Education and Love = Empowerment

Photo Credit: JR

All of my attempts to avoid the news, whether national, regional, or local, are completely undermined by scrolling my Facebook newsfeed, where I see my friend's attempts to understand the senseless and detestable actions, perpetrated by hate-filled human beings, that abound in our world.
 
The most common reaction to these horrific tales of injustice, carnage, and exploitation is an understandable feeling of fear, dredged in hopelessness and despair, quickly followed by panic and anger induced calls to action. Memes are rapidly produced and shared (many times grammatically and/or factually incorrect). Unkind and unfeeling comments are posted on said memes. Prayers are called for and offered. Sides are quickly drawn while loathing is lobbed back and forth across the net of insensitivity and disagreement.
 
The one component we often fail to see while assigning blame for these tragedies, is our own culpability of largely disregarding one of the central underlying causes – marginalization.
 
Inequity of resources –  access to food, housing, jobs, healthcare, and most importantly education - pushes people to the outside fringes of society forcing them into survival mode filled with bitterness, despair, and disenfranchisement, which, I will argue, goes on to breed hate. Poverty is, therefore, a common denominator within the perpetuation of racism, misogyny, religious intolerance, and homophobia.
 
This peripheral and marginal population is shackled by ignorance to these opinions, concepts, and convictions that are propagated by those who most benefit from their willingness to comply to an agenda of contempt for anyone who looks different or has disparate beliefs from themselves.
 
Education and love, I believe, are the only solutions to combating the hate-filled rhetoric that permeates our society. Please don't misunderstand the types of edification or affection I am speaking of. This is not the finite inventory of classes and subjects that traditional schools offer nor is it romantic love. These basic requirements are, however, encompassed within the intrinsic knowledge that every human being should hold within that tells them they are important and cared for, and authorizes them to seek out information that is genuine, sincere, and honest.
 
This understanding requires an open and receptive mind, however, it also demands personal self-confidence, reinforced with supportive, compassionate, and encouraging mentors within an unbiased, respectful, nonjudgmental, and loving community.
 
When an entire segment of the population is downtrodden and ignored, those fringes will rise up to become the center and hatred will then become the cultural norm. This bloody and vicious revolution can only be averted if we are each willing to confront and acknowledge the pain our own ignorance has induced in others and then offer unending kindness and understanding in exchange. 

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DRC NEWS
 
INFO SESSION – Tomorrow, Monday, June 20th at 6:30pm
 
Deep Root Center is a community of engaged, learners between the ages of 5-18, who are taking charge of their education in a safe, supportive environment.  If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a member of DRC, this info session will provide a time to ask questions and learn more about our philosophy and methods. 
 
 SEEDLINGS PROGRAM –
 
The DRC Seedlings Program provides the only program, for children ages 5-9, in St Lawrence County, based on Montessori and Waldorf child-centered and holistic philosophies. We are very excited to announce that a team of three facilitators, one of whom is a trained Montessori practitioner, will be joining our staff. 
We will spend the summer in training which will encompass organizing the space and planning units for the fall.
 
This program has already sparked a buzz of excitement in the community.  If you would like to learn more, please attend the Info Session tomorrow evening, or contact Maria to schedule an appointment.
 
SUMMER PROGRAMMING –
 
10% discount when you sign up for any, or, all, between now and July 5th.
 
Ten weeks of fun, creative activities and projects, within the DRC philosophy which allows for exploration based on individual interests.
Register today