What an absolutely amazing first day of St. James Classes yesterday! With over 45 people in attendance, we brought back community to a park once filled with revolutionaries.
Yoga, human rights, economics, democracy, deescalation, first aid, and city gardening - great classes each and every one of them!
On a gorgeous summer day, we sit in a circle - the back of which is partly elevated by a hill - under the shade of a tree. Next to us is the gazebo which holds our lunch, our library, and our wandering learners. It was amazing to sit in front of 25 people and "substitute-teach" human rights. As I probe the learner-teachers for answers on what makes a human right I look around: all the other teacher-learners and sitting in the class, actively participating. Learners are eager to be heard. Artists create beautiful artwork together as they too participate. Musicians are heard a few feet away. A few learners wander into the class; one or two wander out, sitting at the library to enjoy some potluck lunch and a good book.
It was a truly relaxing, truly fun learning, and teaching experience. I felt as though I were amidst the bohemian revolution. I felt supported, and loved by the skule community, and I shared that love back to the fullest of my capacity.
The human rights class discussed human rights violations in quebec, and will subsequently be doing a theatrical action on tuesday may 22nd at the student protest rally. If you would like to be involved...or informed, please meet us at hart house (UofT campus) at 1pm on Tuesday. bring a mask.
We are also writing up a document of all the violations we discussed. If you would like to help in the creation of the document please email occupyfreeskule@gmail.com
If you would like to share your personal account or feelings on the day, please send them to our gmail account, and we will post it on the web!
