 Children
and Nature A Statement of Philosophy
Building a Foundation
for Compassionate Intelligence
Compassionate Intelligence is that intelligence which
has the well-being of all life as its guiding principle.
In order to establish a foundation for a compassionate intelligence,
the child must bond, first with the basic family and then
with the Earth.
The successful transition from family as the primary source
of security and learning to Earth as a place of security and
learning requires many positive, emotional connections to
the natural world. These connections are made in the child's
first seven years.
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The team has produced a packet
of Support Materials that form the basis of the
course. It's available for $10.
or write to: Children and
Nature c/o Foundation
for Global Community Distribution Department,
222 High Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
In every culture, all children at about seven years of age
begin the process of individuation-extending their ties of
affection, loyalty and learning beyond the family. If the
culture has the respect and love of the natural world as one
of its top priorities, bonding with the Earth will take place
naturally. But ready or not, children will bond to something
outside the family: if not to the natural world, then they
will bond to the prevailing culture and gradually lose their
sense of belonging to something wild and wonderful.
We need to work together to change the prevailing culture,
so that all institutions-home, school, religious, government
and business-reinforce the child's need to bond successfully
with family and Earth. And we have to learn how to do it in
an urban society.
"Our task must be to free ourselves
by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living
creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." —Albert
Einstein
Read the article "Building
a Foundation for Compassionate Intelligence" by Diane
Gordon (Originally printed in Timeline Magazine)
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