Hi everyone,
My Thailand trip to visit schools did not go according to plan. I arrived in Bangkok to find that a state of emergency had been declared, airports, trains and schools were closed. Travel inland was severely restricted and and despite trying to wait out the state of emergency for two weeks I was unable to reach the schools in Thailand and Bangkok .. so apologies guys will hopefully catch up with you next time around !
Instead I left Thailand and travelled on to Japan where I am pleased to say I managed to get back on tracks with the school visits
Before I began my visit to schools I was invited to join a group of blind children on their visit to the C W Nicol Afon Woodland Trust near Nagano. This was a real treat for me so my first film is to a 'school of the woods" :0)
The C W Nicol Afan Woodland Trust
www.afan.or.jp
I was invited to spend a day at the C W Nicol Afan woodland Trust with a group of Japanese School children with visual impairments. I cannot begin to tell you how wonderful the day was. The woods are truly beautiful but the beauty of the woods was matched by the beautiful nature of the childen their teachers and the woodland trust developer, explorer, environmentalist, conservationist and and children's author C W Nicol.
C W Nicol spends most of his time these days on ecological restoration of woodlands in the Kurohime area of Nagano, Japan. The trust aims to increase bio-diversiy, preserve wildlife and endangered species, promote traditional Japanese wisdom and knowledge in fields such as woodmanship, ethnobotany (traditional uses of medicinal plants) and crafts.
The aim of the trust is not only to conserve the plants and animals that inhabit the forest but also the traditional knowledge and wisdom of how to relate to the forest spiritually and how to use these plants and animals on a sustainable basis.
In addition to restoring this woodland area of Japan the trust focuses on restoring the human mind and spirit using:
- Look- Listen-Touch--Smell-Taste-Learn Hands on Environmental Education Programs
- Special Environmental Education programs for Handicapped Children
- Forest Healing - Research using Woodland energy to Rejuvenate Body Mind and Spirit
Since 1995 the Afan Woodlands Trust has been used as a field station for training young people in ecological fieldwork and eco tourism and it was in this capacity that I visited this remarkable school of the woods.
The children although blind showed me how to view the woods through new eyes, taking in the smells, sounds, touch and feel of the woodlands and its inhabitants. they showed me how to absorb the sounds of the woods using Ong Gak, becoming one with the woods and expressing this wonder through music using only the materials that mother nature provide. A truly inspiring occassion.
Teachers and therapist use these woods for educational and therapeutic purposes and their results are amazing as these children grow in stature, confidence, expression and self esteem.
http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/findhorn
C W Nicol is a keen conservationalist and is enthusiastic in his teachings, He is also a prolific author, with many of his books focusing on environmental issues. The woodland trust is currently twinned with the Afan Forest Park in Wales and is keen to develop further links with similar ventures around the world so if you would like to learn more about this amazing place and the amazing people who work here then get in touch with the C W Nicol Afan Woodland Trust at www.afan.or.jp
Yokohama International School
http://www.yis.ac.jp/
My visit to Yokohama International School in Yokohama Japan was organised by Mr Eddy Jones an ex pat Teacher from Wales who is now Director of Student services at the International School.
The school was established in 1924 and is considered " A Pioneer in the Field of International Education" There are over 40 nationalities represented at the school and 12 nationalities are represented on the teaching staff, the school has a deliberate policy to retain and enhance this multi national and multi cultural environment.
During my visit the school was busy preparing for its annual bridging the gap conference held every year in November. YIS is actively involved in curricula and extra curricula activities including outreach work with their "Schools Building Schools (SBS)" project. This is a unique programme to build schools in developing countries. The Chowa School in Cambodia and the Sunaula-Chowa school in Nepal currently supports 500 students and there are plans to build a new school in Tanzania and develop this innovative project by promoting SBS to other International schools around the world.
I spent my time talking to students in all grades from Early Learning through to High schools exploring issues of multi culturalism, poverty, and climate change. YIS is innovative in pursuit of the ideals of internationalism upon which it was funded and this was evident in the day to day activities of the school and in my discussions with staff and students.
The senior students intend to explore this further through the use of film focusing on Yokohama and YIS so watch this space for details of their film which will be shown in January 2009
Kitagata Elementary School
www.edu.city.yokohama.jp/sch/es/kitagata
I was warmly welcomed by Kitagata Elementary School in Yokohama Japan. I arrived and in true Japanese style exchanged my shoes for slippers on entering the school. The children here are learning to speak english and their excitement and enthusiasm for this subject was evident. I joined in their classroom English learning classes and had great fun playing English Language Games. The teachers here are dedicated, professional and enthusiastic in their teaching of english and their enthusiasm is contagious.
I spent the day moving around the different age groups seeing how they combine learning across many subject areas, combining traditional and modern teaching and learning techniques. During my visit I was invited to accompany some student teachers from a neighbouring university who were filming the lessons as part of their coursework. The school acts a s a Teaching School for Student Teachers.
I was most impressed with the school ethos of learning, the warm welcome and courtesy and generosity of all the staff I met during my stay. The children warmly welcomed me and practiced their language skills throughout my visit.
I was equally impressed to hear about the schools supportive links with schools in Africa. Thank you very much to all at Kitagata Elementary School for making my visit such a pleasurable one.
Tokyo International School
www.tokyois.com
Tokyo International School was founded in 1997 by parents ! Their mission: To nuture confident, open minded, independantly thinking well balanced inquirers for global responsibility.
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme ( PYP) designed for young learners aged 3-12 and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme ( MYP) ages 12-15. The PYP and MYP offers a truly international curriculum that reflects not only WHAT WE DO but also WHO WE ARE
There are 350 students representing 45 nationalities, teachers from 10 different countries averaging 8 years of experience. The students are pre-K to Grade 8 and average 16 students per class.The school offers a variety of specialist courses from K-8 including Japanese, IT, Library, PE, Performing Arts, Music and Sports.
The school is completely wireless with more than 200 computers. Students have access to desktop computers in the classroom for their daily needs as well as 3 mobile computer labs equipped with laptop computers.
I spent the day with Kindergarten children, who actively quizzed me about my travels to date. As we watched a series of films from Uganda, Sri Lanka and Wales I was impressed at their level of questioning, their awareness of different countries and cultures and their curiosity at the living conditions of some of the children I have met en-route.
So to all the children I met at TIS a big thank you !!!!!!!
The Kunitachi College of Music
(国立音楽大学, Kunitachi Ongaku Daigaku
http://www.kunitachi.ac.jp/
Established in 1926, Kunitachi College of Music aims at producing skilled and well-rounded musicians and music educators though knowledge as well as theory and practice.
The city is most famous abroad for being the original location of Kunitachi College of Music, which is Japan's largest private conservatory of music. Many world-renowned classical musicians have graduated from this college
As I walked around the college, music filled my ears and my heart as young students eagerly composed and performed. I was honoured to be invited to view the college private collection of musical instruments - Gakkigaku Shiryokan Collection of Organology
www.gs.kunitachi.ac.jp/j_index.html
The college has a museum for the preservation and use of historical instruments and I was shown a collection of instruments collected from around the world dating back centuries. A real priviledge indeed.
Unfortunatly I wasnt able to film here. The instruments collected from all over the world date back centuries and have to be kept in special conditions and treated with care. This was a rare treat in deed to be able to see, touch and hear music being played on instruments from the true masters.
Many thanks to all the staff I met at the college who wowed mewith their knowledge, expertise and talent.
Japan is a truly is an amazing place, I spent many a night talking into the early hours on educational principles and practices, old and new. I realised how very little I know about this amazing world of ours. I look forward to returning to this new school of mine, meanwhile I will take the lessons I learned away with me.
ありがとう 私は長く、幸せな生命を望む
