Albert Ferrer
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Prof. Dr. Albert Ferrer INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FOR A NEW WORLD. Philosophy of Education and Practical Pedagogy For Integral Education in Human Values. 1 This Project has been elaborated by Prof. Dr. Albert Ferrer. Prof. Ferrer got a Ph.D on Philosophy by the University of Paris-Sorbonne after being a graduate member of Cambridge University. He has been Lecturer at the University of Barcelona, Asia House (Government of Spain) and several Departments of the Government of Catalonia. During the process of elaboration of this project (2006/ 2012) he was Visiting Professor in Sri Sathya Sai University (South India). He has also been appointed as Consultant for education to the Government of Catalonia. Personally awarded by the King of Spain and having received the oldest literary prize of Europe, Prof. Ferrer is a scholar with a top international resume, philosopher, writer and educationist. Integral value education does not belong either to the author of this Project or to the sages/ philosophers that have inspired him. It belongs to the whole mankind and to the cosmos entire. It is not the exclusive pedagogy of our new educational venture. It is a collective endeavour, where many participate from a diversity of institutes, organizations and countries. It is also a historical process, and we must have the humility of bringing a positive contribution without any overwhelming pretension to change everything at once. We can proceed by steps, dealing with the reality of our environment, knowing that the training of teachers and the information for parents will be decisive, and suggesting to public authorities not to impose anything to everybody through the force of the law, but rather to encourage research and concrete pedagogic experiences whenever there are competent educators ready to contribute. This Project is open to a flexible adaptation according to the context and the requirements of any organization interested in its essential message and principles. Hence, the organization can utilize the names and image of their choice. 2 INTEGRAL EDUCATION IN HUMAN VALUES. BLENDING EAST AND WEST, SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY, ACADEMIC AND HUMAN EXCELLENCE. TOWARDS A NEW HOLISTIC PARADIGM AND A NEW HUMANISM. THE PEDAGOGY OF QUANTUM PHYSICS AND WISDOM. 3 OUR VISION: From the robotic system to conceptual education directed towards understanding, free thinking, creativity and self-expression. From academic to human excellence, with human values, sensitiveness, self- inquiry and the blossoming of the inner dimension in freedom. From national/ religious/ social divisions to intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, solidarity, international understanding and the unity of mankind. OUR MISSION IS TO: Spread through India and the entire world an integral and humanistic pedagogy that blends academic and human excellence, the West and the East, with free/ creative thinking, ethics, human values, sensitiveness, and a genuine spiritual inquiry from inside, always in an international atmosphere towards the unity of mankind. Contribute to the development of the new holistic paradigm already outlined with the advent of quantum physics/ new science in dialogue with the traditions of spiritual philosophy and wisdom; hence, foster the unity of science and spirituality, a new theory of knowledge coherent with a holistic pedagogy, and ultimately, a new humanism and a new concept of the human being. 4 HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EDUCATIONAL PROJECT: Why is this Project so unique? It offers a profound philosophical and scientific foundation for integral education with scholarly standards and academic rigour; While shorter presentations for a wider public are also available. It offers a comprehensive pedagogic practice ready to be implemented in any educational institution, Which, far from constituting a rigid system fixed once for ever, is open to research, innovation and creativity, Knowing that holistic education is a dynamic process like Life itself. It deeply blends the best contributions from Europe/ the West and India/ the East through a diversity of sources of inspiration (sages/ philosophers), In a totally international horizon and genuine intercultural dialogue towards the unity of mankind. It deeply blends science and spirituality in the line of the historical dialogue between quantum physics/ new science and the traditions of wisdom/ spiritual philosophy towards a new holistic paradigm and a new humanism; This is not the realm of religious organizations, with our respect for all of them, but rather that inner dimension unfolding through free self-inquiry towards self-realization. Far from aiming at an elite, it aspires to reach a wider spectrum of the population, With social sensitiveness imbued with love and compassion, and hence, an earnest effort to implement educational policies for the most needed sectors of the society. 5 In strictly pedagogic terms, this Project is also original and quite unique: By offering an innovative school organization divided into academic mornings and holistic afternoons devoted to the other dimensions of the human being. By offering a comprehensive and truly integral pattern of workshops in the afternoons to cultivate all the facets of humanity; In a flexible spirit, however, open to innovation and research, and centred on the creativity of children through the concept of the project. By integrating in a harmonious way the best contributions from the main schools of educational philosophy: Philosophical Idealism in dialogue with Existentialism, Naturalism, Realism and Pragmatism. By putting forward a middle path in education that avoids all sorts of extremes encountered through the history of education; And in particular, by putting forward a middle path in the crucial matters of freedom versus discipline, freedom versus protection of the child. By implementing the highest contributions of Western and Eastern Humanism into the educational process, Through a child-centred pedagogy that discloses the uniqueness of every child. For this, the Project proposes an original five-fold holistic pedagogy unfolding all the domains of humanity: The physical dimension and the relationship with the environment; The relational dimension: the importance of relation and dialogue, the sense of community life, and ethics/ human values, with the double principle of love and discipline; The intellectual dimension, with academic excellence directed towards understanding, free thinking, creativity and self-expression; from quantity to quality of education; The aesthetic dimension, nurturing the sense of beauty and sensitiveness, creativity and emotional education, while integrating the healing potential of art-therapy; The inner or spiritual dimension through free self-inquiry towards self- realization, with genuine practice of meditation, yoga, etc. 6 A theoretical/ practical model of integral education: From an ideal school (and the creation of new schools in this horizon) To a pragmatic adaptation to any educational context. This Project presents an innovative design for an ideal school, and we can certainly try to implement it through the development of a new campus, though we must humbly acknowledge that any human endeavour will only constitute a sincere attempt striving for genuine integral education. Hence, the Project is an invitation to create new schools developing its pedagogic proposal in a comprehensive way. Nevertheless, our educational project can be adapted to any school or any syllabus. What we present here would be an educational model essentially open and flexible, to be adopted with pragamatism and to be adapted to the context of every school. We do not believe either in dogmatism or absolutism. A newly created school could integrate our model in a more comprehensive way (in coherence with the IB), but any school anywhere in the world can take it as a theoretical/ practi cal model that can serve as a source of inspiration to implement any facet helping this particular school to enhance its pedagogic practice. In Government schools, for instance, it is virtually impossible to introduce global changes; but it is perfectly possible to open small prudent wedges slowly developing towards integral education. Apart from this shorter presentation, The Project is expounded through A 600 pages book with 100 pages Bibliography. 7 OUR PLAN OF ACTION. Our goal is to start an International School inspired by this humanistic philosophy of education in South India (preferably Bangalore), and in Europe (preferably Barcelona) or America, Building a bridge between the West and the East in a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Before creating a full international school, and always depending on the funds available, we can open a small school which will gradually develop. At the same time, we will continue to design in concrete terms the pedagogic method for integral value education to be implemented through school life. (The general frame of the pedagogic method is already outlined in several folders and pdfs, a 600 pages handbook with 100 pages bibliography, and a 1000 pages academic book to be published in 5 volumes; Which include a philosophical and scholarly foundation together with a practical pedagogy). (All these materials are legally protected through copyright registration in India and Spain under the International Convention of Berne). When sponsors/ investors come out to support the project, it is our wish to bring this educational vision and practice all around the world. Coaching and assistance to existing schools/