Oneness-Family School - Director's message
Childhood and pre-adolescence can be a time of great disillusionment, as the world becomes more and more complex and confusing, with competing messages in the media and in the students' lives. Bit it can also be a time of great energy and hope, if students can feel empowered by their beliefs, their understanding of themselves, and the skills they develop to create the kind of world they want to live in as adults.
In the early years, children are gradually awakening to their deeper selves, their gifts, their potentials and the outer world. As they expand their awareness, they begin to understand the needs of others, the sacredness of life, and the ability to embrace a community consciousness.
At Oneness, circle time, the peace corner, and the sacred items are vehicles that naturally transport the students toward a place of self-reflection. During circle time, the whole class spends a moment each day "making silence". Circle time is also a place where students are encouraged to form and ask questions, to develop opinions, and to seek the opinions of others. The Peace Corner is a special space where the child can go to contemplate or appreciate a unique object related to a current or seasonal theme. The sacred items are special objects used in ceremonies and the honouring of the season. The children can touch and explore these objects which inspire awe and help set a tone for the classroom. These tools help the child discover the power of silence, connect with a natural sense of wonder, and provide a respite from the clamor of the bustling modern world.
As students grow, they are also transitioning into a new understanding of reality. They are much more conscious of others and the larger community. Their creativity is in full flower, and this helps them to learn about their feelings and ideas in more depth. They are often full of questions as they seek to understand the truths about life, becoming philosophers and grappling with ethical and social dilemmas. They are able to understand and explore value systems, their own and those of others. At the same time, their abstract thinking has more fully matured, allowing them to imagine what it would be like to be someone else and to develop empathy.
Children learn better when they feel good about themselves. Therefore, the curriculum includes a program that teaches self-esteem to children through cognitive restructuring and positive thinking skills. This allows the child to learn skills that help them know they are OK in spite of difficult things that happen, and empower them to be in control of their own feelings, thinking and decision-making.
By the time the students reach pre-adolescence, morning circle time takes on a deeper meaning for them. They are able to use the time to explore and express their maturing belief systems and personal inner hearts. They may explore how they use the sacred space of morning circle, designing centerpieces with candles or special items and experiment with different ways to ring the chimes or bowls to get the most meaningful sounds to accompany their personal reflection time. As a class, the students discuss the basics of meditation, how it is used around the world, and its known benefits as stress management and concentration tools. The students have opportunities to try a variety of non-religious techniques. During the school day, students further develop their skills in self-reflection by writing responses to guided questions in their journals. Journal questions give students time to reflect on their own connections to current curriculum themes and to the units being studied.
Other experiences in and out of the classroom give students structured time to continue becoming more aware of their feelings, beliefs and inner balance. Students often create art to inspire others or art objects to go on the sacred shelf in the Peace Corner. The classs often chooses to listen to inspiring music to help them achieve their goals.
Nature walks or journaling time outside also help students discover more about how they fit in the world, and the interconnectedness of all things. At Oneness-Family School, these events are not separate from the academic curriculum, but serve to support and connect the learner to the learning, the students to his or her world. ~Andrew Kutt, Director and Founder, Oneness-Family-School, Washington DC. For a copy of their curriculum and 'Visions for Oneness', contact Andrew at - www.onenessfamilyschool.org
# In 2006 Oneness-Family School celebrated its 18th anniversary, with an enrollment of 118 students.
