Tuesday, April 2, 2019

Holistic Parent Certification Program (Spinning our first tales!)


Working more closely with parents committed to holism and regeneration has been on my heart for a while now. The last 5 years of Originateve's early childhood education in China have certainly confirmed that most parents are attracted to our vision. The school's we have developed programming for have all grown in numbers and substance. Parents are paying. Investors are happy. There is food on the table.

Unfortunately, this measure of success doesn't cut. See, Originateve's vision strives to align with the Native American 7-generational principle:

"...in every decision, be it personal, governmental or corporate, we must consider how it will affect our descendants seven generations into the future."

As the old-storytellers would say, 'this, here, is a tall order.' Well attended parent teacher meetings are, simply, not enough. An occasional school-wide lecture or workshop, though adding a marketable flare, is, simply, not enough.

Go on and call me an educational heretic, if you will, but sowing seeds of holism in the hearts of our children without, also, tilling the boulder's their parents have left in the fields makes us out to be farmers sowing seeds in rocky grounds. We know our seed will sprout. And then quickly die. If we are at all serious about a long-term vision of holism and regeneration for the families we work with then parents must commit to a transformation that seeks to align with the paradigm shift we are fostering in their children.


For this reason, at Master Tree Kindergarten, we have created the HOLISTIC PARENT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM: a ten-course introductory series on holistic theory and practice for parents to apply at home:


The Storyteller
The Bard
The Genius
The Parent
The Playmate
The Inventor 
The Librarian
The Spiritual Guide
The Adventurer
The Gardener


  
Prior to our first session on Storytelling, I had sent out a survey asking parents: How many stories per month do you tell your kids. Even though, I am a storyteller by trade, I recognize that, on average, I tell my kids about one story a week. The results of the survey, however, indicated that instead of imparting the workshop on storytelling, I should have been the one receiving it. 

Determined to clear up my predicament, I started off the workshop with the following clarification:

“Storytelling, not to be confused with story reading, involves telling a story from memory without the aid of a book or written script. Some tellers memorize their stories; others memorize the characters and events and freely tell their stories, varying them with each telling.”

As I brought up the survey results on the slideshow, a sea of confessing laughter rippled on out through the room. Ufff...ok, an evident shift was taking place in the room.
 
Next, I would tell the story of The Naked Truth. It doesn't matter where you go these days, people have not experienced a story spun. We all have ideas and opinions about stories but very few experiences, let alone memories of times shared around a fire. 


Over the weeks that followed our first session, I presented our parents with some homework via our online WeChat group: Share a video of a story time with your children. Fully aware, now, of what telling a story truly entailed, many parents admitted feeling a overwhelmed by the task. Not surprising, right? We are unaccustomed to meaningful memorization. Ironically, books have become a crutch of sorts: "I don't know any stories. Ahhh!!! Somebody give me a book to read to my child!" The group fell into a prolonged silence. About 4 days into the challenge, the first video rolled in. I'll say nothing more, for now. See for yourself:


I must admit I got a bit teary eyed thinking that a moment, such as this, was taking place for the first time in a young family's life,, all due to joint school and parent effort to bring about paradigm shift. Good on little Vicky! Good on her mom! Good on the power of story! Empowered by their peer, several of the parents, since, have shared their story time as well. Good on all who are following suit!

For April our topic will be: An Introduction to Bardism. Stay tuned!



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