Family
gathering for alternatives to conventional schooling 2013 (EFAEC 2013)
Education
often forms part of an ideological battleground, and it appears that we are
destined to form part of it, or change the paradigm completely. Are there
really no alternatives to conventional schooling? From home education to
democratic schools, distance schools, non-directive educational communities,
alternative projects, play groups in nature, unschooling…each and every person
who takes place in these experiences aside from the conventional school system
forms part of a wider collective that is looking for something different for
the children and adults that accompany them in the adventure of learning and
growing. Because of this, in recognition of what binds us together, in
celebration of our differences, and with the knowledge that there is strength
in unity, it gives us great pleasure to announce the first family gathering for
alternatives to conventional schooling (EFAEC 2013).
At the
gathering we shall have conferences, debates, talks, workshops, presentations,
games, songs…but above all we’ll have time to meet each other, find each other,
recognize each other and generate synergies and affinities to enjoy and share.
We’ll look
for ways to help each other, to be in contact, and ensure that freedom of
education is a reality. Together we are stronger, the participation of any of
us could be crucial in changing a mind, an idea, a life…
Therefore we
offer the possibility for anyone, or any group, to be a collaborator in this
gathering. The idea is that the gathering will lead to a process of
communication and collaboration between all the members of the community who
are looking for alternatives to conventional schooling and education. As a part
of this process the plan is to set in motion a social and learning network, the
European Alternative Learning Cooperative.
In a world
where there is more and more political pressure to ensure the compulsory nature
of state schooling, to extend it to the first years and months of life as was
proposed in Spain in recent months, it is important that the collective who
want something different to confinement and indoctrination should be listened to and respected, because not only is another type of education possible, it is happening here and there. It is fundamental that we know how to
transmit to society at large the validity and sense of other models of
learning, and, as in any movement, the more people actively participating, the
more force is generated, the clearer we can explain ourselves. But at the same
time we realize that the success of experiences away from the conventional compulsory
school model can also depend on factors such as a local support network, the necessary
human warmth of our fellow travellers or a little inspiration when it is sorely
needed. This understanding makes it even more important that we join our energies together
to learn from each other, to learn from the different paths that lead to such
similar places, or indeed from different destinations, but crossing paths as we
go along. We’ll meet in Ador! We’ll see each there, we need each other.
Dates of the gathering: 26 August to 1 September, in Ador, Gandia. http://www.albergueserradador.es/
Contact: Daragh McInerney
email: daraghmci@hotmail.com
Movil: 722349019
skype: daraghmci
