What does it take to build a sustainable society?
Education/Upcoming Events
For decades, there has been talk about the need for education that supports, promotes, enhances, and strengthens society's ability to create a regenerative/sustainable society.
Really, how could we create a regenerative culture WITHOUT focusing on education?
And that's all education - retraining for adult workers to switch from, say, coal mines to sustainable forestry; educating policy makers; science and tech education for specific sustainable careers; childhood education; religious education with a green bent; online education for adults and teens; job-training programs that actually set up young people for both regenerative careers... and for the kinds of complex decision making and problem-solving that an increasingly volatile and uncertain climate will and already is creating. If anything, the cries for more sustainability in education is only growing louder (here's an example in the Arab world of Arab universities being encouraged to push for more sustainable education programming).
So I was a bit surprised when Schumacher College in the UK - long known for its progressive sustainable educational program, offering everything from MAs to certificates - recently shut its doors. The reason? The institution kept losing money. So its host, the Dartington Trust (a big medieval estate) kicked it out.
The timing was pretty bad - students had already moved in for the academic year, some of them traveling from around the world to do so, and they were told that their programs were suddenly closed. Unsurprisingly, student protests ensued.
I did a quick check - in general, sustainability in education IS on the rise. It's not just "this should happen": it is actually happening.
I'm sure you know lots of examples of the various ways this is happening! (In addition to the cool programming that we offer at Rē!)
And education as a whole (unrelated to dynamics like increasing the amount of environmental awareness and green jobs training) is struggling - both in high school and in higher ed.
And then - educating about sustainability is itself difficult - for a lot of reasons. A lot of educators feel overwhelmed by the complexity and multi-disciplinary dimension of the topics. And students can get super overwhelmed as well.
So we here at Rē are curious - if you are involved in education AT ALL - as a student or as an educator - what kinds of resources do you need?
What kind of support do you need?
What kinds of curiosities do you have?
Just respond to this newsletter.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Upcoming events
Participatory Action Research for Epistemic Rebels Introductory Workshop
Sponsored by the Regenerative School, in partnership with the Highlander Research and Education Center, this 4-day workshop will provide an intensive grounding in the theory and practice of participatory action research.
October 30th to November 3rd, 2024
The Regenerative School Garden Fundraiser
For the benefit of G. Scott Laing Memorial Community Garden
When: September 10, 5 pm - 9 pm ET
Where: Flatbread Pizza Co. - 5 Market Sq.Amesbury, MA 01913
ReMembering Course Info Webinar
The ReMembering Course is a powerful set of rare teachings into the art of ReMembering - focusing on how can interpret and re-member the origins of contemporary collective suffering (climate change, racism, the histories of institutions that continue to inflame harm).
Info Webinar: September 10, 1 pm ET
Account-ability Heart-centered Workshop
Bringing heart medicine into accounting: intertwining colonial histories, practical skills and spaciousness, and heart-centered circle practices.
Power Session: Tuesday, September 17, 2024, from 12 pm to 1:15 pm ET
Follow-up Session: Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 12 pm to 1:15 pm ET