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New blueprint for education in the 21st century
The prime concern of our current era is the assurance of our sustainable existence as the human species in a finite, polluted and destroyed environment. In the previous centuries we have violated the essential values of our existence, not knowing what they were. Today we do know, so we need to educate ourselves accordingly and take corrective measures to transform the violation of those values into sustainable progress.
In Sustainocracy (sustainable human progress and our shared responsibilities) we defined five of such values. None of them are currently taught in an overarching manner in our schools while they represent the fundamental blueprint for our evolutionary processes and learning criteria.
Jean-Paul Close, founder of Sustainocracy
Our learning dynamics are always placed in the context of the time in which we live. In the 19th and 20th century the industrial era ruled. Our education was geared towards the labor market. In the 21st century for the first time we have become fully aware of our vulnerability as a species in the finite space and the limited resources provided by our home planet Earth. We recognize now that our old path has become dystopian, potentially leading to self destruction. Our overarching learning dynamics are now about how to take responsibility for our sustainable existence. The labor market, the diversity of institutions, our entrepreneurship and business mentality, our science and our education, needs to be placed into that context.
The situation of today is very difficult and leads to confusion among those that have been used to trying to solve our issues in a remedial way, within the reigning tunnel visions such as money, technology, regulation, take overs, controles, genetic manipulation and redesigning our environment. These people have not yet understood the complexity of the essential for the sustainable presence of a species within a natural ecosystem. In fact “eco-nomy” refers in essence to the “laws of nature” and not the speculative format we have given to it based on our own laws. Deviating from the laws of nature in order to create our own financial ecosystem, based on making use of humankind and our finite environment for financial self interest, has brought to this dystopian point.
Does that mean that we have to change everything?
No, not at all. There will always be professional functions in society, the need for specialists, also at institutional level. There will even be elites, people that have more authority than others because of their position or expertise. And we all need our guided learning paths to develop ourselves in the complexity of daily life. What we we need to do is to acknowledge our shared responsibilities based on the essential values for a sustainable presence and future while adopting wholeheartedly this mindset. In Sustainocracy we defined a set of five essential values, each being a shared responsibility among all of us, people and institutions alike. These values correspond to the laws of nature. It may seem simple, just five essential values. But when we start taking them at heart they prove to be transformative of the entire societal dna, taking away stress and bringing wellness for all.
We are to place everything in this context of core values for our existence, including our financial economy of growth, our government structures, our own behavior, our care systems, entrepreneurship, productivity, engagement as citizens, etc. By doing so we also redefine the entire educational learning process. Instead of teaching domesticated obedience we learn about respect, tolerance, equality and working together in values driven routines. We learn about authenticity, contribution, reciprocity, safety, trust and the essential values applied to ourselves and all of us together. We learn to be responsible in our behavior, our actions, our creativity, our leadership and awareness development.
By doing so we resolve many of our problems, reducing the financial, humanistic and ecological burden of our abuses of the past and its consequences on us, our societies, economies and our environment. We heal our past and develop resilience in all layers of our existence.
The blueprint of our new age education
Taking the above seriously at heart we need to look at ourselves as human beings. We are unique manifestations of life within the context of our natural environment of fellow living species on a finite planet in space. We are blessed with self awareness and the unique observant self learning dynamics for our own benefit and resilience. As a species we have gone through huge, long lasting phases of confusion that became the foundation of our current understanding and learning processes. We are unraveling our understanding of what we are, developing both humility and determination. Today we are living the biggest turning point in history of humankind. This historical process is also needed as guidance for our youngest generations to a productive, engaged, happy and wellness driven adulthood and life’s fulfilment.
Playful childhood
The growing up of toddlers represents the discovery of the fascinating world that surrounds them. Experimentation is their name of the game. The protective guidance of the parents helps to avoid the dangerous pitfalls of life. Playing is key to deploy the physical motorist skills, balance, interpretation of danger, emotional skills, etc. Early communication skills to interact with the parents develop as the child grows up. The learning show be an open space for free discovery and experimentation within the contextual framework of the core natural values such as health and safety. The child learns to establish limitations, consider risks and warning signals, interpret communication and interact through expressing wishes, fear, pleasure, etc.
The “I am” learning path
Gradually the infant starts to discover his or her large diversity of abilities. At this early stage it is mainly a copying behavior of what is being observed through parents, brothers or sisters. This is enhanced when the child gets in contact with other kids. Here the child can potential start learning about the authenticity of its own being, the unique “I am” development. The natural attitude is to learn through comparison, competition, challenges, victories and disappointments. The learning skills need to develop around social values such as compassion, empathy, tolerance, equality, respect, self awareness, a positive self image, awareness, etc. Here a solid foundation is created for the emotional stability of the youngster. Play, music, theater, art help in the development of the expression based skills. It also is sense making for developing language and communication skills in at all levels of speech, listening and interpretation abilities.
The “we are” learning path
The following learning path is oriented around group processes, the awareness driven cocreation and participation. The underlying skills developments of the experimental playfulness and self awareness (I am) continue of course and require continuous attention. Now the fundament of togetherness is further elaborated within the function of recognizing each other’s unique abilities and contribution in the field of cooperation. The aspects of sharing, spreading the load of responsibilities, leaving no one behind, creating value together. taking initiative, leadership skills, creativity, entrepreneurship and sharing it among all, are key elements of this learning path. Community spirit, the value of care for and with each other, are extended also to the inter-generational levels of attention. Respecting the practical experience of elderly while appreciating the youthful energetic outbursts of the younger provides a magic melting pot of opportunities for progress. The elderly have to avoid the dogmatizing of processes, stimulating the youthful creativity of the upcoming generations. The younger generation have to learn to appreciate the guidance of the elderly with their levels of awareness breakthroughs and elaborated expertise.
The “shared responsibility” area
Reaching adulthood the young people have sufficient baggage to further specialize in certain functions. Meanwhile they develop harmonic relationships with their own potential partner, possibly having children of their own while playing a role in different communities that fit their personality, professionally and otherwise.
Era of integration
Meanwhile our societal construct transforms based on the core natural values that lead our progress. We peal off old societal laws around the financial hegemony and abuse, protecting ourselves against outbursts of narcissism and expressions of pure, destructive self interests. Entrepreneurship, governance and all other institutional expressions are redefined within the same values driven mindset and sharing of responsibilities. Certain key aspects of life, such as food, water, warmth and air are taken our of the arena of commodity based trade and placed within the area of integration of our shared responsibilities, cocreation, positive interaction with nature, regenerative processes, etc. It will give rise to totally new “eco-nomies”, levels of engagement and development of circular interactions. This makes also the adult world a field of continuous adjustments, learning, innovations, applied science and technologies. The early playfulness is never lost, nor the “I am” and “we are” quests in the dynamics of the evolution of life and circumstances. Shared responsibility for our core natural human values is never reaching a status quo. It is always a balancing act to achieve harmonization and integration that will show moments of scarcity, chaos and new impulses for awareness driven adaptations. But addressed together, with wisdom, care and respect for the Whole, the moments of adversity and abundance are celebrate equally, with joy, determination and trust.
STIR Foundation
For over a decade now STIR had been introducing this new learning path. At first we were rejected, now we are being gradually accepted by increasing numbers of partners and do we engage with large groups of people, especially young generations. Read more about the build up of our experiences here.
Secrets for a good and healthy life
A unique health study from Harvard University was recently published. Never before had a scientific study followed people for so long, from childhood to death in old age. 85 years long! The starting point of the research was to identify health-determining factors that positively influence life. The outcome shows that social engagement is key. This coincides with our observations and publications. But the research goes further. Here you can listen to several TED talks about the secret of a “good life”.
Sustainocracy arose in 2009 from the culture shock experienced by the founder when he returned to the Netherlands after a long absence. The perceived atmosphere of loneliness, negative critical attitude, “fear of the other” in a multicultural society, the “every person for oneself” individualism, the culture of distrust in the government, were experienced as structurally unhealthy by him as an outsider. In 2016, COS3i, the community for social inclusion, integration and innovation, was intuitively started. In AiREAS (also Sustainocracy) research had shown that at least 50% of our exposure to air pollution is caused by ourselves. If we wanted to work on our health and a healthy living environment, it should not be with a critical, negative attitude about pollution but through the positive invitation to healthy behavior. This body of thought is now further substantiated by science. At the time, we also studied concepts such as “Blue Zones”, or areas in the world where people age on average about 10 years more in a healthy way compared to the rest of the world. These studies yet again showed that “social contact” was one of the essential pillars of a healthy life.
Harvard adds the question “but how does that mechanism work?”. How is it possible that people with a healthy social bond with their environment suffer significantly less from welfare diseases? Some clues are:
Negative and positive stress
The old adage “a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved” is extremely relevant to people with good social contacts. Community formation is the basis for a sense of security. One can share personal suffering (and joy) with others, receive a hug or process emotions through a good conversation. One can give or receive a helping hand, both with satisfaction as a result. Those positive emotional “injections” appear to contribute to our own health too. People who are in loneliness or isolation don’t have that outlet. The negative stress accumulates in them with all kinds of consequences. These manifest themselves through behavioral disorders such as alcohol or drug use, eating disorders, attacks of aggression, but also all kinds of physical problems.
Recognize something good in the other
We are often very critical and easily see the bad things in others. Positivity, also in relation to the expressions of behavior of others, appears to significantly improve our own health. It takes some effort and practice to interpret the world around us from a positivism perspective. Giving a compliment, the open acknowledgment of “something good” in or by the other, shows empathy, gratitude and a healthy resonance with positive energy. This form of behavior cleanses our inner selves in a certain way and also influences our own social behavior.
Radical curiosity
The danger of long-term relationships is that we tend to think we know everything about the other person. Curiosity diminishes, affects communication and weakens the connection. Radical curiosity means that we are actively open to the other, even if we have been together for decades. Each person is a world in itself and undergoes changes. Experiencing, discussing and appreciating that together sustains a connection that goes much further than being together. However, it requires active attention, curiosity and observation. “Hey, you took out your pink earrings again. I haven’t seen that one in a long time….” and then listen openly to the story that goes with it.
Communicating from “the other”
The difference between communicating from ourselves and from “the other” is that the form is lifted above our own desires and biases. Not everyone is equally communicative. One likes to talk and a lot, the other is more into listening or communicating non-verbally. Acknowledging and appreciating this in each other requires understanding each other, asking open questions and perceiving the small details that one can deal with. The power only really arises when both apply this and respect each other based on each other’s authenticity and individuality. Of course we don’t have to do this with everyone even though such open attitude is experienced nearly always as pleasant in all situations. It concerns in an extra dimension those we feel good about between our friends, acquaintances, relatives and especially of course our partner and children.
Health effects
This research shows that creating such an an open community atmosphere, based on positivism, curiosity, mutual recognition, respect for each other’s behavior and, above all, the resulting attention for each other, leads to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases , etc. Finally, some comments were shared about “regrets”. Later in life, 80+-year-olds looked back on their lives and stated that there were two things they would do “differently”:
- Less attention to “work” and more to their social relationships
- Worry less about what “someone else might think” (especially women who fed this back).
It was also stated that it is “never too late” to learn and develop this. In Sustainocracy we even go so far as to recognize four development phases in every human being. The form analyzed by Harvard belongs to stage 4: “conscious living”. But that does require letting go of phase 3 “conscious survival”. Our current performance-oriented form of society is strongly aligned with phase 3, also institutionally. Almost all relationships in this form of society are focused on political or financial self-interest with a strong competitive drive, distrust of “the other”, aggression and a focus on performance and growth instead of attention and cohesion. This is why people in the autumn of their lives look back and regret having spend so much unnecessary time in conscious survival stage.
Phase 3 is also the form in which education is cast, as if the whole of life is aimed at performance without nuances. It should now be clear that this form of societal structuring leads to many underlying diseases. We should start with a form of education in which young people learn to deal and understand phase 3 in order to eventually shape their own phase 4, based on positive self-knowledge, a positive self-image, authenticity and gratitude. This will also have an impact on general health care, cost of society, the integral quality of life and a positive outlook on the present and the future. Sustainocracy invites people and institutions to act in phase 4. Examples can be found in communities like AiREAS, FRE2sH, COS3i and the School of Talents in which all participants and institutions confirm the warm bonding and interaction due its unique format based on equality, respect and cocreation.
Our interpretation of an economy, the word and its functioning
Since we started with Sustainocracy, our core human values driven society and shared responsibility among all people and institutions, we also developed clear view about the real meaning of the word “economy”. In this article, published via Academia and Researchnet, our interpretation and working reality is detailed. A new mindset was born and helps change everything into a more harmonic and safe reality.
Sustainocracy, the new democracy 