I think what you're looking to do here, in a way, is just as much of a cultural shift as the people living in cohousing and communal living situations, where we adapt out of the "I need my own tv" and into, "let's share this resource." I think it could really work to tackle some of these issues with kids. I definitely am not one for saying, this is hopeless and kids suck so forget it.
I am, on the other hand, fascinated by the ramifications of a communal resource like this, as well as how people adapt to cohousing and communal living. Having done different versions of both, but having been raised with the typical American "I want my own," I know some of the challenges I've faced, even having such strong environmental values as I do.
As I'm thinking of your concept, I'm reminded of a few things I've been thinking of as I look to the future and the possibility of building Pagan community centers. Oprah once interviewed a man who was donating books to schools in Africa. He was donating many many books, and then he hit a wall because there were places where he wanted to donate books and there were no schools. So he began to build schools. But instead of following the model where he hired people to come in and build the school "for" the community, he did fundraising to buy the materials.
The village or town was required to actually build the school. The idea was maximization of resources--that more schools could be built if he didn't have to hire the labor and just use the fundraising money for materials. The other idea was investment. Unlike other schools that patrons have built in that area of the world, which were often vandalized, desecrated, or even burned down, these schools became tended and treasured community resources. Literally, many of these areas made the bricks themselves to build the school for their children to go to.
I think there's something to that model of community investment that can be accomplished, over time. If people want the thing, that they must help to make the thing happen and participate in its creation. I'm not sure how that would work in your model, but it was something I thought of as I read your post.
Perhaps it's even just the energetic difference between a "drive through" model like some day care centers, where parents don't have much interaction with what's going on, and something more like a church, where there's a daycare but the parents are part of it, and they help to set the policy, and they tithe to the organization to ensure that it happens. It sounds like that's more the model you're hinting at vs. something more consumeristic/capitalistic.
This is a great idea, and if it helps children--and, if it helps children from growing into oil guzzling stuff-buying adults--then rocktastic awesome. Good luck with your further brainstorming :D
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2010-03-16 08:42 pm (UTC)I think what you're looking to do here, in a way, is just as much of a cultural shift as the people living in cohousing and communal living situations, where we adapt out of the "I need my own tv" and into, "let's share this resource." I think it could really work to tackle some of these issues with kids. I definitely am not one for saying, this is hopeless and kids suck so forget it.
I am, on the other hand, fascinated by the ramifications of a communal resource like this, as well as how people adapt to cohousing and communal living. Having done different versions of both, but having been raised with the typical American "I want my own," I know some of the challenges I've faced, even having such strong environmental values as I do.
As I'm thinking of your concept, I'm reminded of a few things I've been thinking of as I look to the future and the possibility of building Pagan community centers. Oprah once interviewed a man who was donating books to schools in Africa. He was donating many many books, and then he hit a wall because there were places where he wanted to donate books and there were no schools. So he began to build schools. But instead of following the model where he hired people to come in and build the school "for" the community, he did fundraising to buy the materials.
The village or town was required to actually build the school. The idea was maximization of resources--that more schools could be built if he didn't have to hire the labor and just use the fundraising money for materials. The other idea was investment. Unlike other schools that patrons have built in that area of the world, which were often vandalized, desecrated, or even burned down, these schools became tended and treasured community resources. Literally, many of these areas made the bricks themselves to build the school for their children to go to.
I think there's something to that model of community investment that can be accomplished, over time. If people want the thing, that they must help to make the thing happen and participate in its creation. I'm not sure how that would work in your model, but it was something I thought of as I read your post.
Perhaps it's even just the energetic difference between a "drive through" model like some day care centers, where parents don't have much interaction with what's going on, and something more like a church, where there's a daycare but the parents are part of it, and they help to set the policy, and they tithe to the organization to ensure that it happens. It sounds like that's more the model you're hinting at vs. something more consumeristic/capitalistic.
This is a great idea, and if it helps children--and, if it helps children from growing into oil guzzling stuff-buying adults--then rocktastic awesome. Good luck with your further brainstorming :D