Let’s discuss the four philosophical strands that inform our work at Longhouse Elem.
First comes what we conjecture as the lives of the pre-European invasion Indigenous Haudenosaunee people (the “People of the Longhouse”). We say “conjecture” because the people lived in a pre-literary time and, outside of archeological evidence (and the highly suspect and prejudicial impressions of the early invaders themselves). Some existing cultural artifacts may or may not be accurate remnants of much earlier days. But we must conjecture if we ever are to discover roots. We are very inspired by the illustrations in Edwin Tunis 1959 book Indians: A Pictorial Recreation of American Indian Life before the Arrival of the White Man.
The second influence is “value creating (Jpn Soka) education” as described by the early 20th century Japanese educator Tsunesaburo Makiguchi and further clarified Daisaku Ikeda who succeeded him and implemented his ideas on the global stage. This has been described as not so much a pedagogy or curriculum but as “a stance” that captures the spirit of Global Citizenship education. It is best described in Daisaku Ikeda’s 1996 lecture at Teachers College/Columbia University “Thoughts on Education for Global Citizenship.”
The third influence was my fortuitous discovery of My Heart I Give to Children by the post-World War Two Ukrainian educator Vasyl Sukhomlynsky I believe he is virtually unknown in the West but to me he is “Uncle Vasyl.” His insight into children is poetic and I have read the book multiple times. You will find quotes from him all over my posts.
The fourth influence is the lived experiences of the Longhouse School founders which are laced together by childhood trauma. Here you will find stories of abuse, marginalization, community shunning, homophobism, racism, classism, illness, and addiction.
In my case, I was born with many artistic talents and a misshapen prefrontal cortex that aged me beyond my years. I could not fit in classrooms, began working full-time in a profession touring theater company, earned my GED, and I am half-way through my BA at an online college.
But aren’t all these out-of-the box teachers the perfect soil for a school populated by BIPOC students?
Longhouse School 