Twinning Regenerative Educators: Children's Paradise Montessori (Philippines) & As One Community (Japan)

Children’s Paradise Montessori and As One Suzuka Community’s Gaia Youth Program invested in their relationship with one another, meeting weekly to share techniques and collaborate on individual projects. Through this routine, each school was able to grow significantly – in communication, multi-cultural awareness, and human development.

Communication:

Through the exploration of the two school’s communication methods and tools, Children’s Paradise Montessori and the Gaia Youth Program explored Sociocratc and Montessori methods.

They discussed how to integrate sociocratic decision making in both of their schools. Together, they set the following goals;

• Practice one aspect at a time
• Focus on conducting meetings
• Practice decision making process

In addition to Sociocracy, the twinship also discussed the Montessori principles. This conversation focused around communication methods and policies, as Children’s Paradise Montessori worked to update their communication strategy.

Culture:

“First, we learned about each other’s families and the differences and similarities between Japanese and Filipino families. Second, our discussions of the differences between our cultures were apparent, especially in the way Japan has preserved its culture and language, while in the Philippines, the foreign influences of the past centuries and current social media has slowly eradicated the love of our own culture and language. However, the facility in speaking English of the Filipinos also gives us the advantage of being the preferred manpower for call centers and managerial jobs. But what is constant among Filipinos is our caring and loving heart so that we are also preferred abroad as nurses, therapists, teachers, and caregivers.

Lastly, we concluded that education in the Philippines is important in the preservation and development of love for our country, history, culture, traditions, and language. That is what Children’s Paradise Montessori School (CPMS) aims to provide.” – Grace & Kazuki, September 8th 2022

Human Development:

First, we discussed the views of Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner on child development. Then, Kazuki shared that he will be speaking in a GENOA meeting about As One Community. He shared his slides and recording of the presentation last week. This week, I asked questions about As One Community and how they developed the ScienZ method in 2014 after starting the research in 2010 with the ScienZ Institute.

There were a lot of lessons that I learned from the presentation and from the sharing of the Gaia Youth Program graduates in the presentation. Some of these are:

– The important key in attaining the state of no fear in expressing oneself is building relationship with each other

– One realizes that beneath the surface (paint) of the person is a human being one can trust

– When we take off the “paint”, one discovers the “essential elements of the human being”

– Kazuki shared that like a child, we should be able to trust that the other person is good so we can say anything we feel

– I asked how they create this environment and he mentioned that activities in daily living connect people with each other in the Gaia Youth Program

– A participant in the Gaia Youth program shared that it is okay to say no to a request, you can help if you want to and when you want to

– As One Community is based on expressing or using one’s free will

– One can talk about one’s inner feelings without worrying what others may think of you

– In the Gaia Youth program, one realizes that the human being is peaceful and warm-hearted

– No anxiety, no competition, one can live with the power of love

– A participant realized that, “I have to create peace within my heart and love myself.” This love ,the “vibrations”, will then spread from one to the other.

– Another participant shared that what he learned was having a Heart-felt Dialogue. It’s easy and fun to do with others and with Heart-felt Dialogue, he learned to trust humanity

– One participant also learned “not to be afraid to be myself”. He learned from As One community to “Be Yourself”

Shared Resources:

Montessori Links

Decision Making using the ScienZ Method