Collective decision making is the engine at the heart of our program. It is the deepest expression of our values as educators/organizers, and it is the tool we use to make Emergent Learning possible in a group setting.
What is "collective decision making?"
If there is one thing your child will consistently practice at EBSS, it is "collective decision making," or the process of trying to arrive at a consensus (the agreement of all parties). Consensus can be contrasted with majoritarian democracy, in which 51% can vote to overrule the other 49%. Instead of building competitive us-versus-them dynamics as in majoritarian democracy, when we seek consensus we try to craft skillful compromises that work for everyone.
The educational value of consensus process cannot be overstated (read more about it here, or on wikipedia). Anyone who has worked with young children knows that 95% of the job is conflict resolution. And of course we don't stop having conflicts once we grow up; the art of living is very much the art of harmonizing divergent needs. Practicing consensus from an early age gives children the tools and confidence to resolve conflicts. By constantly voicing their needs, echoing back the needs of others, and proposing creative compromises, children build emotional intelligence. In this way we prepare them to become pillars of community as they grow.
How do we make decisions collectively? We have meetings. You might think, "Adults hate meetings, how could children possibly sit through one?" We wondered the same at first, but it turned out to be super easy! Breezy, even!
The trick is to start with the question, "what do you want to do today?" The kids instantly show up to participate, because they get to actively shape their day. The work of balancing everyone's needs flows fluidly from that question. By now the kids are very familiar with the structure of meetings. We see the spirit of collective process integrating itself naturally into their play.
What meetings are like: we hold space for everyone to share ideas and decide how they want to spend their day. We talk through constraints of time, materials, and safety, so that the kids practice defining their own goals and asking adults for support within that frame, empowering them to contend with the potential outcomes of their decisions. We do our best to achieve consensus (we all agree) on every decision, as opposed to majoritarian voting.
Whether your child is a homeschooler looking for play opportunities in bigger groups, or a conventional schooler who needs an antidote to the stressful power dynamics of the schoolyard, EBSS could be an excellent addition to your learning plan.
What is "collective decision making?"
If there is one thing your child will consistently practice at EBSS, it is "collective decision making," or the process of trying to arrive at a consensus (the agreement of all parties). Consensus can be contrasted with majoritarian democracy, in which 51% can vote to overrule the other 49%. Instead of building competitive us-versus-them dynamics as in majoritarian democracy, when we seek consensus we try to craft skillful compromises that work for everyone.
The educational value of consensus process cannot be overstated (read more about it here, or on wikipedia). Anyone who has worked with young children knows that 95% of the job is conflict resolution. And of course we don't stop having conflicts once we grow up; the art of living is very much the art of harmonizing divergent needs. Practicing consensus from an early age gives children the tools and confidence to resolve conflicts. By constantly voicing their needs, echoing back the needs of others, and proposing creative compromises, children build emotional intelligence. In this way we prepare them to become pillars of community as they grow.
How do we make decisions collectively? We have meetings. You might think, "Adults hate meetings, how could children possibly sit through one?" We wondered the same at first, but it turned out to be super easy! Breezy, even!
The trick is to start with the question, "what do you want to do today?" The kids instantly show up to participate, because they get to actively shape their day. The work of balancing everyone's needs flows fluidly from that question. By now the kids are very familiar with the structure of meetings. We see the spirit of collective process integrating itself naturally into their play.
What meetings are like: we hold space for everyone to share ideas and decide how they want to spend their day. We talk through constraints of time, materials, and safety, so that the kids practice defining their own goals and asking adults for support within that frame, empowering them to contend with the potential outcomes of their decisions. We do our best to achieve consensus (we all agree) on every decision, as opposed to majoritarian voting.
Whether your child is a homeschooler looking for play opportunities in bigger groups, or a conventional schooler who needs an antidote to the stressful power dynamics of the schoolyard, EBSS could be an excellent addition to your learning plan.
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