Explorando nuevas formas de educación

EUDEC es una organización sin ánimo de lucro que promueve la educación democrática como un modelo razonable de educación para todos los estados democráticos.

Extraído de un documento de Ojo de Agua: Sin embargo, desde esta perspectiva toda esta obligatoriedad está "cercenando" el placer que estamos programados a aprender. Para asegurarse la supervivencia de la especie, la naturaleza dota a la función sexual de contenido placentero; no es diferente con la comida, ni con el aprendizaje. Si ahora nos imaginamos qué relación tendríamos con el sexo o la comida si fuéramos forzados diariamente a practicar ambas actividades al margen de nuestra necesidad auténtica, podemos hacernos una idea de las consecuencias de pretender forzar el aprendizaje. "La educación del futuro ha de intentar una orientación que sea más biológica, menos materialista y menos consumista que la actual (...) Puede decirse que la curiosidad es el hambre del aprendizaje y que la enseñanza oficial puede provocar una "anorexia cognitiva" que inhibe el apetito de conocer. El riesgo mayor es la despersonalización de la educación: no hay que perder el contacto personal entre padres e hijos" (ref: La mente del niño).

Summerhill is a democratic, self-governing school in which the adults and children have equal status. The daily life of the school is governed by the school Meetings, usually held twice a week in which everybody has an equal vote. The school's philosophy is to allow freedom for the individual - each child being able take their own path in life, and following their own interests to develop into the person that they personally feel that they are meant to be. This leads to an inner self-confidence and real acceptance of themselves as individuals. All of this is done within the school's structure of self-government through school meetings which are at the core of the school and emphasise the distinction between freedom and licence. Living life in a community is of great importance to the pupils here. Through this they learn to compromise, communicate, negotiate and assume responsibility. It also teaches them empathy and a consideration for the feelings of others. The adults and children have equal status in the school but, of course, they have very different roles. Everybody in the school is aware of the responsibilities that the adults have and which the children are not subject to. The atmosphere of the school is informal and first names are always used. The school is international, reflecting the extent of A.S. Neill's continuing influence in the world.

Esta escuela lleva más de 90 años en funcionamiento. Es interesante analizar qué ha sido de los alumnos que pasaron por ella. "After Summerhill: What happened to the pupils of Britain's most radical school?" ----> Summerhillians join outer society with a strong sense of self-confidence. They tend to be remarkably honest. They tend to choose professions with creative elements. They dislike "people who have the power and no imagination", in the words of Danë Goodsman (p. 152). They dislike hierarchical work organizations which can be nasty and petty. In personal life they prefer choices which emphasise their freedom. For instance they prefer relationships without formal marriage. Their attitude to sex and nudity is unproblematic. Gender equality is seen as something natural. Summerhillians don't value formal educational achievements. The school gave them the ability to learn by living: not to be afraid of life. Summerhill may not be perfect in every aspect but it has kept important ideas of freedom alive.

La sabiduría es algo diferente, sirve para convivir mejor con los que nos rodean para atender a sus razones, para resistir en la desgracia y tener mesura en el triunfo, para saber qué hacer con el mundo cuando los "savants" lo hayan conquistado, y en fin para saber envejecer y aceptar la muerte con grandeza.

La verdadera educación tendrá que hacerse no sólo para lograr la eficacia de la técnica -indispensable- sino también para formar hombres integrales.