#wild school

[svalrost]

My math professor, at the beginning of the semester told us he was 94. Today, he said he was gonna go to the 4th floor to get something. So we got the elevator to wait for him. But he clicked his tongue at us and caLLED US WEAK, THEN PROCEEDED TO RUN UP TO THE 4TH FLOOR FROM THE STAIRS.

We were on the 1st floor. I'm still shook.

[justwalkiingthedog]

Wild School …

[effectivenessinaction-blog]

Ingrid's wild school story

I said I would send something round about my children's story, that is secretly for adults: St Cuthbert's Wild School for Boys: "an exciting story of discovery for children and everyone who cares about learning, play, nature and the wild."

You can read all about it on my website www.wildschoolstory.co.uk or - if you are interested - you can buy it here on Amazon  (I'd give you some but I have to buy it myself!).

I also write a blog on my website about the aspects of childhood I am passionate about, if anyone wants to have a look.

I wrote my story because of some really strong beliefs and passions to do with childhood, the importance of creativity and freedom in learning and play, and a love of writing and stories.

I think children need creativity and freedom in learning and play, so that they can become their best selves.  By creativity, I don't mean art, but rather the freedom to imagine, explore, have ideas, try them out, create, and try again until you are happy with something, whatever that is. It's seriously lacking in primary education now, with the very strict curriculum and target and test driven learning; and as we discussed, it is present in many types of play but opportunities for this are increasingly restricted.

I work for two projects that are trying to do something about this.  Room 13 Hareclivewww.room13hareclive.org.uk is an amazing project: an artists' studio in Hartcliffe run by young children where they have the space to dream, talk, create, manage and be responsible.  The results are sometimes staggering, in terms of what they can achieve, and how they grow and develop.

The other, which you heard all about, is Playing Out www.playingout.net an exciting project that is encouraging adults to think differently about children, play, shared public space, and how you can start to change things from your own front door - again, with exciting ideas and results that are spreading around the country.

My work with both of these projects has come out of my own interests and passions and, as Amy described, my own small first actions, with plenty of unpaid work around it.

I wrote my children's story (for adults!) firstly because I just had the idea for the story one day with my son, and it rang true with so many things I felt inside.  But quickly, I realised I wanted to write something that might help things to change, or encourage people to think differently about childhood and the importance of that creativity and learning.  I love writing, and I love stories, and I believe that throughout our lives they have a unique power to change how we think and feel.  They can reach a very different bit of people to organisational literature, for example, or journalism.

The story took a couple of years to write, just doing a few hours a week, and at the end of it, I put it in a drawer and thought it was no good.  But then, I read something about your creative work being important even if only 3 people read it and it does something for them.  So I decided to publish it myself and put it out there!

Strangely, as I began to do that - prepare the document, got a friend to do the cover, found out about self publishing - I began to feel better and better about it.  Not saying it's brilliant - but it's a good story, and it has things to say, and people have responded to it.  And I became very excited about putting it out into the world and letting it have its life separate to me.  It also fitted very well with my work with different projects and in my local community.

Self publishing was almost free (anyone can create a book on Create Space - basically Amazon - and publish it, you just have to typeset the document well, and have a good cover; and converting it to a Kindle version is about £70).  You then just have to market it afterwards if you want anyone to read it, and  in truth I am only at the start of that.

But, I have sold about 150 copies, many to people I don't know; had very good reviews, several from people and children  I don't know; been on BBC Radio 4 about it; and have LOTS more that I could do to spread the word.  

So it's good I got it out of the drawer again!

And if you can do anything to spread the word about it, I would massively appreciate it!

If you want any more information, please do get in touch any time.

Ingrid