learning

(From a Senior Town Planning Lawyer)

Your email (media release) raises a deeper issue than merely one of “pollution” in a directly measurable or hazardous sense.

Measurable limits can be described as a worst case scenario. Above that science says that the limits are intolerable.

That is merely for the average person - ie an adult.

Where are the studies for such impacts on children of tender years??? I wonder if they even exist.

Children should not be reduced to an “average” - they are our living future.

A greater care must extend to children than the adult population. Every child must be given the best opporiunuty for a healthy, satisfying and rewarding life.

Any risks associated with the development of a young child’s life and mind must not be greater than what the adult population is exposed to.

An adult can assess that risk and work in such an environment. A child cannot.

The pressure of the inadequacy of child care places should not drive parents who are struggling with the financial difficulties of raising a young family to take risks with the future well being of their children.

This is not a market driven issue or one of choice.

The level of risk is such as to make this kind of choice unacceptable and unavailable to young parents.

We would not allow a hotel next to a primary school.

It says something about our society that young children and child care centres are being relegated to the risks asociated with light industrial areas and major roads, particulary in locations where heavy haulage vehicles frequently use such roads.

We would not allow the development of a new residential complex in a light industrial area. Why should a child care centre even be capable of considseration in such an area? This makes no sense at a fundamental level and must be addressed.

Have we become so insensitive to the sound of joy and laughter of children that they must be drowned out by the jarring sounds of traffic noise. Surely this Is not the start to life and learning we want for our children.

PS: BENZENE & SPRAY PAINTING ISSUES

The benzine issue/toxic hazard can be VERY VERY serious and with a bit of web searching you would get a clear picture, but I don’t know enough about it. I don’t know what the proportion of diesel driven vehicles on major roads in WA is to determine the severity of this issue in our local environment. But benzene can be very harmful to human health.

I also think that the DEP has guildelines for keeping certain industrial uses such as spray painting away from sensitive land uses. (DEP = Dept for Environmental Protection.) Must be on the Web. Talk to an officer of the DEP is probably the best. You could also refer the proposed child care centre to the DEP for formal environmental assessment. This could have the effect of suspending the local government decision making.

The general principle or “shortcoming” with planning law (depending on your point of view) is that who comes onto land first (say spray painting), can’t be controlled by the later use (say child care) because the spray painting was on the land first.

This is also the general principle of the law of Nuisance.

So, the most important thing is to make sure that the “later” land uses are right in the first place. Otherwise, they are too difficult to fix up later and may have in that time already caused irreperable harm.

This site is called “learning” for a few reasons.

1. I’m passionate about the importance and implications of early learning.

If we give kids and parents a good start, then we can really hope to see human society evolve in healthy, happy ways.

One day we might even start measuring Gross Domestic Happiness, like the King of Bhutan. Heck, even the scientists and economists are starting to talk about that revolution.

The preschools and infant toddler centres in Reggio Emilia are a major inspiration. We will be going there again soon to see them at work. In the meantime, you can catch Carlina Rinaldi, Reggio Pedagogista Extraordinaire at the 12th Conference on Thinking in Australia with Ed de Bono, Richard Slaughter and Co.

2. I’m passionate about my own learning.

It’s a Saggitarian thing.

For those of you out there who care a bit or a lot about children’s rights… here’s what we’ve been battling away on lately. Hope it gets some coverage and stirs up some debate.. we shall see. A positive local decision at any rate.

We live just around the corner from this and walk/drive past all the time, taking our Bea to Kindy at a much healthier place.

Thank goodness we’re not going to have to drive past the land in question and inwardly grimace at not having done anything to stop it.

.

MEDIA RELEASE 16 March 2005
.
“No” Vote For Toxic Child Care

.
The City of Fremantle Council said “No” this week to a proposal for a major child care centre that would have set a dangerous benchmark for children’s health.

Despite political pressure to approve the 86-place centre, Fremantle’s largest, the Council stood its ground and made a decision that reflected commonsense and caution.

“In the absence of controls to stop this kind of thing happening, it was a frustrating and risky process. But in the end, good reason, good ethics and good planning prevailed,” said quality child care campaigner and local mother Ms Libby Davy. “Now we have to ensure this result carries over into safe, healthy child care for all children,” she said.

Bizarrely, the proposed centre was in an industrial area next to spray painters, boat builders, the Coffin Cheaters clubhouse and at one of Fremantle’s worst crash sites – the busy intersection of Hampton and Douro Roads. It was also well outside EPA guidelines for separation distances between industrial and sensitive uses.

This controversial proposal became a test case for child care and the decision has set a positive benchmark for other Councils to take the lead from.

“But sadly, right now there are child care centres throughout Australia on major roads, disused petrol stations and other places of poor environmental health and safety. Busy parents often have little choice due to a lack of quality places,” Ms Davy said.

Councillor Helen Hewitt led the charge to protect young children in this instance from exposure to high levels of constant noise and air pollution during their key developmental years.

“The facts were clear, but common sense alone should tell us we fail our duty of care if we approve child care in such inappropriate places,” said Cr Hewitt. “We must work as a community to find the best, healthiest places for children to play and develop,” she said.

It is expected the applicants will attempt to win approval at a later date, armed with new research and consultant’s reports, despite the first environmental consultant they hired going public to oppose the site.

The applicants, Christian City Church, planned to turn the children’s only outside play area, alongside intersection traffic lights, into a 24-bay car park on Sundays.

Hon Barbara Scott MLC, WA Shadow Spokesperson for Children and Member for South Metro, made a compelling submission to Council on the rights of the child and their developmental need for safe, high quality outdoor play spaces.

Hon Lynn MacLaren, WA Greens MLC for South Metro, submitted a referral to the EPA to assess the site on environmental grounds.

“Child care is the most sensitive of land uses and EPA guidelines state that centres should be well removed from industrial uses and the associated risks. But local government says it’s not their job to apply them and in this case, that’s what initially happened,” said Ms MacLaren.

“The council have made a sensible decision,” said Ms MacLaren. “However this case highlights the need for strong guidelines being used regarding the siting of child care centres. These types of guidelines exist for the siting of schools, why not child care facilities, where children are younger and more vulnerable?”

– ENDS –

For more information or comment contact

Ms Libby Davy - Advocate for high quality child care. Community Representative, WA Child Care Advisory Committee (commenting as a private community member): 0419 943 989

Hon Lynn MacLaren MLC – Greens MLC for South Metro: 0403 721 951

Cr Helen Hewitt - Chairperson, Development Assessments Committee,
City of Fremantle: 0405 307 153

Are you a curious person? If so, does this help you learn more? Do you think it is a blessing or a burden? How can you harness it to educate yourself, in the fullest sense of the word. What is learning?

These questions and more are examined in the learning biography I’ve just submitted to Sussex University’s Institute of Innovation in Education towards an MA in Person-Centred Education.

The language is somewhat academic, but there are lots of poetic moments. That’s integration for you!

It was a transformative process of deep learning, and testimony to the benefits of person-centred education, despite the university’s inevitable challenges in embracing the whole person.
Here’s the first page and the full .pdf

Towards Integrated Learner Curiosity

We need to create a culture that leaves room for the constant “contamination” of a hundred subjective and objective experiences, in an atmosphere of reciprocal help and socialisation. Implicit in this thesis is a decisive response to a child’s need to feel whole.

Feeling whole is a biological and cultural necessity for the child (and also for the adult). It is a vital state of well-being (Malaguzzi in Reggio Children 1996, p 34).

Synopsis

This learning biography uses narrative to explore personal knowledge being formed about the cause, nature and function of curiosity and its relationship to learning, within a cycle of inquiry into spirituality.

Looking closely at pedagogues Paulo Freire and within the Reggio Children project, along with psychologists and philosophers such as Carl Rodgers and John Macmurray, it begins to articulate a vision of integrated learner curiosity and a personal expression of an ancient way of looking at knowledge.

It also critiques a university’s early beginnings in practicing emerging theories of person-centred education and challenges academia to embrace the potential of the Reggio “hundred languages” in understanding adult learning.

…………………..

Having lived a life rich with curiosity and learning, I am now curious about curiosity. From my earliest memories, I engaged deeply with the world around me. I have been highly motivated to learn through being curious. I have felt great joy and great sadness through this trait and state, and have come to embrace it – and consciously, carefully harness this Promethean flame.

More…
Learning Biography

Increasingly my teaching practice is focussing on blogging for a wide range of learners and contexts, including:

• Adult education
• Young adult learning enrichment
• Academics
• Early years (group blogs to display a range of creative outcomes).

Here is a general, introductory message about the tailored courses available.
Come and join the global conversation. Blogging is a profound, effective new way to express yourself, connect, learn and be heard. It’s a process and an outcome, supporting personal, academic, business or organisational growth.

Many and diverse people, all around the world, are successfully blogging online about their:
- learning
- lives
- diverse interests and hobbies
- businesses
- electorates
- public roles, and
- creative pursuits.
Blogs (or web logs) can include words, images, sound and links as well as comments back from your new-found audience.

This is your chance to find out what blogging is all about and get your very own (or a group) blog working for you. Suitable for anyone that can use a basic word processing package that has used the internet before. You do NOT need to be an experienced writer, as you will be developing this skill in your own style. Within three sessions you can have your own free blog site up on the internet.

By the end of the course, you will have found your voice and be confidently blogging. Join in and watch yourself and/or your business grow. Plus, learn how to have people find your blog when you are ready.

……………………………………..
About your Teacher

Libby Davy has over 15 year’s experience working professionally and teaching communications – for individuals and organisations. She contributes to several blogs and was a pioneer blogger at www.barkingowl.com/learning and other spaces.

Currently studying a Masters in Person-Centred Education at the University of Sussex, Libby is interested in how blogs support life-long learning through their open, reflective and communal nature. Libby is a co-founder of one of the internet’s most exciting new online communities www.scouta.com, where she hosts groups on Education and Brighton.

After gaining a degree in communications and media Libby eventually went on to teach writing, editing and publishing at a university and community level. She is a published and awarded short-story writer, and has had her work broadcast on national radio. For many years, Libby worked in strategic communications, marketing, organizational development and business coaching.

Libby is a fun, friendly, Australian mother with a passion for education and human potential.

Contact 01273 540 023 or 07968 687 107 to book a place or arrange a tailored workshop series.

Bit of an hiatus here while we set up the new blog at www.authenticblogging.com

Once we do (Graeme and I that is), there will be loads of stuff available to help set you (or keep you) on an authentic blogging path.

Stay tuned.

Libby

I really want to support the film Freedom Writers (see previous post) and am waiting to get a copy.

Interestingly, StoryMakers Studio found my blog entry and contacted me with an invitation to an event in support of the film. It’s in Hollywood at the Chinese Theatre and I won’t be popping over for it (funnily enough) but here’s their info for anyone wanting to follow up on this powerful film and what’s happening around it.

“a live conversation with a whole bunch of people who made the movie, including writer/director Richard LaGravenese, several cast members, at least one of the original Freedom Writers and Erin Gruwell…

“For those of your members who can’t get to Hollywood to attend the live event, we’re considering videotaping the evening and making it available for viewing later….Anyone who would want to watch program on a tape delayed basis can sign up by going to:

http://storymakersstudio.com/freedom/viewpage

Since a big part of this evening is all about raising awareness for Erin and the Freedom Writers Foundation, we’d really appreciate your support.

Let’s make something wonderful happen.

Gordon Meyer
StoryMakers Studio”

Important independent films like Freedom Writers (eg. early Micheal Moore, Super Size Me, What the Bleep) are doing much better now a days thanks, in part, to the promotional power of the internet to spread political messages virally.
To find out more, just go to http://www.storymakersstudio.com/freedom

More power to them. And as the man says… let’s (keep) making wonderful things happen. Why not tell your own stories and get them out there.

“The moon and sun are eternal travellers.

Even the years wander on.

A lifetime adrift in a boat,

or in old age leading a tired horse into the years,

every day is a journey,

and the journey itself is home.”

Matsuo Basho

For me? More blogging inspiration, in the here and now.

“i have been full of steam

for months

for years”

“to shut yourself up

would be the hugest crime

of them all”

“let’s celebrate now

all this flesh on our bones”

from Volta - Clips of the Mind

Currently looking into the viability of teaching blogging to academic staff and students, at Sussex University initially. It’s certainly the way things are and need to be going. Heck, Universities created the internet for these reasons in the first place, but long-lead-time dead-tree journals seem to have taken over the publishing side of things and there is not a lot of deep content out there.
Specific (participant) outcomes expected:

- Your own free weblog site for individual or group publishing.

- Instantly and easily publish your own or a group’s academic /
creative work (in progress or completed) online, without having to wait
for it to be updated by webmasters.

- Share thoughts and work with an extended learning community for
feedback and discussion.

- Collect thoughts, notes, longer pieces / items and reflect on your
own learning with private or public posts.

- Support the development of student and staff voice and collegiality

- Develop greater confidence in expressing yourself

- Be heard!

- Enhance your public profile for media and public speaking.
So far the response has been great. Will see what doors starts to open…

The key is curiosity, and it is curiosity, not answers that we model. As we seek to know more about a child, we demonstrate the acts of observing, listening, questioning and wondering. When we are curious about a child’s words and our responses to those words, the child feels respected. The child is respected. “What are the ideas that I have that are so interesting to the teacher? I must be somebody with good ideas.

Vivian Paley

Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.

Kahlil Gibran