Parenting Resources

Our Parenting Resource brings you insightful interviews and commentary on the subject of holistic approaches to education, presented against the backdrop of SOTE’s history implementing the philosophy of Total Education.

Check in here to see all the latest books, texts, talks and interviews from our favourite authors and speakers.

Books and Texts

Book: Total Education — The Urgent Need

Total Education: The Urgent Need

Price: $27.50

Call us on 07 4661 2666 to organise a purchase through the school office.

This first comprehensive book about Total Education was originally published in 1983 — six years after the author, Vijayadev Yogendra, had established the School of Total Education in St Kilda in Melbourne.

The book provides a structured and detailed presentation of the concepts of Total Education and the way the ideas were put into practice in the School of Total Education.

Chapters on ideals of education, teacher development, parent education, appendices on the School of Total Education, the Teacher Development Programme, the Parents Programme and so on, should make this book essential reading for all those seriously interested in education and the direction it must take if “mankind is to find peace and happiness”.

 

Book: Future Education

Future Education

Price: $27.50

Call us on 07 4661 2666 to organise a purchase through the school office.

This first comprehensive book about Total Education was originally published in 1983 — six years after the author, Vijayadev Yogendra, had established the School of Total Education in St Kilda in Melbourne.

The book provides a structured and detailed presentation of the concepts of Total Education and the way the ideas were put into practice in the School of Total Education.

This companion volume to “Total Education: The Urgent Need”, also by Vijayadev Yogendra, was originally published in 1985. It presents the author’s educational ideals in the context of contemporary history.

Vijayadev Yogendra explains how the 20th century’s over-emphasis on material prosperity and individualism has been at the expense of personal and family life. Education has been re-shaped to meet the needs of industrial expansion and, in the process, the consideration of individual uniqueness and personal growth has been lost.

Not one to dwell on the past, Vijayadev Yogendra devotes much of this volume to a practical exposition of how education for the future must be re-oriented to counter these trends, to prepare children for a world of ever-hastening change, and to develop future citizens who have self-reliance, tolerance of their fellow man and the capacity to cope confidently with any life situation.

The author also presents a lucid analysis of how parental influences condition the child to re-live the life of his parents and places the onus on us, the parents, to change ourselves as the only way of breaking this cycle.

The book includes a foreword and an appendix by Dr Robert Muller, former Assistant secretary-General of the United Nations.

 

Book: Good Parenting — The Urgent Need

Good Parenting: The Urgent Need

Price: $27.50

Call us on 07 4661 2666 to organise a purchase through the school office.

Vijayadev Yogendra’s examination of the pressures on parenting in our current society gives the parental role a deeper meaning. He describes how to foster the potential of children through better communication, creative discipline, improved health and most importantly, through inculcating a sense of values. This approach equips children for a life based on realistic expectations, patience, consistency, tolerance, harmony and contentment.

The author’s message is one of optimism. He correctly directs us to the future and away from the past, and to the chances which remain and away from the mistakes which have been made. He clearly indicates what should be done, and that the effort is well worthwhile. There is, in his message, practical advice on how to improve as a parent and the inspiration to make the effort.

The work is notable for its pithy sayings, striking analogies and illuminating insights. It conveys a spirit which poses a challenge to mindless materialism and establishes a fresh and firm basis for parent-child relationships.

 

Podcasts and Interviews

Podcast: The Soul of Education (35mins)

The Passageworks Institute in Boulder, Colorado in the USA, was founded by Rachael Kessler, educationalist and author of the book, “The Soul of Education”. Richard Waters speaks with Laura Weaver and Batya Greenwald, from Passageworks, about their work, and their understanding of “The Soul of Education.” Topics covered include:

  • What does “The Soul of Education” mean?
  • The work of the Passageworks Institute
  • The concept of “deep connection” and the importance of the teacher-student relationship
  • What can schools do to foster a positive sense of community?
  • Ways to help adolescents feel safe to talk about themselves
  • Shortcomings of the “one size fits all” approach to education and over-emphasis on test scores
  • Student well-being
  • Transition to adulthood — risk taking and “initiation”
  • Precursors to unlocking creativity in children

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Podcast: The Focused Child (38mins)

Richard Waters speaks with Jan Dugan and Jan Gudkovs, authors of a new book titled “The Focused Child — How Yoga Can Help You Raise Happy, Healthy, Contented Children”. In today’s society, with escalating rates of learning and concentration problems, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and physical health conditions like obesity and diabetes, the ancient science of Yoga has much to offer. Topics covered include:

  • What motivated the authors to write their book
  • Contemporary causes of poor concentration
  • Importance of health, energy and vitality for concentration
  • Distractions to concentration from a Yoga perspective
  • Role of parents in helping children develop concentration
  • Importance of healthy relationships
  • Positive factors which bring about a state of concentration

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Podcast: Reflections of a SOTE Teacher (21mins)

Michael Funder has been a teacher at the School of Total Education for over 30 years. For 20 of those years, Michael worked under the guidance of the school’s founder, Vijayadev Yogendra. Michael has a wealth of experience both as a teacher, and as a parent — with two children of his own who attended and graduated from the school. In this interview, which was recorded in February 2010, Michael talks about the following topics:

  • The reasons SOTE was originally established
  • Innateness
  • The deeper purpose of education
  • The role of parents in the educational process
  • Nurturing the spirit or soul in education
  • Benefits of teachers working collaboratively

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Podcast: Small Schools and Nurturing the Spirit in Education (41mins)

Richard Waters speaks to Satish Kumar, author and founder of the Small School in Hartland, UK. Satish Kumar is also the editor of Resurgence magazine, founder of Schumacher College in the UK and featured in the BBC television series “Earth Pilgrim”. Satish Kumar visited the School of Total Education in 2007. This discussion (recorded in April 2010) covers the following topics:

  • Early influences on Satish Kumar’s educational philosophy
  • The benefits of small schools
  • Nurturing the spirit in education
  • Ways to foster innateness and creativity in children
  • The origins of Schumacher College
  • Balancing government requirements with small school philosophy

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