Today was a LONG day. We woke up at 7 so we could make it to the very norther part Berlin. We were visiting a outdoor Kindergarten. It was quite an experience! We met the class at a park and they started with some songs. The kids were pretty high energy. Then we followed the class onto a public bus. That was a very strange thing to be taking a group of 3-5 year olds onto a public transportation. We got off the bus and went to a botanical garden. While at the garden the kids pretty much had free choice to do what they wanted. It was a very different experience than what I am used to. The whole point of the class is to allow the kids to explore their world and solve there own problems. It is like montessori but more laid back and outside. I help the kids whittle wood (yes they are allowed to use a sharp knife! The teacher said they will cut themselves at first but then learn to respect the knife). I also helped build and explore. It was a very tiring experience. I think I can learn a lot from the school but I also think there was a little to much freedom to the point that I was afraid we were going to loose some kids!
After we were outside with the class we all took the bus back to their classroom and all ate a family style lunch together. The school serves vegetarian and organic food. It was very nice to see all the kids sitting for a meal. We also sat together outside and ate breakfast and all the kids brought different fruits and vegetable and all shared them as well!
We are now on the train headed to Hamburg. I am spent from a full day of learning and bus/tram/train travel!
Made it to Hamburg. Grabbed a quick bit and now time to relax. Doing a walking tour tomorrow and I am spent from the full day today!
Good night, and thanks for reading.
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Location:Amsinckstraße,Hamburg,Germany
I think the kids using the knives is actually a good idea, though I understand it's not without severe, however remote, risks. I think that even though the adult supervision is scarce, it is their model that is primarily responsible for the education of the students. If the adults see a knife, and imply its use, as a weapon, the kids will too (they aren't born thinking a knife is a weapon). However, if the adults see a knife and imply that it is a tool - show them that it is good for whittling or cutting grapes, then the students know that first, this object, is for assisting in the action of other things, and they will begin to use their creative little minds to think of all the other practical uses.
ReplyDeleteThe thing the adults are trusting is that we are not born wanting to be violent and mean (are we?). Their little minds dont yet fathom the most advanced uses of knives, let alone the most forbidden one (injury to a friend).
Now, they will play, and they will accidentally cut themselves and perhaps they will accidentally cut a friend (but never out of meanness), and if the adults show and practice that injury to another person is the most treacherous and forbidden use of a knife, then the remote possibility of serious injury becomes even more remote.
This is all assuming that they have their little friends around while they are learning how to use knives. What if the situation were different? What if it were only a dad, or a mom, or a teacher, it doesn't matter, and a child? Just the two of them, and meanness would never be present. Then it seems the child might never even witness meanness, and never associate a knife with anything other then dissecting a fish caught for dinner.
Some day, the child will inevitably realize the worst ideas that a knife can be used for, but by then, with the aid of wonderful teachers, and supportive parents, the child will have more respect for the Knife than a good deal of the world.
Pace
Very true Paddy! I think the hardest thing for me to watch was the total lack of supervision. It has been pounded into we teachers heads that kids will break and it is hard to change that mentality.
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