New story

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Education and The New Story, By Arnold Greenberg     Reprinted from COMMON DREAMS There is a new story emerging that is replacing the old story of human existence. The new story is urging us to learn who we are as humans and how to live so we do not destroy the planet. What is the old story and why is the new story so essential to our existence? Change is taking place so rapidly we do not realize it is happening. Technology, communication, travel, global economics are transforming our lives. At the same time, there is abundant evidence we are facing dramatic ecological and environmental changes that are threatening existence as we know it. We are living like the "unsinkable" Titanic, ignoring the icebergs ahead of us. We are entering a new time, "new waters" and unless we regain awareness of who we are as humans and our relationship with the environment, our present course may find us facing "icebergs" from which there is no escape. What is the new story and how is it connected to education? With the help of anthropologists, archeologists, historians, we have a good sense of our evolution from hunter-food gatherers to the present. We know the impact of the agricultural and industrial revolutions. We know that empires have been built on the backs of slaves and armies. We know that myths, superstition, religions have attempted to interpret and offer explanations or "stories" to satisfy the times. Stories get told and passed on and often changed along the way. In 1976, during the Bicentennial Celebration of this country, Walter Cronkite interviewed an Indian chief who said, "The biggest mistake the settlers made was not to learn how to live on this continent from us." The English who came brought their way of life, their farming and building techniques. But more than that, they brought a consciousness of their place in the universe which was fundamentally different than the natives. The hunter-food gathering societies that lived prior to the agricultural societies did not see themselves as separate from nature, but rather a part of nature. Men, women and children gathered food and shared it equally. It was important to their survival that everyone participated and thrived. There was no wealth and no poverty. The teachings of the Bible influenced the Europeans and central to the Judaic-Christian view was that man has "dominion" over nature and all non-human creatures. The Black Death of the 13th century that wiped out over a third of Europe and entire populations of towns had a major impact. People believed that man was doomed unless he was chosen by God to survive and that the way to salvation was good works. The notion of heaven and hell, damnation and grace led to the puritan ethic-hard work and virtue would be rewarded in the afterlife. The Protestant Reformation liberated people from dependence on the church but emphasized a personal relationship with God. This gave rise to the merchant class, the accumulation of wealth through exploitation of workers and nature, plundering of other countries as the need for markets and resources grew. Empire building resulted in wars, death, wealth, poverty and destruction-often in the name of God's will or Manifest Destiny. Decarte's view that the only reality we can know was that which could be measured, Newtonian physics and the emphasis on reason as the path to knowledge dominated the universities. The idea that there might be another way of thinking and living was not known or considered. Everything made sense from that particular point of view. It was not until the relatively recent realization that we were killing the planet and that human existence is threatened that we began to question the "story" we were living. In addition, scientists were becoming aware of phenomenon that could not be explained by current views. New sciences were evolving; quantum physics, astrophysics, bio-genetics and others were probing deeper into the mysteries of existence. A new story of the relationship between humans and the non-human world was emerging. The new story inspires a new consciousness, a new awareness that we are part of nature not separate or dominant. Though we are human, we are not superior to non-humans-trees, plants and all other creatures. We are equal inhabitants of the planet. When we speak of rights, we must not only speak of human rights but the rights of all living entities. That doesn't mean we don't cut down trees to build houses, but that we do so with reverence and in ecologically sound ways-replacing what we cut. We don't clear-cut huge rainforests to graze cattle for Mac Donalds causing dramatic changes to the atmosphere and climate. As Ghandi said, "There are enough natural resources for everyone's need, but not everyone's greed." The separation of humans from the non-human world, the view that humans have dominion and can take from nature at the expense of the health of water, land, air and other creatures that share the planet is the old story. The consciousness that the earth is a living organism and that humans are part of the organism is essential to the new story. Just as the cells and organs of our body are interconnected, the health of a body and the health of the planet are dependent on the harmonious interaction of all the parts. At present, our approach to education is perpetuating the old story. The emphasis on reason, memorizing facts, preparing young people for an economy that does not see the environment as essential to our existence, that ignores the "icebergs" ahead is jeopardizing the lives of our children and their children. Our education is still preparing young people for our past and not their future. The new story is challenging us to live in an ecologically sound way and to have an approach to education that cultivates the heart as well as the mind, inspires cooperation rather than competition, empathy and love instead of violence and hate. The challenge to bring the new story to our children is a huge task for parents and educators since the old story is so dominant. The good news is we now have the technology to reach children in ways we've never had before. Computers, television, movies, music and most important, teachers who are empowered to create learning experiences that cultivate an ecological consciousness give us a powerful opportunity to teach the new story. Having a course in ecology is not enough. The entire curriculum must explore the relationship between humans and non-humans. All courses must be interconnected and help young people learn how to live their lives in harmony with nature not separate from it. The present approach to education and the "leave no child behind" emphasis grows out of the industrial age model that is obsolete. The new story can awaken in our children their full potential to live gently, peacefully, lovingly. I believe that all children are born with the capacity to learn from the wonder of their existence, that learning is a natural as breathing and that education can nurture the love of learning rather than stifle it, as now happens in so many instances. The new story has much to offer and we now have the capacity to tell it. My question is who of us will be the story tellers? Arnold Greenberg, a former educator and founder of three schools, now lives off the grid in a small cabin in East Blue Hill, Maine. Email: grnbrg94@gmail.com

 

connect with nature, laugh often, love much,
Clark Mumaw crmumaw@yahoo.com
513-593-3057 (cell) NEW

ECO-Story A practical example of how eco-psychology can help you

THE ECO-STORY
I dream I see a elderly woman with gray hair slowly walking her way back into the school.  An alternative school which she helped start and has spent many years leading, guiding, teaching.  Within the last year, she has begun to make changes and she feels she is slowing down.  Her hip replacement has helped her feel physically better but she's still glad that she is no longer the head of the school.  As she walks in, there is a sense of loss, sadness, and of wondering who she is.  Her physical and possibly mental decline is sensed inwardly but is not very visible to others yet. Her heart is heavy yet filled with love for this very special school which she feels is part of her and it is. This school sustains her, excites her, disappoints her and yet fills a place in her life that could not be filled by the love of any person.

I see a man with a limp approach and fall in step with her.  He senses her sadness yet says nothing. She asks him how he is doing.  He says, "funny you should ask, I learned something interesting recently and I've been wanting to share with somebody. Could I share with you?"  Conscious of her responsibilities back in the school she asks how much time it will take.  He replies that it will only take as much time as she wants it to.  And they can stop at any time and she can can continue later.  The man asks her to tell him, what is her favorite area outside the school.  She replies that she has always loved the big old tree beside the playground.  The man suggests that they go over and have a visit with the old tree.  Upon arriving at the old tree, the man says.  I've recently come to the conclusion that when we are attracted to something in nature, that it can be more significant than just beauty.  I would like you to consider that your attraction to this tree is a biological relationship between you and some aspect of nature.  I would like you to consider that you have senses that are built to notice this relationship and it registers in your awareness as a natural attraction.  I would like you to consider that this attraction is a form of love.  I found it helpful for me to see that attraction as nature inviting me to stop and enjoy this moment, for nature wants to share something with me.  You're feeling of attraction is on a feeling sensation level and literally is expending you an invitation to be here.  I'm going to ask one thing of you and whenever you "feel" you are done.  Stop, thank nature and the tree and go on with your school life.  I'm asking you to notice what you "feel" not "think" and see then wait and see if what you "feel" translates later into an insight or thought or language.  Note this insight and later please come share it with me. When I did this something very interesting happened and I would like am overly curious to see what will happen for you.

After school, the woman finds the man outside under the tree and asks him what happened when he had his visit with nature.  Here is what's he told her. 

I was feeling very depressed about the economy. And the loss of moral ethics in our leaders.  I went outside to see what I was attracted to.  And as I walked along I saw a butterfly, I followed the butterfly over to the weeds along the fence line.  I lost the butterfly, and asked again what am I attracted to now.  I noticed a Caterpillar as I watched the Caterpillar, I was reminded of the transformation a Caterpillar makes when becoming a butterfly.  I remembered learning that a Caterpillar consumes three times its weight in food to gather in the energy needed to sustain its chrysalis transformation to its new life.  It occurred to me in that moment, that this was exactly what was happening in the financial markets in 2,009.  That the consumption of vast resources of money and things was literally symbolic of humanity taking in to be enough energy to sustain it through its own transformation culturally and maybe spiritually.  My depression about the future of the united states and world lifted because I now saw the problems as simply part of the birth pains of evolution, not end times.  With greater hope, I have been living this last week and been wanting to find someone to share my experience with.  When I saw you walking in earlier today, I hoped that I might find somebody who would understand my insight and rejoice in it with me.  Thank you for allowing me to share my visit with the nature with you.  It has been a very curious week for me as I've tried to understand what happened and why.  Do you have anything you would like to share from your visit?  I would love to to return the favor and listen to anything at all about your visit with nature, no matter how unusual it might seem to you.

The lady replied, "Well, You left me by the tree with many thoughts".  I was comfortable being near the tree but I did not really understand what you wanted to me to do.  I remembered you saying to notice how I "felt" and what I was attracted to.  I suddenly no longer felt comfortable being near the tree. This surprised me and I turned to go.  As I turned, to go I tripped over a stick and fell down.  Somewhat angry at you, I wondered if my fall would disturb my hip replacement.  As I lay there I started to notice many small new tree sprouts, all of them children of the large old tree I love so much.  It made me feel good. I thought that with so many trees sprouts surely some of them would grow and have a long life like the mother tree.  I must have laid there for quite some time just feeling good among the little tree sprouts.  I thought it was fortunate that my hip was not hurting and I decided it was time to get up.  Before I walked away I felt some moment of gratitude towards the tree and its children so I stopped and thanked them.  In that moment, I felt more connected to everything and I realized a parallel between my situation in life here at the head of the school and the tree.

Both of us had built environments to nurture and grow children.  Just as surely as some of the tree sprouts would survive, so would some of the children who went to the school to continue to spread the methods of loving to learn and playing to create.  My stepping down as head of school and doing less was really about opening up the sky for more sunshine and rain, so that others could contribute and reach their highest potential.  Now my sadness for myself became happiness for the sky I created and opportunity that I created by "not" doing things for the school.  I don't know if this is what was supposed to happen but I am no longer angry at you for leaving me by the tree.  I find now that I am less likely to define myself as having value for the things that I used to do as head of school, nor do I define myself as needing to lead or be a leader, or a standard bearer for the school.  I find that I am more likely to define myself as a mother strong enough to let go and set others free, and to define myself as a strong foundational platform which allows others to stand on my shoulders and see further. 

At this point the man suggested, is it possible that you now see yourself as a a torch bearer who did a "great" run and it is now passing on your light to others, and and maybe even a light "bearer" up who has spawned many lights to carry on, in fact, so many new lights that the success and failure of the school is no longer dependent on the success or failure of your light. And if I might be so bold, I would suggest you consider yourself a visionary who successfully brought an new idea into physical form. 

The lady replied, "Yes, it is easier now for me to see myself as a promoter of children's self esteem, and as entering a new life phase where I am a excellent listener, a curious promoter, a supporter of positive projects."  After a long pause, then she cautiously added,  "And I realize and value that I blazed a path bright enough and long enough for others to follow and make it self sustaining.  Yet I am very curious and wish to ask you if you have any ideas why this change in me happened and how? 

Boy that's a question I've been thinking about all week. One thought is that by tapping into what you are attracted to, you allowed your own constant mental chatter to stop long enough for your subconscious non-verbal brain to communicate to your conscious verbal brain. The other idea is that God made nature and made us to be in nature and that the easiest method for God to talk to us is through nature.  When we finally stop using language and start using feeling, we begin to open ourselves to communion with God.  In short, following your the sensory attraction can lead you to an area in nature where such communion is positive and beneficial to our unfulfilled needs.  Following your natural attractions is an ancient and revered method of learning and healing that survived many century's of survival testing.  Natural attractions and curiosity are bio-logical language skills which are innate but no longer practiced because we favor and spend a majority of our time indoors and with written language skills instead of out doors and intuitive sensory feeling skills.  I know of no way to prove this with science and fact but this method of attraction seems to be replicatable by those who are interested in trying.  Regardless of how, your re-casting of the story into a positive growth image, created a internal change in you.  Is that right?  Does it seem good? Would you wish to repeat it?

Also, I'm very glad that you shared your experience with me.  Because as you did so I had a new thought.  That it's quite possible this method may be easier way for people to meditation with much the same benefits.

I'm going to end my dream story here with a quote.

I believe in God, only I spell it nature.
Frank Lloyd Wright

connect with nature, laugh often, love much,
Clark Mumaw crmumaw@yahoo.com