Mum and dad’s vicar
The Rainbows I run is in the church hall of mum and dad’s church. It’s a nice little parish, very leafy, very wealthy and I think they thought they were getting a suitably dignified, traditional vicar. They got Leslie instead. Very dignified to be fair. Traditional? hmmm, only when it suits her! I like her. She pops in after Rainbows for a chat every now and then and we talk Montessori, allowing creativity to grow in children, stillness, the need for solitude, the bizarreness of shouting for quiet, the disservice we do our children by keeping them busy busy busy. I really do like her. She was telling me yesterday that she wants to set up a "Montessori Sunday School" (it’s called Godly Play and it uses the Monte ethos to allow children to develop their own understanding of faith) and was telling me about a fab looking book that she will lend me once she’s finished. "The Blessing of the Skinned Knee" - how to bring up self relient kids. The first chapter looks good.
It just felt very refreshing and reassuring that some people out there actually don’t buy into the whole fast paced, measurable, accountable education crap that is being inflicted on school children.
is she C of E? Could she have words with the educational division?
I’ve heard quite a lot about this godly play thing, so it’s Monte based then?
Comment by Jax — July 2, 2009 @ 8:31 am
We love Godly Play here - it’s what our friend Mandy does for a job as well as on Sundays when they let her.
It’s Monte-like as in very multi-sensory and explorative. Conversational and wonder-based rather than didactic.
Comment by Jan — July 2, 2009 @ 11:05 am
yes, she’s CofE but i fear the education peeps may be a lost cause, they are more interested in their own schools, which is fair really, I suppose as taht’s waht they are there for.
Godly Play is very much rooted in Monte. It is the protestant version of the Catechist of the Good Shepherd which was developed by Monte peeps for the Catholic Church. There are “Great Lessons” type bits, loads of wonderfully interactive materials and most important it’s an “explore it yourself” ethos.
Comment by tbirdanni — July 2, 2009 @ 2:46 pm