We are people who attended Lord Byng High School's SELF program, an alternative satellite program for students in grades 9 or 10 to 12 who were highly self-motivated to learn, and to plan and create their own education, comprising English, Social Studies, and Physical Education. The program was active in the 1970s and produced a remarkable cohort of creative people.
Community. It was a community in which I felt like I belonged. It was a place where I could heal from the bullying and ostracization I experienced in elementary school. I know it wasn't all rosy, but 40 years later, what stands out for me is a sense of shared experience.
Yes! Our shared experiences created a real bond. I entered SELF halfway through grade 10 (in January 1975). I was frustrated with kids at the back of the English class who would bring class to a virtual standstill because they couldn't read. And I was reading voraciously at the time, and learning French and German too, had taken Acting 9! I felt tethered. SELF was my only way out. And of course there was that great trip to Hyder, Alaska. The SELF productions, the mythology: all of this was very attractive. SELF really allowed me to accelerate my development both academically and personally.
The "SELF mythology", John? What a wonderfully rich topic! I'm hoping you could elaborate on that -- or maybe others would like to offer something there. Joe Weidaaaa was part of that mythology, I think.
Not much for me to elaborate on I'm afraid: just the general mythology in the school of these "special" kids who got to define their own studies, go on special outings, etc. So "why did you join SELF?" could be a sub-topic I suppose. That's really the question I was answering. But in addition to my personal development, I agree with Ruth's comment that it was the sense of belonging to the community that was SELF that stays with me most.
Community. It was a community in which I felt like I belonged. It was a place where I could heal from the bullying and ostracization I experienced in elementary school. I know it wasn't all rosy, but 40 years later, what stands out for me is a sense of shared experience.
ReplyDeleteYes! Our shared experiences created a real bond. I entered SELF halfway through grade 10 (in January 1975). I was frustrated with kids at the back of the English class who would bring class to a virtual standstill because they couldn't read. And I was reading voraciously at the time, and learning French and German too, had taken Acting 9! I felt tethered. SELF was my only way out. And of course there was that great trip to Hyder, Alaska. The SELF productions, the mythology: all of this was very attractive. SELF really allowed me to accelerate my development both academically and personally.
ReplyDeleteThe "SELF mythology", John? What a wonderfully rich topic! I'm hoping you could elaborate on that -- or maybe others would like to offer something there. Joe Weidaaaa was part of that mythology, I think.
ReplyDeleteNot much for me to elaborate on I'm afraid: just the general mythology in the school of these "special" kids who got to define their own studies, go on special outings, etc. So "why did you join SELF?" could be a sub-topic I suppose. That's really the question I was answering. But in addition to my personal development, I agree with Ruth's comment that it was the sense of belonging to the community that was SELF that stays with me most.
Delete