Why We Need a Slow Schools Movement

We have slow foods, slow fashion, we need slow schools-holistic, sustainable, purpose driven

I know almost nothing about cars. I can identify cars mostly by color, and appreciate their utility. I am totally content being a passenger.

But there are two things that I know about cars.

1. We can drive fast in a car is because cars have brakes. (The Paradox of Speed.)

2. We cannot move forward when we are switching gears.

Harsh Goenka @hvgoenka

A teacher asked -Why do we have brakes in a car? Many answers were received: -To stop -To reduce speed -To avoid collision But the best answer was “ To enable you to drive faster” Give it a thought. It’s because of brakes that we can dare to accelerate and dare to go fast.

Bottom line: To keep pace with life, we need to utilize our brakes- slowing down and stopping with care. And we need to be particularly careful during times of change.

In order to keep our speed and productivity, we need to take the time to slow down and recharge.

Every moment of our lives, and our classes, do not need to be structured and planned. In fact, it’s better if we do not plan every moment, as it is in those moments that we learn how to carry conversations, self-direct learning and work, get creative and daydream.

The Big Idea

Recent research shows that breaks are an essential part of learning. But the benefits extend beyond the psychological well-being. Particularly for younger students, regular breaks throughout the school day can be an effective way to reduce disruptive behavior. In a series of recent studies, short physical activity breaks in the classroom improved students’ behavior, increasing the effort they put into their activities as well as their ability to stay on task.

We need to reframe productivity with the reminder that it includes breaks.

Research has found that breaks are necessary for:

• Increased productivity and efficiency.

• Creative ideas to happen, more here.  

• Learning to synthesize, connect and be more durable.

• Overall well being.

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Making Big Ideas Usable

So evidence from research in multiple fields, and in automobiles, trellis us that we need to slow down in order to speed up. Especially in times of change or transition, taking brakes/breaks are what make change and speed possible.

So I asked 10 friends from 19 different fields what sorts of ideas their industries have for breaks.

1. A daily free period that allows young people to engage in periods of intense concentration of ninety minutes or less and free time to completely change the channel. 

2. A daily mindfulness practice slows us down and improves stress response. When we slow down, we regenerate so we can hit max speed without burning out.

3. Practicing being fully present for a specific period each day. Continuous partial attention describes the current state of mind as we connect to all areas of life that are now possible — as a result we pay only partial attention to anything.

4. A daily tech-free walk that teaches you that not everything in life needs a purpose or goal. It trains you to let ideas slowly mingle in the mind. 

5. Incorporating creative habits every day. If you're wondering where to start — or how to focus on creating — this is a good listen (or read!)  to help focus on creating over expecting.

6. A celebration of slow over the celebration of busyness and support those who set parameters to live whole lives and do good work. 

7. A search for Slow Guides. Seek out mentors who are living an authentic life and then be a mentor to others. 

8. Giving grace to others who are experiencing overwhelm, especially at this time in the world.

So as you pursue your life's adventure and set out at breakneck speed, never forget the Paradox of Speed. Never forget to build and appreciate the brakes in your life.

sparks to ignite

attention liberation, attention reparations by adrienne maree brown

attention is one of our most valuable resources.

in your own life, attention is what determines the quality of your lived experience. if your attention stays on what’s wrong, on your powerlessness and pain, you can become identified with a victimized, power under narrative, and that will grow.

if your attention is instead on gratitude, collective power, experimentation, curiosity and celebration, these things will grow in your life.

all the manifestors know this.          

This week’s Consideranew micropodcast that invites you to discover something new, or see a familiar thing in a new way. 

This past Wednesday featured the inspired words of the amazing Sunanna Chand:

"We can't go back to a world in which young people feel like they have no power, and are the least valued and least heard stakeholders in a system that is supposedly built for them." - @SunannaC

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