Dynamic views of education

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511489693.015

14 - Dynamic views of education

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009

Lynette Friedrich Cofer

Edited by

Alan Fogel ,

Barbara J. King and

Stuart G. Shanker

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Lynette Friedrich Cofer: Affiliation:
Professor Emerita in the Department of Psychology University of New Mexico
Alan Fogel: Affiliation:
University of Utah
Barbara J. King: Affiliation:
College of William and Mary, Virginia
Stuart G. Shanker: Affiliation:
York University, Toronto

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Summary

A Navajo medicine man of great age and wisdom was asked to relate the story of how children were taught in the old ways to find knowledge, purpose in life, and harmony with nature. He spoke of the teachings of the elders about daily running to the East to greet the dawn with prayers.

He runs races early in the mornings. He takes snow baths and ice water plunges in the winter. He is advised to run as far as he could and back and to yell at the top of his voice as he runs to develop strong lungs and a loud voice. He must blow all the evil things out of his system, like cheating, hate, stealing, jealousy, greed, and lying. He must inhale the good clean air that comes with the dawn in long deep breaths, which is like taking in good health, prosperous life, and harmony with beauty. These are the teachings of the elders and we did what they told us to do. When one sleeps until sunrise, his voice will not be heard. If he yells into the early dawn like the coyote, you will have a strong voice to sing loud and clear without getting out of breath. This is so true because I still have a strong voice at my age and can sing all night yet.

His account is a life story about connections among all levels of experience – physical, mental, and spiritual.

Type: Chapter
Information: Human Development in the Twenty-First Century
Visionary Ideas from Systems Scientists
, pp. 128 - 135

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511489693.015 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2007

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References

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