Revisiting the roots of progressive learning

SCHUMACHER COLLEGE
An International Centre for Ecological Studies

Revisiting the roots of progressive learning at
Schumacher College and Dartington

By Dr Su-ming Khoo

Schumacher course: Economics for a Green World
Teachers: Martin Khor, Juliet Schor and Prasannan Parthasarathi
Course dates: July, 2005

Dr Su-ming Khoo is a Lecturer at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

I was looking forward to coming for the short course on ‘Economics for a Green World’ at Schumacher College for so many reasons. I had come from Malaysia to Dartington Hall School between 1982 and 1986, and my experience of progressive education there has profoundly shaped and coloured my adult life, interests and worldview. I now work as a lecturer at the National University of Ireland in Galway. About a year ago, I was reminded of the Schumacher connection while visiting a similar college in India, run by Vandana Shiva. I applied for, and duly received, a small grant from the University’s Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching to revisit Dartington, reflect on the roots of my own learning and think about its relationship to my teaching philosophy and practice

My university is currently hoping to develop a global civic engagement programme, which will promote a progressive agenda of global citizenship and sustainable development and I really hoped to learn from the Schumacher example. I was thrilled to find that the content of the short course fit so well with my diverse teaching and research interests in public activism and alternative forms of economic and social development. The first week of the course covered key aspects of contemporary global economics and was led by Martin Khor, a Malaysian trade and development policy activist and founder of Third World Network. The latter two weeks have been led by Juliet Schor, an economist, and Prasannan Parasarathi, a historian, both from Boston College, USA. With them we have explored many dimensions of world political economy from the history of Indian Ocean trade to the problems of overwork and overconsumption in the economic system of the North. We have been discussing visions and examples of alternatives for a green world that can be more socially just and environmentally sustainable. The participants have also contributed a wide range of talks in the evenings on topics as diverse as social forestry in Nepal, renewable energy in Ghana, Brazilian youth and recycling projects and Chinese philosophy. But the course is only a small part of the learning experience – we learn so much about ourselves and each other as we cook, clean, compost, ramble, sit around, and chat.

Visits to the Dartington Archives at High Cross House remind me of the deeper ideas that connect the roots of my learning at Dartington with my present worldview and philosophy as an educator. Leonard Elmhirst’s papers tell the story of an experiment in creating viable alternatives that emphasise the importance of holistic and humanistic living and learning in this very beautiful and special place. The progressivism and internationalism of the Elmhirsts is echoed in both teachers and participants at Schumacher, 21 people from 15 countries, all passionately engaged in the search for more humane, holistic and yet practical alternatives for a greener world.

For more information about Schumacher College and its courses, please contact :

The Administrator, Schumacher College,
The Old Postern, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6EA.
Tel : +44 (0)1803 865934 Fax : +44 (0)1803 866899
Email : admin@schumachercollege.org.uk
Website : www.schumachercollege.org.uk

Schumacher College is part of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and as a charity (company no. 1485560, charity no. 279756). Registered office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL, UK.