The Maturity to Choose. The Choice to Mature.

Choice.

I don't think I recognize just how poignant a word it is.

The word "freedom" and "choice" are invariably linked together.
Freedom means that one has the ability to make a choice.
The act of choosing something of one's own wishes is the definition of
freedom.

Giving a fellow human being the freedom to choose may be the greatest
gift we can give to one another.

Adults giving their children the freedom to choose is probably the
greatest demonstration of confidence and belief that can be made.

I believe that,
this confidence,
this belief,
must become the fundamental principle of schooling if our society is
to finally raise a generation of young people who are healthy, happy,
confident and strong.

----

The central axis on which the saga of the Bible turns is that God gave
man the freedom to choose.

Freedom and Choice are pillars of Western Civilization.

If I may wax reflective a moment, I can practically feel these notions
swimming around me, so strongly are they intrinsic to my being.

When human beings are deprived of these abilities, they lapse into
listlisness, purposelessness, vagrancy, and ultimately hopelessness.

Strong human beings are human beings who have the freedom to choose.
I don't believe it can be fashioned into words any more plainly.

I believe at 12 years of age, when children are on the cusp of
adolescence, they are more than ready to choose the paths they wish to
explore in school.

I believe that at 12 years of age, children no longer need to be
"told" what they need to learn.
They ARE ready to choose for themselves.

I believe that at 12 years of age, what children need is the support,
confidence, and eagerness of their adult guardians in encouraging
children to pursue their own avenues of interest, their own projects,
their own studies.

Adults need to step back and allow their children to explore.
Of course, we're always there to help, but children need to be allowed
to explore on their own.
It is the ONLY way they will ever become confident, brave and strong
(unlike so many of the adults from the last few generations. Boomerang
Generation indeed. ,_,)

----

To Conclude I would just like to respond to what will likely be an all
too commonly voiced concern :
"If children are given the freedom to do what they want, they will
lapse into licentiousness and hedonism. Meaning playing video games
all day and watching The Simpsons."

I would reply, those individuals who would say such things still bear
the weights their own parents placed on their already bowed shoulders.

I feel that parents not believing in their children has been the all
too common norm for a long time.
I believe this stems from adults being parents when they have not yet
healthily matured beyond childhood themselves (all we need do is
observe cruder adult 'humor' to see that).

In response I would say,
"Children will likely fulfill the vision their adults have of them. If
that is that they will subside into depravity. Well, that's a pretty
slippery slope a child's adult has put in front of them. However, if
an adult believes in their child, tells them, 'I believe you can do
ANYTHING!' well...there is no limit to what a child with such support
can do."

David.

The Four Central Principles of The Velja Approach

The Freedom to Choose.
The Responsibility of Guidance.
The Belief in Growth.
The Encouragement for Passion.

Why The Word "Velja"? and Why Icelandic?

As indicated in the description of the blog, the word "Velja" means 'Choose' in Icelandic.

When I was thinking about what sort of name to give to the approach to schooling I envisioned, I thought long and hard about what the central characteristic of the approach was.
I realized it was the revolutionary idea of giving students the freedom to "Choose".
Choose their own educational path, not follow one forced upon them by adults.

I thought that calling my approach to schooling "The Choose Approach" sounded pretty lame.
I recalled that many companies give themselves names in other languages and the effect is to spark a person's curiosity as to the meaning of the word, and thus engender interest in the company itself.
Besides, it just sounds and looks cool to title yourself after a word in another language.

I then went to the website logos.com and looked at the translations of the word "Choose".
Initially my only objective was to select a translation that just sounded cool.
That's when I hit upon the word "Velja".
It felt right from the first read.
I noticed that the word was similar in other Nordic languages and that prompted me to think about the vikings.

Vikings.
Brave. Adventurous. Bold.
Always seeking new challenges.
Lovers of Freedom.
Esteeming Honor and Strength.

I knew I had the word I wanted.
It encapsulated all the values I believe school should impart upon young students.

So there you have it.
The string of good fortunes that brought me to the selection of the word I deemed 'just right' to represent the concept of schooling I hold in my mind, and will bring into reality.