What If? Book
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Have you ever asked yourself a question you know there isn’t a definitive answer for? i What Perhaps you should more often, it could open up a whole world of possibilities. f? This vivid, bright book covers the successes generated in a community in Oldham from an IntroductionAn to approach called Philosophical Enquiry and the benefits of how thinking differently has positive knock on effects for many other projects. What if? Contour Housing Group having witnessed the wizard power of Philosophical Enquiry at Limeside Primary School, partnered with them to and Businesses Housing Groups Communities, Enquiry Philosophical Schools, for spread the effects further into the local neighbourhood. The method has not only improved children’s performance in the school it has also changed ways of working in both Contour and Limeside Primary School as well as in their approaches to community cohesion. The technique is already being actively championed in schools but never has it been used in a joined up approach across a single regeneration area such as here. The book is a living testament to what you can create through Philosophical Enquiry and is based on a philosophical question, “What if?” So, if you want to achieve real results ask yourself a question that doesn’t have a definitive answer – ask yourself “What if?” Philosopher What if? A book designed in partnership with Contour Housing Group, Limeside Primary School and friends. Carly A, Shannan A, Ben B, Molly B, Daniel B, Jack B, Jordan B, Chloe B, Daniel B, Jacey B, Brooklyn B, Connor B, Lee B, Samantha, Connor B, Corran B, Tommy B, Callum B, Leah B, Callum B, Jack B, Daisy B, Josh B, Kelsey B, Faye B, Molly B, Scott B, Jozef Kaiden B, Dylan B, Blake B, Jordan C, Connor C, Jordan C, Sheldon C, Demi C, James C, Megan C, Chloe C, Kylie C, Robbie C, Gabrielle C, Gerard C, Katie C, Khyearra C, Codie C, Jordan C, Michael C, Shelby C, Taylor C, Demi-Leigh, Caitlin C, Evan C, Shauna D, Shaun D, Jamie D, Lewis D, Bradley D, Jack D, Hollieanne D, Reese D, Aidan E, Jack, Daniel E, Emily E, Hayden E, Holly E, Olivia E, Jessica F, Katie F, Amy F, Hayley F, Nathan F, Ryan F, Owen Ryan, Ryan G, Tallulah G, William G, Winona G, Cherrie G, Leanne G, James G, Laura G, Ryan G, Kalum G, Ebony G, Elle G, Kayleigh G, Ryan G, Chloe H, Ethan H, Bradley H, Luke H, Lyndan H, Leah H, Aaron H, Shannon, Ashleigh H, Joshua H, Charlie H, Ryan H, Kara H, Anthony H, Bradley H, Brett H, Jessica H, Kyle H, Connor, Jordan J, Kayleigh J, Leanne J, Kalvin J, Khyia J, Connor K, Leah K, Rhys K, Courtney K, Megan L, Robbie L, Charley L, this book is for Brett L, Shannon L, Liam L, Thomas M, Callum M, Marcus M, Paul M, Darelyn M, Kian M, Kiara M, Mahan M, James Adamson, Leah M, Shane M, Daniel M, Katie-Lee M, Delisi M, Kaya M, Lewis M, Bradley O, Connor O, Ebony O, Shannon O, Jason O, Milli O, Demi P, Kade P, Kane P, Keeley P, Gage P, Michael P, Porschia, Chloe, Amy R, Damian R, Jack R, Layton R, Lewis R, Dale R, Courtney R, Adil S, Emily S, Jacob S, Olivia S, Alana S, Alexander, Jordan S, Declan S, Sarah S, Callum S, Saskia S, Skie S, Jordan S, Ben S, Abby S, Chelsea S, Abbie T, Toni T, Cory T, Milli T, Stacy T, Jack V, Roman W, Dannii W, Kaitlin W, Brooklyn W, Lewis W, Megan W, Rosemary W, Caitlin W, Charlie W, Kieran W, Dylan W, James W, Georgie W, Adam W, Kyle W, Ryan W, Jaydn W, Alix W, Shannon W, Aaron W, Morgan W Jack Y, and all past and future pupils, Danielle Albon, Debra Andrew-Finegan, Helen Arya, Stella Bowden, Janice Chapman, Gwen Cooke, Christine Crossan, Karen Dunn, Linda Fairbrother, Kristy Fullelove, Simon Fullelove, Tracy Giddens, Denise Hayward, Dawn Henry, Jackie Hopkins, Helen Hopkinson, Rose Iveson, Susan Jacobs, Denise Jerzynek, Elaine Leech, Katharine Maskell, Jennifer McClaren, Belinda Parkes, Marjorie Reeves, Jayne Rigby, Bev Ring, Hazel Tetlow, Lynn Thorne, May Walker, Geoff Wood, Steven Young, Collette and all the Governors, families, and friends of Limeside Primary School, Angela Reeves, John Walsh, Hilary Lomax, Shanine Meadowcroft, Shirley Buckley, John Stanley, Nanu Miah, Lynne Thorne, Sayful Alam, Tracey Hamer, Linda Foster, Sarah Furbey, Violet Simpson, Jean Stretton, Steve Williams, Alice Walker, Father David Hawthorn, Nick Cumberland, Phil Dandy, all of the Avenues & Hollins Residents, Clarkwell Community Partnership Group, Avenues & Hollins Tenants and Residents Association. What if... I am delighted to present this innovative celebration of Contour’s work with Limeside Primary School, 1. hello FOREWORD BY LIMESIDE PRIMARY SCHOOL AND CONTOUR HOUSING GROUP local people and Clarkwell residents. We take seriously 2. Introduction BIG IDEAS MAKE A DIFFERENCE our commitment to our communities. I believe that Copyright © 2007 Contour Housing Group and this book illustrates clearly the Limeside Primary School. First published in Great 3. What if... we turned a corner? CONTEXT - TOTAL REGENERATION type of thinking required to Britain in 2007 by Contour Housing Group and regenerate communities and Limeside Primary School. 4. What if... We had the tools? CONTEXT - HOMES & SCHOOLS helps us to be a truly social Contour Housing Group Ltd landlord in every sense. Quay Plaza 2 1st Floor - Lowry Mall 5. What if... WE GRew our own? COMMUNITY - SUSTAINABILITY The design of this book has Salford Quays been undertaken with the Salford community in mind. Limeside M50 3AH 6. What if... WE ate together? COMMUNITY - TOGETHERNESS Primary School pupils have Tel : 0845 602 1120 taken many of the photographs themselves and Fax : 0161 875 8200 7. What if... we led from every chair? COMMUNITY - LEADERSHIP designed some of the pages and artwork. Several of Email : [email protected] these are the result of special educational workshops www.contourhousing.co.uk 8. What if... We worked together? COMMUNITY - COHESION held directly with the design agency. The right of Limeside Primary School and In order to address sustainability issues, the Contour Housing Group to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted to them 9. What if... we worked as a team? BUSINESS/TEAMWORK - COMMUNICATION environmental impact and carbon dioxide produced in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and from this project (mainly through the excessive Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. discussion and laughter) we have planted a special 10.What if... we could BE ANYTHING? BUSINESS/TEAMWORK - SKILLS No part of this publication may be reproduced, tree on the park at the centre of our community, the stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any print has been commissioned from a local printers form or by any means including photocopying, 11. WHAT IF...WE COULD FLY? EDUCATION - SKILLS and is printed using vegetable dyes on chlorine free electronic, mechanical, recording nor otherwise, paper from a sustainable source. without the prior written permission of the rights holders, application for which must be made to 12. What if...we just added wings to caterpillars EDUCATION - CURRICULUM Thank you to everyone for their involvement in the publisher. making this a successful project. ISBN 978-0-9556487-0-0 13. What if...WE were wizards? EDUCATION - APPROACH ISBN 978-0-9556486-0-1 Cover and book design by the pupils and teaching staff of 14. What if...We USE OUR key skills? EDUCATION - KEY SKILLS Limeside Primary School, Oldham. Printed and bound in Oldham, EDUCATION - CULTURE Mike Creamer, England by Rap Spiderweb. 15.What if... we shine? Chief Executive A joint publication by Contour Housing Group Contour Housing Group and Limeside Primary School. 16. What if... this was just the beginning? ... Limeside Primary School Contour Housing Group This book is a vision realised, which began Philosophical Enquiry allows people to; with a journey, a journey of discovery explore ideas, engage in dialogue, learn and enquiry that could have taken us in from each other and challenge each other many directions. without creating conflict. It is a tool which can be used in a whole host of settings. It is a little like a famous quote from Alice in Wonderland, Having witnessed first hand the hello “One day Alice came to a fork in the road inspirational work of Philosophical and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Enquiry at Limeside School in July “Which road do I take?” she asked. 2006, we fundamentally changed our “Where do you want to go?” was his approach to what could be achieved for response. Community Cohesion. Not only that but “I don’t know,” Alice answered. it has also had a huge impact on the way “Then,” said the cat, “it doesn’t much matter.” we work. The path taken doesn’t really matter, it’s where you get to in the end that does. It’s not which way you go so long as you go together. Philosophical Enquiry is a technique which enables this. For us at Limeside Primary School, the Being astonished by the children’s ease of important factor was the vision, the enlightenment has significantly helped dream and getting there together. us to bring together differing groups of In using techniques such as people and for them to become “active Philosophical Enquiry we developed rather than passive learners”. The results communities of enquirers. are real and speak for themselves. The management guru, Peter Senge, talks about our connectiveness and that a journey of enquiry to realise a dream, is a series of reflective questions that connects our own learning moments to those of others, “a shared vision try something to create the future.” This vehicle connected us.