@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ Date: Tue, 2 Jan 1996 From: •••@••.••• Subject: CPSR-GLOBAL digest 295 ~--<snip>--~ October, 1995 Mohandas Gandhi's list of "Seven Blunders of the World" that lead to violence was described in an article in the Christian Science Monitor on February 1, 1995 (page 14). In his final years, "...the elder Gandhi kept his grandson close at hand and set aside an hour every day to be alone with the boy." I like the image of a gifted world leader devoting so much time to a young person, affirming the fundamental human urge to connect to future generations -- to teach -- and, perhaps, to learn. On their final day together, not too long before his assassination, Gandhi gave this important list to his grandson -- Arun Gandhi. I've been concluding my most recent presentations, with some thoughts about the future -- both Nightmares & Visions -- and then offering Gandhi's list, including an 8th "blunder" added by Arun Gandhi, the grandson. I've also added 4 of my own that focus more on teaching, learning, and technology. Here is the combined list of 12 "blunders". -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= BLUNDERS OF THE WORLD THAT LEAD TO VIOLENCE Wealth without work Pleasure without conscience Knowledge without character Commerce without morality Science without humanity Worship without sacrifice Politics without principle Rights without responsibilities [Arun Gandhi] Technology without direction Connection without community Teaching without joy Learning without hope Our Challenge: To use information technology to improve education and shape a future that avoids these blunders. Steven W. Gilbert, Director, Technology Projects American Association for Higher Education (AAHE) 202/293-6440 X 54 FAX: 202/293-0073 ------------------- from: _Finding the Heart of the Child: Essays on Children, Families, and Schools_ by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D. Pages 208-209 My thesis is this: We live in a time that conspires to disconnect us, one from another, from institutions, from ideas, and from ideals, so that the individual is precariously alone. I would go on to contend that the implications of this disconnectedness for children are enormous. I think of the two major tasks of childhood as the development of competence and the development of connectedness, both of which contribute, in different ways, to the overarching goal of developing a sense of confidence and self-esteem. If we do not pay close attention to our children's developing sustaining connections, connections of all sorts, then they will always be at risk of not finding satisfaction and meaning in life, no matter how competent they may become. What is connectedness? It is a sense of being a part of something larger than oneself. It is a sense of belonging, or a sense of accompaniment. It is that feeling in your bones that you are not alone. It is a sense that no matter how scary things may become, there is a hand for you in the dark. While ambition drives us to achieve, connectedness is my word for the force that urges us to ally, to affiliate, to enter into mutual relationships, to take strength and to grow through cooperative behavior. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NOTE: Anyone can subscribe to the AAHESGIT Listserv by sending the Email message (with subject line left blank): SUBSCRIBE AAHESGIT yourfirstname yourlastname to •••@••.••• If you would like to post a message to the AAHESGIT Listserv, send it to •••@••.••• @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~ Posted by Richard K. Moore (•••@••.•••) Wexford, Ireland •••@••.••• | Cyberlib=http://www.internet-eireann.ie/cyberlib Materials may be reposted in their entirety for non-commercial use. ~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~--~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=~
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