Parents' Views

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Since autumn 2016, a group of Sightlines' Network parents have been meeting  - over the internet, and at early years settings - to champion and develop the possibilities of inspired education for their children, to communicate what is possible to other parents, to support educators striving to develop education along the lines of  Sightlines' principles.

They share the frustration  common amongst so many parents about their children's situations. Here are two typical reflections: "As a family we are passionate about education. We are all life long learners and within 4 months of being in school my son told me that he was stupid and never wanted to learn again. This was after he had loved the Reggio-inspired teaching at Madeley Nursery, wanting to go there seven days a week." "Schools should be ateliers or laboratories of experiences for the hands and the mind, with plenty of time for playing in nature, to learn from it and love it."

Visions for our children

They are passionate to bring to the public table stories of what is 'out there', what is possible, and about the hopes, dreams, expectations and rights of children. They want to connect and give hope to the many parents dismayed by their children's experiences of school, to illustrate what is possible and what SHOULD be expected. The collection is just beginning; it will aim to illustrate Sightlines Principles found both in the everyday lives of children and in schools which are making this possible. We'll paste the first narrative tomorrow ...

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Beginning our new series, parents contribute reflections on what they want for their children and their visions of education. Viviana Fiorentino here reflects on her son Federico's recent play and exploration. Do comment and forward. 

Have you got examples to offer? Please get in touch!

Here it is:

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http://www.grao.com/recursos/100lenguajesere"Those who work and live with children have a duty to renew hope in their daily action: a message of trust we must embed within us, educators and parents, in order for changes to be generated"

It was September when the Reggio Children Foundation posted the following letter on its Facebook page. As a way to start our parents' view diary and as encouragement for these globally difficult days, I recall here their beautiful message: we have the possibility "to give a human and civilized meaning to existence… to feel nostalgia for the future, and for humankind". It resides in fact in our daily life.

"To the parents and children of the infant-toddler centres and preschools.

It has been a difficult summer for the world, for Europe, for Italy. Because of wars, sometimes invisible and often "forgotten", because of terrorist attacks, because of earthquakes – "attacks" by nature of enormous proportions – tragedies added to tragedies. In our Countries we are witnessing a human exodus. The rights of many are betrayed… starting with children… starting with the right to life and to safety.

Those who work and live with children have a duty to renew hope in their daily action: a message of trust we must embed within us, educators and parents, in order for changes to be generated. In fact we would like to hope, believe and communicate to the children that gestures of dialogue and peace are still possible, always possible, and that these are the foundation of human relations.

Education to respect for a life and ideas different from one's own, the determination and capacity to dialogue with differences, compassion, and solidarity, are the conditions for a stable peace, capable of halting appalling "holocausts" and giving voice to human reason again.

At the start of this new school year, what we ask of each one of us, we who are parents, educators and citizens in educational institutions, is a daily commitment to reaffirming the right of every person and every society to life and to a future, to education, to safety, to beauty, to play and to relations; continuing "to give a human and civilized meaning to existence… to feel nostalgia for the future, and for humankind". (Loris Malaguzzi). Infant-Toddler Centres and Preschool of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia - Reggio Children - Reggio Children Foundation"

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​http://thiskindylife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/reflections-on-learning-in-reggio-plc.htmlLoris Malaguzzi, founder of Reggio Emilia's educational philosophy, pointed out in the 1970's that when learning and playing are seen as the same matter, then we create the environment from which joy can emerge. 

More and more parents and educators are today raising their voice because they believe in the fundamental value of this joy. Instead, current models of education are asking pupils, from preschool to college, to "discover the world already there", limiting learning to just one way of learning. Even worse, education is going to be made of another matter, grey coloured, far away from joy: policies with the specific targets of putting academic tests at the forefront, leaving in the back children's emotional development and wellbeing (see here the diary item about PISA test proposal and endorsement by the UK Minister for Education Nick Gibb). It seems that politicians in power have entirely disconnected from the world of learning and children, and become exclusively obsessed with the make-believe world of statistics.

Here is Malaguzzi's  eloquent poem, narrated at the opening of Reggio's 'Not just Anyplace' video:

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As I walk through  This wicked world  Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity  I ask myself  Is all hope lost?  Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?  And each time I feel like this inside, There's one thing I wanna know: What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?  (Nick Lowe) 

We live in a world where basic life necessities are threatened, many people see their rights violated, betrayed. Terrorist attacks undermine daily life, instilling a progressively higher fear of living - if you become afraid of going to the restaurant, taking the metro, or going to a concert, then you have become afraid of living. Sometimes we feel we are facing a 'struggle' that corrodes our ability to really understand who/what/if we have to defend ourselves from, and how. But it seems fundamentally clear and important to me that despite information and politics that encourage us to feel that we are in a 'war', assuming and instilling a 'defending attitude', we have to keep firm to our values. We must prioritise the constructing of common values and principles through peace and solidarity. As parents or educators, we have the responsibility to resist to any war, take the side of living in peace, and embrace solidarity, equality, and justice.

This beautiful video of the International Centre Loris Malaguzzi shows what 'Peace' means in the words of children. Working to change education gives a chance to stay firm in our ideals and more importantly spread out a message of optimism, a culture based on common rights, respects, empathy, welcoming, and involvement in building a new knowledge of the world around us. These values are the base of an education through which adults and children can create a marvellous understanding of each others and build up a complete humanity where people take care of the 'rights of others', sweeping away the fear of living. 

Dr. Jacqui Cousins (educator and founder of Global Children and Eco-Angels) highlights the necessity and importance of listening to children today, in a new article written for Sightlines Initiative. She recalls to us the radical changes that can be made to the attitudes, spirits and well being of very distressed children when we listen to them and remove the unnecessary and damaging pressures.

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