Hey Sarah, Pete, Jack and everyone
This is so exciting... Pete's thoughts about bringing our living theory into
this environment, or letting this environment grow it within and between us,
are such a great distinction, and something that I would love to further if
people felt comfortable or - excited - about that idea.
I really like the way Sara is saying "learning from outside in/inside out" -
and while the electronic mode of engagement has its limitations, we might
find a way to be ethically responsible with them. Perhaps we need to discuss
this mode of relationship with each other - as, given Jack's discussion
about good being held between us - the means of holding such good between us
and the ways in which we make sense of the means and not just "the good"
(ie: "I can't value electronic communication because its' not face to face";
or, "I find electronic communication so much more revealing than face to
face" etc) must also be, I would think, active qualities of the good we hold
between us.
This "means", collaborative, electronic, anonymous and intimate, emergent
and random, reflexive and connective, and now given even more technical
power with Sarah's referring us to the cfkeep web site - (thanks Sarah) -
such as yet unvoiced qualities of our mode of being together would play into
the ways in which we take up Jack's invitation, as underlined by Pete,"I'd
like to share stories that show how, in clarifying the meanings of our
embodied ontological values, in the course of their emergence in what we are
doing, we form the living epistemological standards we use to explain to
ourselves and others our educational influences in learning.²
I do not yet feel consensus at work though, but I do feel some strong
distinctions beginning to take form through recognition of each other - so
many - but most recently like Sarah's posting below regarding Yaacub's
photograph - which I did not respond to so strongly until Sarah made this
posting ... (thank you to you both).
I like consensus to come about without effort - when critical mass,
relational fluency, complexity of the little patch of cosmos that is our
current back yard (etc) are resonating so truly that something happens -
deeply naturally - to bring consensus into being - almost without us but
existentially because of us. It is unpredictable, mysterious, may not
happen, but also just might. Such a form of consensus has dynamic properties
which I have experienced as being transformational. It involves anything any
of us feel compelled to bring here, and also, that which this virtual space
is exciting outside its (yet to be voiced) edges.
So my sense is that we could move towards more intimate and confident
recognitions of each others' good in the meanings of our ontological values
as they emerge here, but also as Sarah encourages us to do, not leave behind
the freedom to be "the other" in everything we do; and as Pip and others
have done, to keep reaching into diversity and deepening it; that we might
do well at this point to consider our mode of community building -its
hearts, digestive tracts, senses, whether it has a spirit and intention of
its own - is it playing with us ? - its edges, ethics, abysses etc - and
including our linguistic and relational grammars - questions, poetics, case
studies, links etc. I am not offering a "method" but simply saying that I
feel ready to do such work (and play) with you. I would want our method to
come into being with us.
Susie
On 4/11/06 7:31 AM, "Sarah Fletcher" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Dear Pete, Yaacub and Everyone,
>
> I find Jack's invitation energising because it invites us to integrate
> insights from inside out as well
> as outside in - in a seamless continuum that reflects how we learn. To focus
> on either perspective
> might be to miss 'the big picture' of coming to a concensus about standards of
> judgement. Is our
> intention to focus only on interactions between one another who regularly post
> here? I hope not.
> While such intra reflection is crucial to understandings I also have
> reservations about emails alone
> for communicating and doing justice to delicacies and sensitivities we
> individuals often exchange.
>
> I will try to explain by example. When I read Yaacub's postings I am moved by
> his eloquent, loving
> depiction of living within his extended family. When I see his photo and read
> his account of this
> oxalis that thrives on using its own resources as well as drawing on Yaacub's
> care I understand
> more about his living standards - look at how he describes this plant - a
> clear sense of admiration
> for a stalwart refusal to cede. He refuses to cultivate it? Yet without water
> its days are numbered!!
> I see admiration for independence, I see pushing that plant to the limit, yet
> giving 'sufficient' care.
>
> I could stop there trying to explain what I see as emerging standards of
> judgement in living theory
> but that's only a part of what I perceive and I want to explain the impact of
> Yaacub's photo on me.
> What do I learn about my living standards of judgement as I look at the stern
> gracefulness of this
> plant with its simple rosettes of petals held aloft origami -like leaves that
> echo the flowers' hue?
> What does it say about Yaacub and about me that we delight in the image of
> this thriving being?
>
> The plant is my catalyst to recall an experience of suddenly finding myself
> the Head of Spanish in
> an 13-18 school when I'd never taught Spanish in school and so concerned I'd
> let students down.
> They thrived despite me. I didn't thnk I nurtured them much though I must have
> given enough
> care because they passed GCSE and many went on to A level study, despite my
> (shaky) teaching!
> Part of me was delighted to see those students needing to exert a growing
> determination to 'Be' .
>
> I see in Yaacub's and my account a shared admiration for determination to live
> to the full, against
> the odds, with independence, valuing growth and with profound understanding of
> how to nurture.
> I see us pushing at the boundaries and searching for our identity in living
> our multiplicity. I am
> fascinated by Yaacub's choice of photo communicating mindfulness and
> mindlessness all at once
> with appreciaton of beauty as a standard of judgement and intense passion to
> share knowledge.
>
> Pete, am I coming anywhere near where you're suggesting we move in trying to
> reach concensus?
> If so I think we have been working on these lines for some time - drawing
> comparisons between
> our standards of judgement, seeking clarification and reflecting with delight
> in rich interactions.
>
> Warm regards,
>
> Sarah
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