We were delighted to have a visit from Lindi Bell of Small World Playgroup in Johannesburg last week. Lindi is the Chairperson of the Johannesburg Reggio Study Group. She left us some comments following her visit as below:
First
I want to thank you for making a plan for me to come and visit Reflections on a
day that perhaps did not suit you as well. I am so very grateful to have
had the opportunity to move through the rooms and imbibe the atmosphere and
ethos. Truly, there were some rooms I walked into that made my eyes just
tear up like there was some hidden sprinkler system or something. I was
so moved by the environment which spoke so loudly and proudly FOR children and
their rights and potentials.
I
understand that some of your rooms had just been cleared out over the holidays
ready for the new groups to come in and make it their own space. I would
not have been happy with anything else. Less was more definitely more in
this case,
Yvonne
was so generous with her time (did she tell you I took up an entire
afternoon of her time??). She was as authentic as they come, passionate
about Reggio and Reflections, with a genuine and lovely way with the
children. She was also very knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of
running a school and was so in touch with the goings-on in each room.
I was made to feel so at home. Honestly, I could've just bundled
her up into my suitcase and brought her home with me. I love the way she
was so unapologetically confident in the teacher's role in the learning that
happens at Reflections too. That teaching and learning should not stand
on opposite sides of the river watching the water flow by... that they should
both be in the same boat, rowing. That yes, it is all about the children and
their interests and curiosities, but the teacher has as much a part to play in
the construction of that learning as the children. So, I'm preaching to the
choir...
You
have a magnificent school, Martin. A noble, elegant school. A beautiful,
juicy, organic, human school. To think that its is all hand-made so to
speak gives me 'goosies' (gooseflesh?). The playground that has been
co-created... the rooms full of the deep-thinking of the children (even the
babies!)... the entrance hall that is so warm and welcoming, the lovely sound
of children's voices drifting down the stairs, that beautiful water feature
that I can't wait to read about, the 'poorly tree' so thoughtfully attended to,
the fire-pit that I imagine teaches children more about being safe that any
book/speech would, the edible garden so rich with provocations... the baby room
with baby chairs sat side-by-side ready for communion with each other... the
loveliness of Louise and Shelly... the treasure trove that I later found at
St Paul's Exhibitions Centre... made it all worth coming all that way for! and
then some!
I
would like to say I wouldn't change a thing, but then of course you will
anyway!
But
really, a thoroughly amazing experience for me!
Thanks
so much
Lindi
Bell
SMALL
WORLD PLAYGROUP
Johannesburg
