't enjoyed it, a sad face
and a straight mouth if it was just OK. All the faces they drew were big
smiley faces and they want to have another holiday school." A similar event is planned in Burnley from 13th to 17th September, which is being run in conjunction with a local play association. Barbara writes, "In Burnley we will be doing SSEHV teaching components as we usually do before lunch and then we are hoping to try other activities in the afternoons. On one afternoon we are taking the children to an organic horticultural project in a beautiful park in Burnley. The children will be given a tour and then they will be able to do some planting. We are hoping to do some Tai Chi sessions, and we are planning a football afternoon and Indian dance." |
|
by
Richard J Wallis The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values Programme first started in New Zealand some 20 years ago when Jeanie Peel, inspired by Sathya Sai's education programme, started an Education in Human Values (EHV) class from her home for the children of the local area. Since then it has spread to a number of schools and five community groups. One of the schools is Rongomai Primary School in Otara, which is a disadvantaged suburb of Auckland (our largest city). A group of volunteers began going to the school once a week to give a values class. Connie, one of this remarkable team, went on a walking frame and the children adored her, reflecting the love that she poured out to them. It was from this group that the Sathya Sai Preschool grew. The primary school realised the value of Preschool Education and asked us and two other groups if we would start a regular early childhood centre at the school. We started a 'Play Centre' and later applied for registration for it to become a 'Licensed Pre-school'. In New Zealand, the main difference is that the latter are much more accountable to the Ministry of Education, with more stringent requirements on staffing and regular inspections by the Ministry of Education Review Office (ERO). We are fortunate that we receive a government subsidy, which helps us meet the cost of staffing. Our first ERO Review last year was outstanding and the inspectors commented, "You mention values such as Love in your Charter. When we see the interaction between the teachers and the children and the children with each other, we understand what you mean." The Preschool has two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with some children staying the whole day. At present it caters for 25 children per session. A recent grant from the Ministry has enabled us to double the size of the existing building, which is owned by our Institute of Sathya Sai Education, although sited in the Rongomai Primary School grounds. The extension will eventually enable us to cater for 40 children per session and to have more on a full day basis. It is a delight to see how quickly these children, almost all of whom are from Maori or Pacifica origin, blossom in the loving, values-based teaching environment. Poor behaviour patterns in new children coming to the centre quickly melt away and their true self shines through, sparkling in the eyes and expressing itself in radiant smiles. Last year I asked the then Rongomai Primary School Principal, 'Beverly, is the Sai Preschool having a beneficial effect on the school?' Beverly replied, 'Richard, not only on the school but on the whole community.' One of the main driving forces behind this exceptional project is our Teaching Principal, Jeannie Peel, the lady who started that first EHV programme in her home some 20 years ago. It
is now well accepted in New Zealand that early childhood education sets
the foundations for the child's life long learning patterns. In my mind,
it is also the best age to introduce Human Values. The child's true nature
has not yet been thickly covered and once this is awakened, the child
will blossom, achieving his or her potential in his or her own unique
and wonderful way. |
|
The next annual forum for SSEHV practitioners and those interested in the programme will take place at Bentley Wood High School, Bridges Road/Clamp Hill, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7, on Saturday, September 11th 2004. The programme will include talks by educationalists, teachers and practitioners in values education, as well as music, interactive sessions and a delicious lunch! The event is free to attend and open to everyone, although prior registration is required. For
further information or to confirm your participation, please contact Pamela
Nash (tel 01794 244494). |
|
Seventeen people from across the UK and further afield participated in the Intensive SSEHV Foundation Course in Pinner from 14th to 20th August. As usual, feedback from everyone was extremely positive, with comments including the following:
Bookings are now being taken for the next Intensive Foundation Course, taking place in December, as well as the following courses: SSEHV
Foundation Course, Coventry SSEHV
Parenting Workshop, Croydon SSEHV,
Foundation Course, Oldham SSEHV
Parenting Workshop, West Sussex Half
Day SSEHV INSET for professional teachers, Coventry SSEHV
Intensive Foundation Course, Pinner, Middlesex If there is no course scheduled in your area but you would like there to be one, we can arrange one as long as there are a minimum of ten people who would like to attend. Please contact Pamela Nash for more information. |
|
A
professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it.
He "50gms!" "100gms!" "125gms!" the students answered. "I
really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "But,
my question is: what would happen if I held it up like this for a few
minutes?" Questions: |
|
|
|
Copyright
© 2004 British Institute of Sathya Sai Education (BISSE). BISSE is
a non-profit organisation committed to promoting human values in education.
Registered address: The Glen, Cuckoo Hill, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 2BE United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 8429 2677 Email: enquiries@ssehv.org.uk |