Please can someone tell me what this means?
Teaching with time
Through the regular, predictable shape of each Godly Play session, children are implicitly introduced to the importance of and need to set aside and structure our time when we prepare to come close to God. This patterning of time allows not only for preparation and a period dwelling on being in the presence of God through Scripture, but also allows time for discerning a personal response to such experience as well as time set aside to journey on from this intimate experience back into 'everyday' life. The patterning of time helps the child to recognize safe enough ways of risking the emotional investment to become deeply engaged and open to God and to themselves. Children are helped to recognize the significant personal thresholds that need to be crossed as we do this. They are indirectly taught the spiritual strategies of entering and leaving devotional time.
A 'lesson' adopts the established pattern of Christian worship. Entering the playroom is the first threshold, marked by a personal greeting at the door. Preparation both individually and collectively occurs as the children gather in a circle around the storyteller, sharing news and settling down in expectation of the day's presentation. Next, God's word in the form of a story is presented as something to which a special kind of attention is paid by both adults and children alike - a mysterious gift rather than as narrative entertainment or platform for a teaching point. Time follows for 'collective response' as the group of children and adult(s) wonder together about the many meanings and resonances for them in the presentation. Then time is allowed for individual response and further discovery of meaning as the children each choose for themselves ways to work/play using a wide variety of art and craft materials, or the story materials themselves 'in their own way'. Typically this personal time ends with re-forming as a group, as a community, and a 'feast' (of juice and biscuits) is shared together to mark this period. The session ends with a word and or gesture of personal blessing for each child as they both leave behind and take with them something of their experiences.
Please tell me what this means! Ryan is being taught this bullshit. And I genuinely don't know what to do. Should I withdraw him from all RE (as is my right)? Should I bite my lip?
The school's vicar is from Kenya. His wife is a convert from catholicism. They are very nice people.
Monday, June 18, 2007
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