In honor of Dr. Maria Montessori’s birthday and her far-reaching legacy, I’d like to share three quotes representing ideas that form the three essential pillars of the Oneness-Family School curriculum: Academy (understanding the world as an interconnected whole), Self-Discovery (discovering who one is as a person), and Manifestation (sharing one’s gifts with the world). These concepts are laid out in the OFS Curriculum Wheel.
Academy
Let us give the child a vision of the whole universe… For all things are part of the universe and are connected with each other to form one whole unity.
The Academy facet of the Oneness-Family School curriculum develops a deep understanding of the world and the interrelationships between all things living and nonliving. Our academic program is comprised of math, language, science, history, geography, and practical life. All of these subjects are taught in an integrated thematic way so that students learn how to make connections between subject matter and think holistically.
The outcomes of Academy are: goal setting, cultural awareness, synthesizing ideas, organization skills, and critical thinking. We want students to “think big,” and we accomplish this by encouraging them to keep a global perspective and to be aware of how every action has an impact, good or bad. As a result, our students not only gain the skills they need to be successful in the world but to have the self–awareness and sense of purpose to change the world for the better.
Self-Discovery
Education cannot be effective unless it helps a child to open up himself to life.
The Self-Discovery facet of our curriculum fosters the students’ knowledge of themselves and awareness of their place in the world. Self-Discovery is comprised of personal reflection, conflict resolution, communication, creative arts, and physical fitness.
Whereas in Academy the focus is for the students to explore the world around them, in Self-Discovery, the focus is for the students to explore the world within them. The goal is for the students to gain a deeper awareness of their “inner world,” – especially in regard to their feelings, their ideas, their inspirations, and their goals. The outcomes of Self-Discovery are personal reflection, conflict resolution, communication skills, creative arts, and physical fitness. By learning to know themselves, to respect each other, to solve problems, to speak their truth, and to care for their community, students lay the foundation to forge their own paths toward happiness and well-being.
Manifestation
Free the child’s potential, and you will transform him into the world.
The Manifestation facet of our curriculum provides opportunities for the students to utilize their knowledge and share their talents. Manifestation is comprised of festivals and events, student government, community service, internships, and external discovery (field trips and excursions).
In Manifestation, the focus for students is to share their gifts with the world in meaningful ways – and in the process, to see that they really can make a difference in the world. The outcomes of Manifestation are self-advocacy, green thinking, personal values, confidence, and citizenship & diplomacy. The Manifestation facet of the curriculum provides the students with a wide array of opportunities to express their creativity, utilize their innovation, share their insights, and explore their interests.
These three areas give structure to students to explore the world, learn about themselves, and then manifest the fruits of these efforts. While Academy studies focus on knowledge of the universe around us, Self-Discovery explores the cosmos within us. Manifestation is the crystallization and expression of these two modalities of learning through real-life experiences.
