Our View of Education

We are interested in creating a new kind of public space--a community school for adults where the only goal of the participants is serious education. This means that we must eliminate other motives, and that there can be no grades or degrees. The incentive will not be the fear of failure, or the desire for some other kind of success, which is often the case in existing educational institutions. We want to seek to understand what this kind of true education would be. The following are several features which we believe are appropriate.

*The goal of the participants should not be to seek to confirm or to promote pre-existing beliefs. Each subject or idea should be approached with the humility which comes from realizing that one does not know which point of view is correct, and the authentic desire to discover the truth.

*We seek to diminish the distance and difference between students and teachers. It may be useful if there is someone who has much knowledge about the views presented in the class; but it is more important that students take an active role and responsibility in their own education.

*Every person is capable of understanding the most profound ideas. We want to find ways to make serious education accessible to normal people, to anyone in the community, and we believe that this is possible.

*The best way to come to an informed decision is to understand the best presentation of various opposing views on a subject, especially views which are contrary to what one believes.

*In order to be able to fully evaluate the truth of an idea, we wish examine it not only from opposing points of view, but from the point of view of opposing disciplines. For instance, we could examine the idea of freedom from the perspective of history, psychology, or philosophy.

*Normally the best presentation of an idea is in written form. We will actively seek out the most profound texts, from whatever era or culture. The texts must be read in privacy and solitude, so that the reader can evaluate them adequately.

*Classes will consist mostly of seminars, [[where students gather to discuss the ideas which they have already considered during their reading of the texts.]] The purpose of the seminars is to review, discuss and evaluate the meaning of the ideas presented in the texts, not to make judgements about their validity.

*It is only near the conclusion of the class that participants will be encouraged to make their own judgements. After taking into account all that one knows about the subject--having in all honesty considered the truth of the various views presented in the class, and reflecting on one's experience and personal knowledge--one must take a stand and make a judgement about the truth of the idea. This judgement will be presented to the class by the participants.

*We seek to find ways for participants to express their views in concrete ways after the class has concluded--in their own lives, and in public activities which relate to the whole community.

*It is important to make a judgement and take a stand at the conclusion of the class because we think that there is a specific goal to education. We want to evaluate every idea, from every point of view, but that does not mean that we think truth is relative. Through education we can discover how views which appear to be irreconcilable can be reconciled, and how it may be possible to live, in one's own life, and one's own community, in peace and love.

 

 

 

Types and organization of classes.

The organization of classes will be flexible, diverse and innovative. Our goal is to create an educational environment where members of the community know they can return, at any time, year after year. The main types of educational activities we will have are: classes; events which take place in the cafe and are open to the public; and events which take place in the community. Fees for these classes will be nominal (perhaps one to three dollars per class). In addition, we will have a few classes taught by members of the community which will have higher, but still reasonable, fees.

Classes

*The readings for each text shall be serious, but short enough so that they can be read carefully in no more than an hour or two.

*Weekly classes will examine a particular idea or theme. A class which meets for ten weeks may devote three weeks each to the discussion of three views or perspectives, reserving the final week for comparison. These classes may be associated with others which continue throughout the year. They require prior enrollment, and a commitment to attend most of the classes.

We are open to holding classes on any idea, and actively seek suggestions from the community. We don't want to censor any idea, but seek to understand it in the broadest and deepest way possible. We will develop a class on the idea, based on these principles, seeking the most profound insights into it from opposing perspectives and disciplines.

*Monthly classes will examine the works of particular writers, kinds of writers, ideas, or specific magazines. These classes will have open enrollment and will continue indefinitely. Thus, a class reading and discussing religious mystics would occur on a specific day of the month, year after year, and one could attend it at one's convenience.

 

Cafe Events

These events are designed to have elements which are entertaining and educational--we want to break down the distinction between these two activities. The cafe events are our primary means of introducing people to serious education, and will often be followed by classes which explore the ideas introduced in more detail.

*Weekly presentations about a particular idea or theme, such as the role of multi-national corporations, or the nature of human rights. We want to present the material each time in a variety of ways, using video, slides, speakers, written material, etc.

*Weekly presentations from a personal point of view. Members of the community will be invited to discuss their travels, experiences, and ideas. We will work with them in advance to find a variety of media to present to the audience.

*Readings by the public of valuable published works (as an alternative to readings by artists and writers of their own works, which typically occurs at cafes). These will include Alaskan works, and classic works in the humanities (which are being discussed in the classes).

*Public readings by participants after their classes end. This will be a way for students to express what they have learned, and may be entertaining and useful for people who have not attended the classes.