On Episode 218 we’re sharing snippets from our Feel Trip recap with Amelia Allen Sherwood (Montessori and Anti-bias | Anti-racism Educator at Elm City Montessori School and founder of Sankofa Learning Center) and fellow unschooling organizer, Tiersa McQueen. Amelia shares her perspective on the Montessori method and describes it as a tool in which we can decolonize processes and honor our children. We discuss the need to continue to question everything related to schooling, and to nurture ideas that improve autonomy-building, community care, partnership and trust-building. Listen and watch the full conversation here.
In case you haven’t listened to the previous components of this three-part flow, here’s Episode 216: Exploring Black Lived Montessori Experiences, and Episode 217: Black folks in Montessori (Pt 2) where our listeners shared their feedback. Make sure you don’t miss any of our feel trip invitations by joining our podcast village.
As you listen, you’ll hear Akilah notes the reality that most educational models focus only on the becoming (the eventual “success”) and forget about the human (the person experiencing life today, right now), and Amelia agrees with that, and notes that her center is called Sankofa because it was about a type of returning, in that it centers the learner, not the thing they’re supposed to do. Akilah sees that as a rehumanizing of learning, as does Amelia, and she (Amelia) talks about the ways that we can use Montessori tools to create environments that are supportive of our authentic selves, and how communal spaces can help us to understand how to trust learning and children.
We also talk about the importance of naming our internalized racial oppression in order to heal both as an individual and as a collective, being aware of the commitment that involves community care. By being present we honor the connection within ourselves and our body, going back to our intuition.
Amelia talks about her vision of the African-centered Montessori program in New Haven, Connecticut, Sankofa Learning Center, and shares her gratitude for the community that has been showing up in different ways for this collective dream.
LIBERATION WALK
- SDE Weekend (Self-Directed Education Weekend) is coming! From 21st till 23rd of May 2021 “The SDE weekend is an “all you can (L)earn,” 3-day, international, online event in which you choose the sessions that match your intentions and participate as much as you want.”
- Here you can listen to Itiel’s first episode, Episode 8: Lessons in Biz-Life Bliss and Episode 131: The Transition from Homeschooling to Unschooling. Also check Itiel’s memoir, Enterprise: A Holistic Anthology of Experiences Through a Black Woman’s Lens
- Check out KINDEZI: The Kongo Art of Babysitting, by K.Kia Bunseki Fu-Kiau and A.M. Lukondo-Wamba
- Visit NIA House Montessori
- Press that “Leave a Voice Message” button on the right side of the site and speak up!
- While you’re there, subscribe to Akilah’s Youtube Channel!
- Join patreon.com/akilah and support the show!
Join Akilah’s Mailing List
I have enjoyed listening in “Black folk in Montessori” with Amelia Sherwood @ameliaasherwood (Sankofa Learning Center @sankofalearningcenter) and Koren Clark (Montessori roots Historical truths) as they discuss African centered education also with Tiarra Asia Knox. My own interpretation –correct me if I am wrong– goes something like this–
‘Those that need to, work at centering yourselves; those that need to, work at de-centering yourselves; the ultimate goal being to meet in a shared space, someday, somewhere.’ (I long for those shared spaces.)
I follow (online) a variety of K-12 pedagogues, to try to “taste the flavors” of what educators and parents look for and create for their families.
I witness online-spaces where Black and Brown educators are starting their own schools; some inspired by Montessori, other holistic education, and/or ancient ways. There will come a time when we all will look to them and say, “Teach us what you know!” I am as sure of it as I can be.
I just wanted to share:
Keres Children’s Learning Center
“…our mission to reclaim our children’s education and honor our heritage by using a comprehensive cultural and academic curriculum to assist families in nurturing Keres-speaking, holistically healthy, community minded, and academically strong students.
https://kclcmontessori.org/?fbclid=IwAR2wuyzC7pR6ghgo9Q8hB8zRJy_-2M7CM6G8BSzse1iRXuSZCmtqNdlgxF8
Lakota Waldorf School in South Dakota
“Our mission is to provide a Waldorf Education integrated with a Lakota language and culture program that helps Lakota children:
Cultivate and strengthen their cultural identity, build a solid foundation for Lakota language fluency, and develop the academic, social, and practical skills needed to meet the challenges faced by native peoples in today’s world.
https://lakotawaldorfschool.org/?fbclid=IwAR0OLxxKp6rpDDN56Gi8vbKr-LXX9nDuqIkidYJ4lohbQBc7Ngp1yDvXGT8
Sankofa Learning Center (Underconstruction)
Mission Statement–Sankofa Learning Center, an African-centered learning ecosystem, provides New Haven families a place to re-imagine education, honor the voices and stories of Black people from the Diaspora, and provide a healing space of love and liberation.
https://www.facebook.com/SankofaLearningCenter
Thanks so much for this, Sheryl! I’ll be sharing these in our village. I appreciate you!