VISION FOR EDUCATION - Constantina Keenan

One sleepless latihan-filled night I saw a school unlike anything we have now - as far as I know. The buildings viewed from above were just like the Subud symbol. At the outermost ring many hundreds, thousands of people, of all ages, were congregating, going in, coming out. Busy, buzzing, occupied, fulfilled.

A Superschool

The courses on offer at the outer rim would be anything that could be useful to anyone - to select at will or as needed by the individual. The courses were to be developed by people who felt they had something useful to offer and once they had been initially vetted or screened for quality they were built into the complex. The success of the course was dependent on market forces and the author of the course would fund its development just as an entrepreneur would take a risk and fund his own business. The best, most popular and most needed would be successful but the variety on offer could be immense.

I then began to vision a pilot scheme - attracting interest from the Government; talking to educationalists who had vision for the future unconstrained by contemporary educational theories and societal expectations. My mind was racing - trying to assimilate all the details that were flowing so fast I could barely keep track of them. I started to question. Who would pay? Would we fund our own education totally and that of our children? How would people cope with that? Would schools close? Would working parents lose the option of sending children off for the day? etc.

In answer to these questions I remember seeing schools that were still operating but without the constraints they have at present. The schools could dip into the great resource of the Superschools: modify lessons, tailor courses to meet the individual requirements of the children. But it was not just children in school. I saw a great mixture of people of all ages working on their own things, helping others, integrating with one another. The 'teacher' was more of an overseer, a co-ordinator, a point of reference for guidance and direction. The school was simply a building to house the resources required and allow people who wished, to work with or alongside others.

There was no separation of ages, no feeling of 'having' to be there. It was all by choice. It was all flow. Into and out of work; into and out of education; discovering new ideas; finding a new path. Very, very flexible.

A First Step for me - Home School

Shortly after this experience I received indications from my daughter, Sylvana, who was at school, that all was not well. She had become quiet and subdued, some spark seemed as if it were being extinguished. Then in a dream I was given some very clear advice that what she was experiencing at school was now dangerous. She was on some balancing machine that was going wildly astray and my daughter was hanging on for dear life.

Each day after this dream I felt more uncomfortable till I broached the subject of Home School with her. She jumped on it immediately with delight. I continued to keep her at school but I began to feel very bad until I finally rang to say that I intended to educate her at home. Relief!

We have been finding our feet for a few weeks now and I have been receiving clear guidance. When I get it right I am surrounded by an almost tangible sphere of warmth and joy. When I get it wrong I feel heavy and short-tempered, and Sylvana fidgets! My child is the best director of affairs and gives clear indications. Within a few days of leaving formal school she began to ask questions again. Her delight in foreign countries and capitals, various exotic animals and other little interests began to flower. The difference is noticeable and real.

An educational concept from the future

I am aware that Subud schools are functioning in other parts of the world and the idea of creating a Subud school in the UK has come up several times. Also that a small school had been running for a short while. However, the Superschool is a far bigger concept. Something that I feel we could not simply produce ‘in house’, as it were. It is the kind of project that would require collaboration between Subud and non-Subud people.

Much of our educational systems and background has been developed from past experience. We look at schools and alternative ideas that are around and try to build up from that. What I felt quite strongly after this vision was that we have to escape from those constraints and look ahead to maybe 40 or 50 years into the future and bring a piece of that vision back to the present and develop it. An educational concept from the future..

One thing that seems quite clear to me - is that the scale of such a project should not put us off. Often I've heard talk about starting a nursery school and building up from there but I don't feel this is the way - that would create another school among many of the alternatives that are available and these only really cater for a small number of children. The above vision is society changing and large impact - why go for less!!!!! It is on a scale that would really require great faith in God if it was to be carried out - it should not be limited to what each of us as individuals or as a group of Subud members feel we could do ourselves - this has wider implications altogether.

I would be interested in any feedback.

Constantina Keenan