A Work In Progress

ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION.
---A SET OF IMAGES I COMPILED FROM FLICKR. SHEER AMOUNT SHOCKED ME. MOVED ME. SHOWS CROWDED CLASSROOMS, DIRTY CLASSROOMS, PRIVILEGED CLASSROOMS, ENRICHED CLASSROOMS.---

1. 42-16156119, 2. Be Counted..., 3. Classroom_India2, 4. Classroom_malawi, 5. Classrooms, 6. First day of School, 7. Untitled, 8. Girl in school-Guatemala, 9. Harfo School, 10. In the Classrooms, 11. In this classroom..., 12. Local Education Photos, 13. OLPC classroom in Skopje, 14. Ouch.. that wall is cold..., 15. overcrowding, 16. Primary school classroom in Siem Reap

The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth.
Erasmus

Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it and by the same token to save it from that ruin, which, except for renewal, except for the coming of the new and the young, would be inevitable. An education, too, is where we decide whether we love our children enough not to expel them from our world and leave them to their own devices, nor to strike from their hands their choice of undertaking something new, something unforseen by us, but to prepare them in advance for the task of renewing a common world.
Hannah Arendt, Teaching as Leading

How can we help students to understand that the tragedy of life is not death; the tragedy is to die with commitments undefined and convictions undeclared and service unfulfilled?
Vachel Lindsay

The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action.
Herbert Spencer

Waiting On The World To Change lyrics

me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could
now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it

so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's hard to beat the system
when we're standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door
and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want

that's why we're waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's not that we don't care,
we just know that the fight ain't fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

and we're still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

-----------------------------------------------

We Can Change The World

From The Jacksons' Victory album
Written by Tito Jackson & Wayne Arnold All for one and one for all
Is what we all should be
But instead, we go and fight each other
Now that wasn't meant to be
You know the sun is there to light up the day
The night is lit by the moon
If we don't come together, my brother
It all could end very soon

(It's your world now
The future is plain to see)
Sing it, yeah
Sing it, yeah yeah yeah
(Love right now, we need the harmony)

Some of us have a heart of stone
And feelings cold as ice
Love can make a change in you
Take the wrong and make things right
If you only knew how it was planned
For life to really be
You would join in
You won't hesitate
You would help bring the harmony

God made this world for all souls
Why, tell me why, so many obstacles

He's the one
He's the only one that knows
Judges the heart before he saves the soul

We can change
We can change the world
Love is there to make
Come, let's make everything all right
We can change this world
Help this world

Everybody needs love
Turning it lose won't stop this love
Ya know it's time for waking up
God made this world for all souls
Why, tell me why, so many obstacles

He's the one
He's the only one that knows
Judges the heart before he saves the soul

(It's your world now
The future is plain to see)
Sing it, yeah
Sing it, yeah yeah yeah
(Love right now, we need the harmony)

Stop funkin'
Let's get walkin'
We need all to follow
We can change this world
Help this world

To make the wrong things right
It just don't happen overnight
God has come to make
He can make everything
Everything all right

We can change it
Help Him change it
We can change
We can change the world
We can change it
Help Him change it
We can change
We can change the world

---------------------------------------------

What Will It Take
From the Free Willy 2
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Written by Taryll Jackson

Just another song
Of trying to heal our world
At times I think that's all
That this would be
But its words remain strong
Gotta do all I can do
'Cause I know My God
Hasn't given up for me
And the children
(Born so innocent and free)
It's the gift of life
Still the greatest gift of all
And the Homeless
(With no clothes or food to eat)
We've got to do much better
'Cause we're all in this together

What will it take to make
The world a better place
You and I know that we
Have got to take
What will it take
For us to make that change
What will it take to make
The world a better place
You and I know that we
Have got to take
What will it take for you
To make that change

Just surrender to our love
And care for our own world
I think that's just about all that we'll need
We gotta stay strong
Gotta give all we can give
And a better place we'll leave
In guarantee
Sing...

What will it take
We've gotta change
Let's make that change

For the children
(Born so innocent and free)
'Cause the gift of life
Is the greatest gift of all
And the Homeless
(With no clothes or food to eat)
If we all just pull together
Then we'll leave in peace forever

What will it take to make
The world a better place
You and I know that we
Have got to take
What will it take
For us to make that change
What will it take to make
The world a better place
You and I know that we
Have got to take
What will it take for you
To make that change

Posted by gera0077 at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As a student and a current resident of Minneapolis that does not own a vehicle, I rely on other methods of transportation to get from point A to B. The social-design issue that I have always been interested in – public transit in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area – is now facing deadlines for the proposed new light rail line (the central corridor plan).

A seemingly complicated issue of CEI (Cost-Effectiveness Index) has been playing a key role in whether or not the addition will actually happen. From Pioneer Press: “…adding stations along University Avenue at Western Avenue, Victoria Street and Hamline Avenue - something neighbors want - would add riders from those neighborhoods, lowering the CEI. But, the computers said, slowing the train down to make those stops would dissuade an equal number of other riders, making it a wash. Meanwhile, the added costs would raise the CEI.�

Considering I find it very hard to get from to and from different destinations utilizing the buses (limited stops, too many transfers, etc.) and additional link from here – the Universty of Minnesota – to St. Paul would be extremely beneficial. Also aiding in the conservation of our environment is the emission-free advantage the light rail has to offer: “The newest member of the Metro Transit family is also the cleanest. The Hiawatha light-rail line runs on electricity, with no emissions from the train. In 2006, more than 155,000 of the miles logged by light-rail trains were powered by renewable wind, hydropower, and biomass energy�(Save more than the price of gas).

The issue of traveling with ease about the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and doing it without a huge impact environmentally (or without a car) is something of huge importance to not only those living here, but to those who commute. Additionally, the Metropolitan Council has a transportation plan for 2030 that is “…intended to double transit ridership by 2030, slow the growth in traffic congestion and improve mobility for everyone�(Regional Transportation).

Additionally important is the role and the joining of the proposed central corridor with the University of Minnesota:
Transportation at the U of M
• Twin Cities campus attracts 80,000 people on a typical day
• 68 percent of students, staff, and faculty use transportation alternatives to get to campus each day
• 20,300 University students and 2,000 faculty and staff use discounted bus passes
• The free inter-campus bus service generates 3.8 million trips annually.
• The U is the largest user of E85 (ethanol) in the United States.
• Outpatient health clinics located on campus generate over 500,000 visits each year
Taken from http://www.lightrail.umn.edu/.

Posted by gera0077 at 6:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After hearing the College of Design dean Tom Fisher speak today in lecture, I could not help but relate the topics of plans/layouts and architecture schools to that of the flow and energy discussed in the Andy Goldsworthy video. Fisher pointed out four different 'types' in architecture schools and talked shortly concerning how and whether or not each type worked in their respective environments. Specifically, I recall Fisher’s examples of a ‘drunk’ plan – in which the flow was completely interrupted by confusing and disorienting corridors, as well as a courtyard plan, yet one unsuccessful at bringing students and faculty together due to the disruption and misplacement of those specific areas – resulting in a no flow between groups.

Now there are the discussions of: nature’s flow – yes, indeed touched by Goldsworthy’s hands, but somehow in certain ways it is unlike this designed flow and energies of the cities and of buildings’ designs. One can visually decipher the differences among the sun melting ice and students walking throughout a building – the question now becomes whether or not Goldsworthy’s works are designed to end up the way they do. He says that it is nature that takes his ideas and turns them into something more than he expected…is that the same with students, teachers, interactions in and amongst architecture schools? Are they something only of flow, of energy, of transformation when nature takes hold?

Posted by gera0077 at 12:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As an add-on to yesterday's entry, I wanted to say a bit about engery, flow, and transformation in this city...it's EVERYWHERE! After a recent (early Jan.) trip to NYC, I had some additional comments regarding the issue brought up by Andy Goldsworthy. Finally emerging from the subway station in Times Square, I was absolutely blown away by everything about it (maybe due to the fact that I was a mere country girl visiting the 'big city'). I could not overcome the gobs of people walking in every which direction - continuously consuming energy, creating energy, and transferring energy. What an experience. It was nothing traquil, nothing of silence or grace - but in a way its own Andy Goldworthy type work in which certain elements (people, taxis, buildings, vendors, lights) interacted with each other in creating and demonstrating something more than I could have ever imagined. You can check out some of my little videos from NYC here and some of my flickr photos here.

Posted by gera0077 at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Andy Goldsworthy discusses ideas of energy, transformation, and flow in his work. From rocks and leaves to icicles and twigs, he brings us on a journey of tranquility - of pure awe in his work and his philosophies. After viewing Rivers and Tides, I began to think about my contributions to the constant change and energies in and of this world, and also the contributions of others. Additionally, how in this city can one view change, see the energy, feel the transformation?

From seas of hurried people to lanes of speeding cars, the city experiences energy - just one that differs from the natural energy in Goldsworthy's documentary. While we watched the train of leaves flow gently down the river, bending and folding, picking up speed and slowing down, the energy oozes and compels the snake-like figure farther and farther down the river. Unflinchingly and with agitation we honk at passing cars, speed from one stoplight to the next, ride sickeningly upward in the circular parking ramp, warp though space in elevators – all with the energy of the chain of leaves – but with the same purpose?

Does this ebb and flow of people in the city become something as good and something as powerful as what Andy Goldsworthy has discovered in nature? Do we give something in our everyday lives that can be transformed into something more than we ever thought it would? Are we ever transformed by the city?

Posted by gera0077 at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)