Module 6: Community & Culture in Holistic Education
“Certitude divides and diversity unifies…..We have to elevate religion above politics…..”
H.R.H. Prince El-Hassan Bin Talal BBC Newsnight 9th Feb 2006
Knudtson and Suzuki (1992) conducted research, to distil the differences
between native and scientific knowledge. They list the following qualities
as a basis of comparison;
1 Traditional native knowledge views the natural world as holy rather than
profane, savage, wild, wasteland or property.
2 Native wisdom is imbued with a deep sense of reverence for the natural
world with an absence of the desire to exercise human domination over it.
3 Native wisdom sees spirit as dispersed throughout the cosmos and not
embodied in a single, monotheistic supreme being.
4 The native mind tends to view the universe as the dynamic interplay of
elusive and ever-changing natural forces, not as a vast array of physical
objects.
5 The entire natural world is seen as somewhat alive and animated by a
single life force.
6 From the native perspective, there is a profound sense of empathy and
kinship with other forms of life, rather than a sense of separateness from
them and superiority over them. Each species is seen as richly endowed with
its own singular array of gifts and powers, rather than as pathetically
limited compare to human beings.
7 Finally, there is a tendency to view the proper human relationship with
nature as a continuous dialogue of horizontal communication between humans
and other elements of the cosmos rather than as a monologue one-way
vertical imperative.
Suzuki David T., and Knudtson Peter ( 1993) Wisdom of the Elders: Sacred Native Stories of Nature, NY:Bantam
Module description:
In relation to a working definition of the process of holistic development this module looks at the nature of, and use of, the idea of ‘Community, culture and content’ by the teacher, or other practitioner, so as to encourage learning, professional development and/or personal growth.
Community: “reality is a web of communal relationships, and we can know reality only by being in community with it.” Parker Palmer The Courage to Teach
Culture: Culture is activity of thought, and receptiveness to beauty and humane feeling. Alfred North Whitehead, The Aims of Education and Other Essays (Macmillan, 1929 p.1).
Introductory reading/s to get started:
http://www.infed.org/community/community.htm
http://www.infed.org/thinkers/palmer.htm Parker palmer relates strongly to our modules on knowing and on dialogue
http://www.infed.org/biblio/communitarianism.htm
A sense of the field can be obtained from Roger Stack’s ‘Map’ of Holistic Education see also his blog
