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Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης Η Επιπεδοχώρα Edwin Abbott ΚΟΥΤΣΟΥΜΠΟΣ

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Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης Η Επιπεδοχώρα Edwin Abbott ΚΟΥΤΣΟΥΜΠΟΣ ΕΚΠΑΙΔΕΥΤΗΡΙΑ ΜΠΟΥΓΑ Σχολικό έτος 2007-2008 Πρόγραµµα: ΘΑΛΗΣ + ΦΙΛΟΙ. Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης Η Επιπεδοχώρα Edwin Abbott ΚΟΥΤΣΟΥΜΠΟΣ ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ Σκιάθος Ιούλιος 2008 Φέτος για δεύτερη χρονιά λειτούργησε στο σχολείο µας Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης στα πρότυπα της οµάδας Θαλής + Φίλοι. Στις αρχές της χρονιάς άρχισε µια καινούργια περιπέτεια µε όχηµα ένα βιβλίο Μαθηµατικής Λογοτεχνίας. Η οµάδα συγκροτήθηκε από παιδία της Γ΄ Γυµνασίου του σχολείου µας. Αρκετά από αυτά συµµετείχαν στην περσινή Λέσχη Ανάγνωσης και αποτέλεσαν τους λεγόµενους «γενναίους», αφού παρέµειναν µέχρι το τέλος. Στην αρχή της χρονιάς κάποιοι από τους Γενναίους ρωτούσαν φέτος θα κάνουµε Θαλής + Φίλοι και αν, ναι ποιο βιβλίο θα διαβάσουµε, όλοι, όµως, συµφωνούσαν ότι το βιβλίο για φέτος θα έπρεπε να µην είναι µεγάλο όπως το περσινό. Το καινούργιο στοιχείο ήταν ότι οι συναντήσεις της Λέσχης δε θα γίνονταν όπως πέρυσι Κυριακή απόγευµα, αλλά την τελευταία ώρα της Παρασκευής. Η περσινή εµπειρία έδειξε ότι πολλά παιδιά δεν µπορούσαν να έρχονται τα απογεύµατα της Κυριακής και έτσι σταδιακά αποκόπτονταν από την Λέσχη. Η Οµάδα Η οµάδά είχε συντονιστές καθηγητές τους: Κουτσουµπό Γεώργιο (Μαθηµατικό) Κέλυ Σιαχάλου (Φιλόλογο) Οι µαθητές που συµµετείχαν ήταν : 1. Θεοδωράκης Παναγιώτης 2. Χριστακόπουλος Δηµήτρης 3. Τύρος Στέφανος 4. Καρούνιας Αλέξανδρος 5. Κλείδωνα Στυλιανή 6. Μάρας Μάριος 7. Μαστρογιαννόπουλος Σταύρος 8. Μιχαλόπουλος Ανδρέας 9. Μιχαλόπουλος Νίκος 10. Οκόνορ Αλέξανδρος 11. Παπανικολάου Γεώργιος 12. Πουλίτσης Αναστάσιος 13. Πηλιώτης Άλκης 14. Σκάρπα Χρύσα Το βιβλίο Όλα τα διαδικαστικά είχαν ρυθµιστεί και ήµασταν έτοιµοι να συναντηθούµε για πρώτη φορά. Το πρόβληµα ήταν ποιο βιβλίο θα κάνουµε φέτος ; !!!!!! Οι συντονιστές πρότειναν διάφορα βιβλία στα παιδιά της οµάδας για να επιλέξουν. Από την αρχή το ενδιαφέρον των παιδιών τράβηξε ένα µικρό βιβλιαράκι µε έναν περίεργο τίτλο Flatland , η Επιπεδοχώρα. Ένα παραµύθι πολλών διαστάσεων του Edwin A. Abbott. Εκδόσεις Αιώρα. Στα 1884 κυκλοφορεί σε Λονδίνο και Νέα Υόρκη η νουβέλα «Επιπεδοχώρα» («Flatland: Α romance of many dimensions») κάποιου µυστηριώδους κυρίου Α Square.Το πλήρες όνοµα του συγγραφέα ήταν Edwin Abbott Abott άρα: Abbott x Abott = (Abbott)2 = A Square . Το διασκεδαστικό και ευφάνταστο έργο αποτελείται από δύο µέρη. Στο πρώτο ο αφηγητής, ένα τετράγωνο µε ανησυχίες, περιγράφει τον, αυστηρά ιεραρχηµένο, επίπεδο κόσµο των δύο διαστάσεων όπου κατοικεί και τους σχηµατικούς συµπολίτες του. Ο συγγραφέας λόγω της κοινωνικής του θέσης δεν µπορούσε να σχολιάσει ευθέως την κοινωνία της εποχής του. Χρησιµοποιεί τη µέθοδο της Ουτοπίας, δηµιουργεί έναν καινούργιο κόσµο την Επιπεδοχώρα µε τα χαρακτηριστικά της Βικτοριανής κοινωνίας της εποχής του. Όλο το πρώτο µέρος είναι µία σκληρή κοινωνική σάτιρα της Βικτοριανής Αγγλίας. Οι γυναίκες είναι ευθύγραµµα τµήµατα (µονοδιάστατα σχήµατα) σε αντίθεση µε τους άντρες που είναι κανονικά πολύγωνα (δισδιάστατα σχήµατα). Αν δούµε µια γυναίκα κατά µήκος τότε φαίνεται σαν σηµείο (είναι σχεδόν ανύπαρκτη). Ο συγγραφέας πίστευε στις ίσες ευκαιρίες για µόρφωση για όλες τις κοινωνικές κλάσεις και ιδιαίτερα για τις γυναίκες. Τότε επιτράπηκε για πρώτη φορά η είσοδος των γυναικών στα πανεπιστήµια. Παρόλο που υπήρχαν πάρα πολλά σχολεία που προετοίµαζαν τα αγόρια για τις εισαγωγικές εξετάσεις των Πανεπιστηµίων, οι ευκαιρίες για τα κορίτσια ήταν ελάχιστες Στην Επιπεδοχώρα υπάρχουν δύο διαφορετικές κουλτούρες. Οι άντρες εκφράζουν την λογική δίνοντας σηµασία σε ό,τι βλέπουµε , µπορούµε να µετρήσουµε και να περιγράψουµε ακριβώς µε τη γλώσσα της επιστήµης. Οι γυναίκες εκφράζουν το συναίσθηµα, το πάθος, την αγάπη, την πίστη. Κάθε κόσµος έχει τη δική του γλώσσα, για να µην µπορεί ο ένας να εισέλθει στον κόσµο του άλλου. Στο δεύτερο µέρος ο τετράγωνος ήρωας ταξιδεύει σε άλλες διαστάσεις: αρχικά ονειρεύεται ένα γραµµικό µιας διάστασης σύµπαν του οποίου οι κάτοικοι δεν µπορούν να τον καταλάβουν, κατόπιν δέχεται την καθοριστική επίσκεψη µιας σφαίρας πλάσµατος του χωρικού, τρισδιάστατου κόσµου(Η επίσκεψη της Σφαίρας στο επίπεδο) και τέλος υποθέτει την ύπαρξη µιας πραγµατικότητας τεσσάρων διαστάσεων τροµοκρατώντας έτσι τον αυτάρεσκο σφαιρικό επισκέπτη του. Τι έκανε, άραγε, έναν κλασσικό φιλόλογο και κληρικό να γράψει ένα τέτοιο βιβλίο; Τα πραγµατικά αίτια δεν είναι γνωστά. Στις αρχές του δεκάτου ενάτου αιώνα κυριαρχούσε στους επιστηµονικούς κύκλους η γεωµετρία του χώρου των τεσσάρων διαστάσεων. Κεντρικό πρόσωπο στην εκλαΐκευση της παραπάνω έννοιας ήταν ο µαθηµατικός Charles Howard Hinton (1853-1907). Στo δεύτερο µέρος της Επιπεδοχώρας ο συγγραφέας έχει επηρεαστεί αρκετά από τα έργά του Hinton. Ο συγγραφέας αφιερώνει το βιβλίο στον “H. C”. Ο Howard Candler ήταν καθηγητής Μαθηµατικών και ο πολύ στενός φίλος του Αbbott. Συναντιόντουσαν κάθε εβδοµάδα για παραπάνω από 23 χρόνια. Είναι σχεδόν βέβαιο ότι αυτός πρώτος θα διάβαζε και θα διόρθωνε τα χειρόγραφα. Ίσως έτσι εξηγείται πως ο συγγραφέας αν και φιλόλογος, σε ολόκληρο το κείµενο δεν έχει ούτε ένα Μαθηµατικό λάθος. Ο Συγγραφέας Ο Edwin Abbott Abbott γεννήθηκε στις 20 Δεκεµβρίου 1836 στο Marylebone του Middlesex της Αγγλίας και πέθανε στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1926 στο Hampstead του Λονδίνου. Οι γονείς του Jane Abbott και Edwin Abbott ήταν πρώτα ξαδέρφια. γι’ αυτό ο συγγραφέας έχει το όνοµα Abbott δύο φορές. Ο πατέρας του ήταν Γυµνασιάρχης του Φιλολογικού Σχολείου του Marylebone. Ο Abbott τελείωσε το σχολείο στο φηµισµένο City of London School στο οποίο απόκτησε πολύ καλή µόρφωση. Το 1857 εισήχθη στο St John’s College στο Cambridge.Κατά τη διάρκεια των σπουδών ήταν ένας πολύ καλός φοιτητής και αποφοίτησε πρώτος (Senior Classics medalist) το 1861. Τον επόµενο χρόνο εκλέχτηκε βοηθός στο ίδιο Κολέγιο και χειροτονήθηκε διάκος. Την εποχή εκείνη τα µέλη του προσωπικού των κολεγίων δεν επιτρεπόταν να είναι έγγαµοι. Το 1863 ο Abbott παραιτήθηκε από τη θέση του βοηθού για να παντρευτεί την Mary Elizabeth Rangeley από το Unstone του Derbyshire µε την οποία απόκτησαν ένα γιο και µία κόρη. Το 1863 έγινε παπάς. Ο Abbott µπορούσε να κάνει µία λαµπρή πανεπιστηµιακή καριέρα αλλά δεν το επιδίωξε ποτέ. Ήταν ενθουσιώδης και καλός δάσκαλος. Έτσι τα περισσότερα χρόνια του δούλεψε στην εκπαίδευση. Στην αρχή δίδαξε στο King Edward’s School, Birmingham και στο Clifton College. Το 1865 και σε ηλικία µόλις 26 χρόνων έκανε αίτηση για τη θέση του γυµνασιάρχη στο City of London School, στη θέση του παλιού του γυµνασιάρχη Dr Mortimer. Πολλοί από τους συνυποψήφιους του ήταν παλιοί καθηγητές. Χάρη στα προσόντα του κατάφερε να κερδίσει το σεβασµό τους και διορίστηκε γυµνασιάρχης. Πολλές φορές ξυπνούσε από τις 5 το πρωί, για να προλάβει να γράψει πριν αρχίσει τη δουλειά του στο σχολείο. Ως γυµνασιάρχης κατάφερε να κάνει το σχολείο ένα από τα καλύτερα και πιο φηµισµένα της Αγγλίας. Ένα από τα πρώτα πράγµατα που έκανε ήταν να µειώσει δραστικά τον αριθµό των παιδιών σε κάθε τάξη που τότε έφταναν τα εβδοµήντα, και να προσλάβει, πολύ ικανούς δασκάλους. Στη Βικτοριανή Αγγλία, ενώ παρακολουθούσαν παραστάσεις έργων του Σαίξπηρ, δεν τον δίδασκαν στα σχολεία τους. Καθιέρωσε στο αναλυτικό πρόγραµµα τη διδασκαλία της Αγγλικής Λογοτεχνίας και ειδικότερα του Σαίξπηρ. Ήταν ο πρώτος που δραµατοποίησε µε τους µαθητές του κοµµάτια από έργα του Σαίξπηρ. Έτρεφε µεγάλο σεβασµό για τις Φυσικές Επιστήµες πράγµα ασυνήθιστο για την εποχή του. Kαθιέρωσε υποχρεωτικό µάθηµα τη Χηµεία. Τα Μαθηµατικά διδάσκονταν επίσης σε υψηλό επίπεδο. Έδειξε µεγάλο, ενδιαφέρον για τη µόρφωση των γυναικών, πού στην εποχή του ήταν εξαιρετικά περιορισµένη. Το 1880 συµµετείχε ενεργά σε µια κίνηση για την προώθηση και αλλαγή και αναµόρφωση της γυναικείας εκπαίδευσης. Εκείνα τα χρόνια επιτράπηκε η εισαγωγή των γυναικών στα πανεπιστήµια. Έγραψε to βιβλίο: «Hints For Home Teaching» για τους γονείς που θέλουν να βοηθήσουν τα παιδία τους να εισαχθούν στην τριτοβάθµια Εκπαίδευση. Η κόρη του συγγραφέα µπήκε στο πανεπιστήµιο το 1891, ήταν πρώτη στο έτος της αλλά επειδή ήταν γυναίκα, δεν κέρδισε το Chancellor’s medal. Το 1870 πρωτοστάτησε στις ενέργειες για την κατασκευή ενός καινούργιου πιο µεγάλου και πιο ανθρώπινου κτηρίου. Μετά από πολλές δυσκολίες το καινούργιο σχολείο άνοιξε το 1883. Έµεινε σε αυτή τη θέση για 24 χρόνια µέχρι τη συνταξιοδότησή του το 1889. O Abbott παραιτήθηκε από Γυµνασιάρχης επτά χρόνια µετά το γράψιµο της Επιπεδοχώρας, κατά τη διάρκεια µιας κρίσης για το χωρισµό του αναλυτικού προγράµµατος σε δύο ξεχωριστές κατευθύνσεις ¨Σύγχρονη¨ (Modern) και Κλασσική (Classical). Σατιρίζει την παραπάνω κρίση στο βιβλίο αντιπαραβάλλοντας την ψηλάφηση των χαµηλών κοινωνικών κλάσεων, µε την Οπτική αναγνώριση των ανώτερων κοινωνικών στρωµάτων. Με την οπτική αναγνώριση οι ανώτερες τάξεις δηµιουργούν έναν κοινωνικό φραγµό µεταξύ αυτών και των χαµηλότερων τάξεων. Ως συγγραφέας έγραψε πολλά έργα για διαφορετικά θέµατα . Θεωρείται ένας από τους πιο έγκυρους µελετητές του Beacon. Σηµαντικό έργο του η «Σαιξπηρική Γραµµατική». Το βιβλίο του µε το οποίο πέρασε στην ιστορία είναι η Επιπεδοχώρα. Στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 1926 µετά από µακροχρόνια αρρώστια πέθανε στο σπίτι του σε ένα προάστιο του Λονδίνου. ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΤΟΥ ABBOTT 1869 A Shakespearian Grammar. Macmillan and Co. Bible Lessons: part 1: Old Testament, part 2: New Testament. 1870 Macmillan and Co. English Lessons for English People.(with John R. Seeley) Seeley, 1871 Jackson, and Halliday. The Good Voices, or a Child's Guide to the Bible and Parables for Children. Macmillan and Co. How to Write Clearly: Rules and Exercises on English Composition. 1872 Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday The Proposed Examination of First-grade Schools by the Universities. Macmillan and Co. Latin Prose Through English Idiom. Seeley, Jackson, and Halliday.
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