Re: e.g., a practice-based methodology?
maria judith (costlins who-is-at ism.com.br)
Sun, 23 Nov 1997 13:56:03 -0300
Eugene Matusov wrote:
>
> Hi Diane and everybody--
>
> Mostly I agree with you depicting of mainstream institutions (sorry, but I'd
> include credit unions in the same range as banks unless you have an
> exceptional case). It's a good question if in the totality of body and mind
> oppressing institutions where can be safe heavens. I think there can.
>
> >Eugene - in what ways have you experienced
> >institutions as a positive space, "breathing freely", as 't'were? I guess
> >I understand institutions as replicas of a specific class oppression
> system.
>
> Let me give examples. I have experienced "breathing freely" in many
> participants and myself in an innovative public school in Utah that is run
> by parents, teachers, and kids (OC). Last year I felt the same
> participating in organizing the 5th Dim at Santa Cruz. The project has been
> run by UCSC instructors and faculty, local community center, grad students,
> undergrads, and kids. Here, in Delaware, I saw private parent-teacher
> cooperative that seems to have similar features.
>
> What do I mean by "breathing freely". I guess participants' collaboration
> on goal development supported by the institutional structures. Shared
> ownership of problems, affiliation by participation... What else?... Respect
> and mutuality in problem solving...
>
> Of course, there were "holes" and germs of oppression in these institutions
> but I think it was good because it means that they are connected to a bigger
> society... May be just, positive thinking...
>
> EugeneEugene, I agree with you because I know many schools where people can
"breath freely". I my self came from a publica experimental school and
after from a good free private catholic school. Now I am professor at
the University Rio de Janeiro, (Educational Psychology) and I try to
show the students the different possibilities and ways how to be a
teacher in what I call a Pedagogy of Respect. Thanks, Maria Judith Lins