Play, Express, Be…

The work achieved through ‘Bidna Capoeira’, ( a music and dance movement founded by Tarek Alsaleh and Ummul Choudhury,) presented by volunteers around refugee camps, is a wonderful platform for children to express them selves through music and movement…play, express, be…is the Bidna Capoeira message. Helping to support the social wellbeing of many refugee children in vulnerable situations.

This would be an excellent project for the children in the Calais refugee camp. Some volunteer teachers from Cornwall in England have already started music workshops which has had a positive response with the children.

Key Learning Moments

An inspirational, thought provoking, knowledge and awareness building unit on Liminal Spaces It has been totally engaging. So many key learning moments but here are a few:

  • Realising, in the first week, a learning space involves so much more than  classroom displays.
  • The liminal space is something we have all probably experienced at some time in our lives and understanding that has helped me to analyse and conceptualise previous events in my own life and those of students.
  • Being inspired by the refugee’s plight and realising as teachers we have a part to play in their future. Especially assisting them from their liminal space by creating a bridge to mainstream education, integration and future success.
  • Identifying and respecting different ways of learning through communities of practice and collaborative and cooperative groups. How identifying and being engaged in these models can enhance the transformation of learning.
  • Interacting with increased ease when using Web 2 technology.

Not Yet

Carol Dweck’s research on “growth mindset” — the idea that we can grow our brain’s capacity to learn and to solve problems. In this influential talk, Carol Dweck describes the power of a positive, growth mind set and how to approach problems. ‘Are you not smart enough to solve it … or have you just not solved it yet?’ (Dweck, C. 2014)

https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en

This reminds me of Naomi Cleary’s comment in response to one of my forum posts; week 11,

‘…it’s not a problem, it’s another opportunity’.

My View of a Future Learning Space

My FLS will reflect a holistic approach to the education of Calais refugees. It will involve the community and identify the significance of nature and our environment as a whole. Teaching is so much more than a classroom environment, it involves a whole community. There are so many elements of education…an ability to grow through self expression, through experiencing change, as seen in the liminal space of so many refugees and the ability to educate ourselves academically and socially through increasingly adapting and engaging with change; whether in nature, self, others, technology or environment.

What would I like my FLS to achieve?

To ignite change, to respectfully identify the needs; social, academic and emotional of the refugees. Particularly the need for a ‘holistic’ approach to education. As Adam Staples (2015) mentioned in ASC 5…’many of the refugees will already be educated’. Now they need the tools which will equip them for a future in their host country. A process of education and awareness is needed to enable the refugees to have a voice, have a place in the society and economic growth of their host country.

Education capital of Refugees

Bourdieu states that cultural capital, non-financial assets that promote social mobility beyond economic means, i.e. the ability to understand and use ‘educated’ language, physical appearance, level of intellect, family background, educated parents, social standing, etc, has an influence on educational outcomes. My understanding is he outlines social classes and the relevance of successful outcomes to their education. Bourdieu has suggested that even though some ‘lower-class’ or less advantages students achieve an element of success in education, their degree of academic success may not be enough.

…application becomes pedantry and a respect for hard work grinding, limited pettiness, with the implication that it is intended to compensate for lack of natural talents.” (Bourdieu, 1974, p. 59)

I fear the refugees, regardless of their educational prowess, will struggle to reach the ‘top’ jobs and be accepted in our society. This is an unfortunate history of the embedded, stoical aristocracy, of social classes and the belief that if you come from a ‘rich’ cultural capital, you are somehow superior. I hope the influx of refugees will change people’s opinions and change society as a whole.

My FLS, of the inhabitants of the Calais camps, would acknowledge the educational success of the refugees and build upon their success through continued access to relevant education. For example, if they had a doctorate in any particular subject they would need a program of study which might incorporate subject specific vocabulary and cultural knowledge. This would build of their present knowledge and give relevance to another countries culture and environment, enabling their skills and achievements useful.

End Goals

I feel some of the end goals for the refugees are to prepare and encourage them to follow a course of study which will ultimately assist them in their future chosen career. At least the refugees should have the opportunity to be on track with the schools in their destined country, if known. For example the refugees in Calais will hopefully reach England and as such will need to have access to learning the English language. It would be an advantage to prepare them for british culture and society. In order to acquire jobs they will need to know basic English and have the ability to complete written tasks, forms and job applications.

Offering an education which is appropriate in content and language to their destination will ‘unlock’ the routine and hopefully, give them some hope and encouragement while they are waiting for change.

Future Refugees

After reading the SMH article regarding a refugee who arrived in this country 15 years ago without knowing what the internet was, is now working for Google, I am reminded of their determination.

I fear some Australians and Europeans are afraid of what the refugees might achieve. Will they take our jobs?, houses?, etc. Well yes, of course they will if they work hard and they will rightly deserve what they have worked hard for. It is so easy to become complacent in this rich, modern society we live in and everyone who works hard will eventually deserve to reap the benefits. Remembering, many refugees will be educated and have university degrees. Will they be accepted? Or will the government ask them to re-qualify? There is no doubt the refugees will have a lot to offer the people and eventually, the economy of the countries where they settle. I wish them every success.

Goals for Refugees

I feel some of the end goals for the refugees are to prepare and encourage them to follow a course of study which will ultimately assist them in their future chosen career. At least the refugees should have the opportunity to be on track with the schools in their destined country, if known. For example the refugees in Calais will hopefully reach England and as such will need to have access to learning the English language. It would be an advantage to prepare them for british culture and society. In order to acquire jobs they will need to know basic English and have the ability to complete written tasks, forms and job applications.

Offering an education which is appropriate in content and language to their destination will ‘unlock’ the routine and hopefully, give them some hope and encouragement while they are waiting for change.

Frightening Space

The liminal space of current refugees in Nauru is depicted as “like hell” by a group of boys, aged 17, who were recently attacked. (SMH Interview  Nicole Hasham, 5th Oct). The refugees in the camp are routinely attacked and fear for their lives. A spokesperson commented refugees were “preyed upon with impunity”.

I find it hard to comprehend people are being treated in this way and after leaving a war zone, continue to live in fear.