It is a process that often does not go easily, and which is frequently anything but pleasant. This is due mainly to
the people ho have significant roles in our lives not being skilled at helping others "learn", and we acquire that
faulty approach to learning (education) ourselves; practice it and then pass it on.
Unfortunately, all too frequently it goes as in the following example:
Saint Anselm (an early educator) summed it up nicely, we think:
With regard to the education of the young, Anselm held very liberal views.
To an abbot who was lamenting the poor success of his efforts, he said:
"If you planted a tree in your garden, and bound it down on all sides,
so that it could not spread years branches,
what kind of a tree would it prove when in after years you gave it room to spread?
Would it not be useless, with its boughs all twisted and tangled? . . .
But that is how you treat your boys (students) . . .
cramping them with fears and blows
and debarring them from the enjoyment of any freedom."
I agree with that kind of thinking, and is reflected in our approach to helping people learn new ways,
new thinking and new behaviours. So what is the alternative to what we are used to all about?
Education as the gradual process of acquiring knowledge, is therefore, a preparation for life. One of the
fundamental goals (or purposes) of academic education the imparting of culture from generation to generation
(called socialization).
Socialization, as an integral component of education, is the process by which a person acquires the technical
skills of his or her society, the knowledge of the kinds of behavior that are understood and acceptable in that
society (also called enculturation). Thus, it is an integral process that affects the mind-body equation: expanding
the human spiritual potential.
the people ho have significant roles in our lives not being skilled at helping others "learn", and we acquire that
faulty approach to learning (education) ourselves; practice it and then pass it on.
Unfortunately, all too frequently it goes as in the following example:
Saint Anselm (an early educator) summed it up nicely, we think:
With regard to the education of the young, Anselm held very liberal views.
To an abbot who was lamenting the poor success of his efforts, he said:
"If you planted a tree in your garden, and bound it down on all sides,
so that it could not spread years branches,
what kind of a tree would it prove when in after years you gave it room to spread?
Would it not be useless, with its boughs all twisted and tangled? . . .
But that is how you treat your boys (students) . . .
cramping them with fears and blows
and debarring them from the enjoyment of any freedom."
I agree with that kind of thinking, and is reflected in our approach to helping people learn new ways,
new thinking and new behaviours. So what is the alternative to what we are used to all about?
Education as the gradual process of acquiring knowledge, is therefore, a preparation for life. One of the
fundamental goals (or purposes) of academic education the imparting of culture from generation to generation
(called socialization).
Socialization, as an integral component of education, is the process by which a person acquires the technical
skills of his or her society, the knowledge of the kinds of behavior that are understood and acceptable in that
society (also called enculturation). Thus, it is an integral process that affects the mind-body equation: expanding
the human spiritual potential.
The word "education" comes from the Latin word, educere: - its proper meaning is: "leading out or drawing out
the latent powers of an individual." That is how we still regard education here at the Abbey, and is reflected
through our approach.
The introductory discussion here draws upon sources found in a variety of places on the web. To see what it all
means for you, read on – the summary follows this introduction.
A good initial working definition is:
Education is the gradual process of acquiring knowledge; as in, "education is a preparation for life".
Education is the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process: it helps you acquire skills for
life - or life skills.
When looked at more closely, the word or process of education, of course, encompasses teaching and learning
specific skills. However, and this is important, there is also the less tangible but more profound aspect, and
that is; the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. One of the fundamental goals (or purposes) of
education the imparting of culture from generation to generation (called socialization).
With “socialization” as an integral component of education (or perhaps “education” in its formal sense is part of
socialization) the definition changes to: the process by which a person acquires the technical skills of his or her
society, the knowledge of the kinds of behavior that are understood and acceptable in that society (also called
enculturation). It's where you become a member of your culture: that culture will structure (shape) your
"reality".
Enculturation, as a starting description, refers to the process whereby individuals learn the appropriate
behavior (for their culture) that allows them to be functioning members of a particular group, such as a family,
work, or social group (the formative years).
In expanded form it means: the process by which an individual accepts the goals of a social group to which he or
she belongs and integrates these goals with those that he or she otherwise would choose individually. The term
is meaningful in discussing “family values” in that people learn to see their personal effectiveness through the
family rather than just their own personal efforts—marriage and parenting are usually major steps in this
process.
Those who have gone through the process:
· Are able to engage in critical thinking by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information and ideas,
· Know how to learn,
· Engage in clear and effective communication.
· Are able to apply knowledge to the search for solutions to important human problems.
The value of a liberal arts education is that “liberally educated people have been liberated by their education
to explore and fulfill the promise of their own highest talents.” - Source unknown.
SUMMARY:
What does this all mean for you?
First, that “education” as we normally understand and use the word is very limited – we usually mean the
formal, school part, which so very often seems unrelated to life, and seems boring and useless at times. Now
that we’ve seen the “bigger picture” – it opens up a whole new horizon.
That horizon reveals that everything we learn – no matter what it is – is part of our “education”. That includes
learning how to tie your shoelaces, or how to draw, or how to ride a bike, or how to get along with people, and
how to do all sorts of things.
Secondly, from the root meaning of the word, “education”, we see that it involves “drawing upon what we
already know – that’s what “drawing out”, or “leading out” means. That means we already have a lot of knowledge
inside us – right from the start.
A teacher’s role in this is to help us connect the things we already know with things we don’t know – with new
information and experiences. And once we see this and fully grasp the significance of it – “education” and
“learning” take on a whole new dimension.
Because, then we see it as: the process we go through to unfold and develop ourselves. And that makes it a
much more exciting, and meaningful concept and process. If it hasn’t become that for you – it usually means that
those responsible for your development failed to impart the connections and help you unfold. It does not have
to be that way.
Dawn Cove Abbey is dedicated to help people grow, learn and develop in all dimensions: academically, socially,
emotionally and spiritually. You will find help: guidance and counselling.
Klaas Tuinman MA
Dawn Cove Abbey
Deerfield, (Yarmouth County) Nova Scotia, Canada 2006-2008
There are many good resources here (including a Glossary of concepts) and on the web for you to explore
concepts such as “culture”, “socialization”, “enculturation” and many other related ones – all part of your
“education”.
the latent powers of an individual." That is how we still regard education here at the Abbey, and is reflected
through our approach.
The introductory discussion here draws upon sources found in a variety of places on the web. To see what it all
means for you, read on – the summary follows this introduction.
A good initial working definition is:
Education is the gradual process of acquiring knowledge; as in, "education is a preparation for life".
Education is the knowledge or skill obtained or developed by a learning process: it helps you acquire skills for
life - or life skills.
When looked at more closely, the word or process of education, of course, encompasses teaching and learning
specific skills. However, and this is important, there is also the less tangible but more profound aspect, and
that is; the imparting of knowledge, good judgement and wisdom. One of the fundamental goals (or purposes) of
education the imparting of culture from generation to generation (called socialization).
With “socialization” as an integral component of education (or perhaps “education” in its formal sense is part of
socialization) the definition changes to: the process by which a person acquires the technical skills of his or her
society, the knowledge of the kinds of behavior that are understood and acceptable in that society (also called
enculturation). It's where you become a member of your culture: that culture will structure (shape) your
"reality".
Enculturation, as a starting description, refers to the process whereby individuals learn the appropriate
behavior (for their culture) that allows them to be functioning members of a particular group, such as a family,
work, or social group (the formative years).
In expanded form it means: the process by which an individual accepts the goals of a social group to which he or
she belongs and integrates these goals with those that he or she otherwise would choose individually. The term
is meaningful in discussing “family values” in that people learn to see their personal effectiveness through the
family rather than just their own personal efforts—marriage and parenting are usually major steps in this
process.
Those who have gone through the process:
· Are able to engage in critical thinking by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information and ideas,
· Know how to learn,
· Engage in clear and effective communication.
· Are able to apply knowledge to the search for solutions to important human problems.
The value of a liberal arts education is that “liberally educated people have been liberated by their education
to explore and fulfill the promise of their own highest talents.” - Source unknown.
SUMMARY:
What does this all mean for you?
First, that “education” as we normally understand and use the word is very limited – we usually mean the
formal, school part, which so very often seems unrelated to life, and seems boring and useless at times. Now
that we’ve seen the “bigger picture” – it opens up a whole new horizon.
That horizon reveals that everything we learn – no matter what it is – is part of our “education”. That includes
learning how to tie your shoelaces, or how to draw, or how to ride a bike, or how to get along with people, and
how to do all sorts of things.
Secondly, from the root meaning of the word, “education”, we see that it involves “drawing upon what we
already know – that’s what “drawing out”, or “leading out” means. That means we already have a lot of knowledge
inside us – right from the start.
A teacher’s role in this is to help us connect the things we already know with things we don’t know – with new
information and experiences. And once we see this and fully grasp the significance of it – “education” and
“learning” take on a whole new dimension.
Because, then we see it as: the process we go through to unfold and develop ourselves. And that makes it a
much more exciting, and meaningful concept and process. If it hasn’t become that for you – it usually means that
those responsible for your development failed to impart the connections and help you unfold. It does not have
to be that way.
Dawn Cove Abbey is dedicated to help people grow, learn and develop in all dimensions: academically, socially,
emotionally and spiritually. You will find help: guidance and counselling.
Klaas Tuinman MA
Dawn Cove Abbey
Deerfield, (Yarmouth County) Nova Scotia, Canada 2006-2008
There are many good resources here (including a Glossary of concepts) and on the web for you to explore
concepts such as “culture”, “socialization”, “enculturation” and many other related ones – all part of your
“education”.
| Education and Socialization: Process to Empowerment & Potential |
Learning: a life long process
The journey to realizing your human potential
 |  |  |  |  |  |
a Dawn Cove Abbey Resource
To round it all out, Dawn Cove Abbey provides personal guidance for growth, information
files that exist on this website - the information is free and available to all.
I sincerely hope that you take the Less Travelled Road
and that it brings awakening and healing to you.
files that exist on this website - the information is free and available to all.
I sincerely hope that you take the Less Travelled Road
and that it brings awakening and healing to you.
| Follow-up and Support Counseling to Seminars & Workshops Dawn Cove Abbey Empowerment Outreach is a registered not-for-profit business in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada |
If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please email. I'll be happy to hear from you.
| The Dawn Cove Abbey Tradition: Helping People Rediscover Themselves Established in 1995, in commemoration of Abbey Dawn in Kingston, Ontario. |
Education - Socialization
Acquiring an education and being socialized is a journey in which you
acquire skills for successful living, as well as learning how to become
a member of the social environment and situation you were born into.
Life is a continual learning (education) process. We call it
"socialization" (it is also called, "the formative years"), the process
we go through to develop and realize our individual human potential.
We do this, one moment, one day, at a time. And it always takes
place in the context of who we are, and where we are. It is what
Richard Alpert (Baba Ram Dass) was referring to in his book, "Be
Here Now". It involves all the dimensions of life that make us who
we are - it is a holistic process.
This is true whether you are learning new ways of living, changing old
habits or patterns, moving to a new area, starting a new
relationship, having a baby, making new friends, visiting different
places, or going to school.
From the moment we are born, we are bombarded with visual, aural
and tactile "information". All of it impacts on us, and it is
"information" we process - mostly unconsciously. All that input is
constantly adding to what we've already absorbed - expanding,
confirming or contradicting what we already have.
And all of it is filtered through who we are, and what we have
already absorbed - and most importantly, the meaning and
understanding we gave it all, and which we derived from it.
The really interesting thing is: for much of what we need to learn -
the answers are already inside us! We just aren't always aware of it.
"Learning" is a process of discovering, or "revealing" what we
already know, whether we are in "school", or learning new ways to
have a relationship, or parenting, or whatever, etc.
We try to "make sense" of it all - and we act upon, and react to, all
the inputs and experiences that impact us.
It truly is, a life long process. How much we "learn", and what we do
with us, depends almost entirely on who we are, and what we choose,
or choose not, to do with it and about it. Whichever we choose, it is
the major formative component of who we become, and the kind of
life we will have.
So, what is that process?
Much of what we learn are the very practical things necessary for
human survival and "fitting-in".
This is called socialization.
Acquiring an education and being socialized is a journey in which you
acquire skills for successful living, as well as learning how to become
a member of the social environment and situation you were born into.
Life is a continual learning (education) process. We call it
"socialization" (it is also called, "the formative years"), the process
we go through to develop and realize our individual human potential.
We do this, one moment, one day, at a time. And it always takes
place in the context of who we are, and where we are. It is what
Richard Alpert (Baba Ram Dass) was referring to in his book, "Be
Here Now". It involves all the dimensions of life that make us who
we are - it is a holistic process.
This is true whether you are learning new ways of living, changing old
habits or patterns, moving to a new area, starting a new
relationship, having a baby, making new friends, visiting different
places, or going to school.
From the moment we are born, we are bombarded with visual, aural
and tactile "information". All of it impacts on us, and it is
"information" we process - mostly unconsciously. All that input is
constantly adding to what we've already absorbed - expanding,
confirming or contradicting what we already have.
And all of it is filtered through who we are, and what we have
already absorbed - and most importantly, the meaning and
understanding we gave it all, and which we derived from it.
The really interesting thing is: for much of what we need to learn -
the answers are already inside us! We just aren't always aware of it.
"Learning" is a process of discovering, or "revealing" what we
already know, whether we are in "school", or learning new ways to
have a relationship, or parenting, or whatever, etc.
We try to "make sense" of it all - and we act upon, and react to, all
the inputs and experiences that impact us.
It truly is, a life long process. How much we "learn", and what we do
with us, depends almost entirely on who we are, and what we choose,
or choose not, to do with it and about it. Whichever we choose, it is
the major formative component of who we become, and the kind of
life we will have.
So, what is that process?
Much of what we learn are the very practical things necessary for
human survival and "fitting-in".
This is called socialization.
There is also the formal education process - school: even there “Education” is far from being just a simple, boring,
formal academic thing you have to go through in school. It involves much more than that.
School gives you some of the tools you need later in life. It can also provide more specialized training. School (or
formal education) is simply part of your socialization process toward developing your own, unique potential.
But there are many other things to learn in the process of becoming an empowered human adult. When we work at
overcoming personal problems, challenges and obstacles, that is another learning, educational process.
When looked at this way, it is easy to see that education is a process: a life-long, ongoing process that begins at
birth - and only stops when we are translated.
formal academic thing you have to go through in school. It involves much more than that.
School gives you some of the tools you need later in life. It can also provide more specialized training. School (or
formal education) is simply part of your socialization process toward developing your own, unique potential.
But there are many other things to learn in the process of becoming an empowered human adult. When we work at
overcoming personal problems, challenges and obstacles, that is another learning, educational process.
When looked at this way, it is easy to see that education is a process: a life-long, ongoing process that begins at
birth - and only stops when we are translated.
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| Dysfunctional Family / Life Effects: Resources |
| Adult Child - Survivor Resource Section |
| Healthy-Functional Resource Section |
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| Suggested Additional Reading |
| Dawn Cove Abbey Information and Support Resources |
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| People who really want to heal, will find a way; those who don't, will find an excuse. |