Brockwood Park School's Blog http://blog.brockwood.org.uk Mon, 14 May 2012 13:59:41 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 The Bedroom Series, 2 http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/the-bedroom-series-2/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/the-bedroom-series-2/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 08:25:57 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1158 The bedroom series

It is interesting to see the elements and atmosphere of someone’s room: it tells you things about the person and the place they live. Living at Brockwood, we all live in rooms that are ours only for a certain time, maybe sharing with someone we initially don’t know, and by the end of the school year we move or leave the community and these bedrooms become part of someone else. It’s nice to see how each person customizes their temporary rooms to make them more personal. Also it’s cool to show Brockwood through bedrooms, because the images of the school that are always shown are merely only the public spaces. Because I wanted to include the whole community I’ve been taking pictures of students, mature students and staff members.
Marina, Photography Free Class student.

The bedroom seriesAmel and Alina, mature students.

Click on the pictures to see them in full size.

The Bedroom Series, 1

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/the-bedroom-series-2/feed/ 1 Present Tense Lecture Series: Stef Kling – “Money That Works” http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/present-tense-lecture-series-stef-kling-money-that-works/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/present-tense-lecture-series-stef-kling-money-that-works/#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 05:00:34 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1152 In the ‘Present Tense’ series of talks at Brockwood Park School, Stef Kling explains how the financial crises has come about and why our present system can not work. He offers radical and convincing suggestions of what what we can do to create a sustainable financial system.

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/14/present-tense-lecture-series-stef-kling-money-that-works/feed/ 0 Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Movement speaks at Brockwood http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/rob-hopkins-founder-of-the-transition-movement-speaks-at-brockwood/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/rob-hopkins-founder-of-the-transition-movement-speaks-at-brockwood/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 13:49:12 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1145 Rob Hopkins gives an inspiring talk in our Present Tense lecture series:

He is co-founder of Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network. This grew out of many years experience in education, teaching permaculture and natural building. Further, Rob Hopkins also set up the first two-year full-time permaculture course in the world, at Kinsale Further Education College in Ireland, as well as co-ordinated the first eco-village development in Ireland to be granted planning permission.

He is also the author of “The Transition Companion: making your community more resilient in uncertain times”, and previously wrote the best-selling “Transition Handbook”. He blogs at www.transitionculture.org, tweets as robintransition, speaks widely on Transition and peak oil, has won various awards, and lives in Devon where he raises both children and vegetables.

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/rob-hopkins-founder-of-the-transition-movement-speaks-at-brockwood/feed/ 0 The Bedroom Series, 1 http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/the-bedroom-series-1/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/the-bedroom-series-1/#comments Mon, 07 May 2012 13:45:36 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1139 The bedroom seriesClick on the picture to see it in full size.

It is interesting to see the elements and atmosphere of someone’s room: it tells you things about the person and the place they live. Living at Brockwood, we all live in rooms that are ours only for a certain time, maybe sharing with someone we initially don’t know, and by the end of the school year we move or leave the community and these bedrooms become part of someone else. It’s nice to see how each person customizes their temporary rooms to make them more personal. Also it’s cool to show Brockwood through bedrooms, because the images of the school that are always shown are merely only the public spaces. Because I wanted to include the whole community I’ve been taking pictures of students, mature students and staff members.

Marina, Photography Free Class student.

The bedroom seriesClick on the picture to see it in full size.

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/05/07/the-bedroom-series-1/feed/ 0 Winter Workshops (formerly known as the Autumn Week Workshops) http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/04/02/winter-workshops-formerly-known-as-the-autumn-week-workshops/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/04/02/winter-workshops-formerly-known-as-the-autumn-week-workshops/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:25:24 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1127 Hip-hop and raku ceramics, songwriting and Japanese cooking. What is the link? Every year for one week Brockwood’s normal routine grinds to a halt and in its place we have one week’s exposure and excitement with a host of skills. These Winter Workshops provided a learning opportunity for everybody involved and showcased that power Brockwood has of bringing together fascinating people from all corners of the world. Each workshop showcased a unique skill by talented individuals who taught precision techniques to first-time novices in the form of students, mature students and staff at Brockwood Park School. The most obvious example of this is Alan Baxter’s ceramics workshop, dealing with raku firing techniques. This had participants cooking pottery pieces, often in six foot flames raging into the thousands of degrees, with a sure and deft touch. “The beauty of the work is in the unexpected imperfections that the fire gives it,” say Jorge (Spain) and Max (Belgium), two participants in Alan’s workshop.

What is not so unexpected is the fact that Brockwood always has a few celebrities coming and going. However even we were surprised when world renowned artist Nicola Durvasula offered to give a workshop where students learned new sketching techniques as well as roaming our picturesque grounds to sketch life in harmony. The workshop’s beautiful drawings are likely to adorn our walls for many months to come. Nicola was not the only celebrity to arrive at Brockwood for the Winter Workshops. Valentin Gerlier, London-based musician and producer as well as part-time staff member conducted a songwriting workshop where our ever lively musicians stepped up to produce some soul-full jam sessions as well as putting their distinctive touch on a few country-western classics. They were supported in this endeavour by the gentle giant alumnus Chris Gorski (Poland) and his Music Production Workshop. “We learned all the basics of music production as well as having a good insight into the professional aspect of the skill,” says Philip (Germany), a student who participated in the workshop.

This year at Brockwood we have seen the flourishing of another genre of music brought over the Atlantic by mature student Tyler Mayo (USA). As a hip-hop artist and enthusiast Tyler offered students the chance to study the cultures behind Hip-Hop as well as participate in some free styling and verse writing thus exploring the creative side of hip-hop that is usually obscured. Tyler wasn’t the only mature student to offer a workshop, with Roland Bal (Switzerland) giving an introduction to Fascia. This uses various massage techniques on the outer tissue to release the body’s tensions. But for Roland the real joy was in, “sharing another way of communicating with one’s body, listening with your hands.”

While the beats and rhymes were flowing, some students were breaking a sweat in the most physical workshops; Dance with alumnus Seke Chimutengwende (England), Aesthesie by Sarah Hultsch (France) and communication and improvisation with Brahim Issaad (France). These three workshops pushed not only the body, but the mind as well. Communication and improvisation is all about expressing oneself effectively with the whole body and stage as well as involving the audience in impulsive improvisation. This involved lots of exercises of expression and often, “forgetting your manners at the door.” Equally embarrassing was Aesthesie with Sara, who has been visiting Brockwood for three years and says she’s yet to see somebody accomplish the deceptively simple coordination exercises that dancers use to warm up. If Aesthesie was about perfect control and coordination, Dance with Seke was about forgetting those very concepts. Choreography was thrown out the window and the balance between improvisation and structure was explored, involving exercises that explored movements and words. “It was like a meditative improvisation, where you go with the flow of the body within certain limits,” as described by student Fiamma (Italy).

Lastly the workshop that kept us all bright-eyed and bushy tailed throughout the week. Cooking with alumnus Anu (India), and parent Sachiko (Japan) and the ever-energetic staff Sarai (Holland) and Petter (USA). While all of us were relaxing after our workshops, the kitchen workshop worked tirelessly to provide over a hundred people with sumptuous meals on the dot. Over the week we had a taste of Indian, Japanese and of course Continental cuisine.

For each one of us the week was an immense learning experience, often more so for the facilitators than the participants, where we interacted a setting that was somewhere between classroom education, apprenticeships and a social event. Although dubbed “Winter Workshops”, it had the feeling of a summer carnival with the glorious weather that graced the week. Along with this, the school was alive with a buzz as everybody joined hands to collaborate with the whirlwind of talent that descended on us, exemplified by the impressive presentations at the end of the week.

Written by Vasudev Devadasan (Student)

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/04/02/winter-workshops-formerly-known-as-the-autumn-week-workshops/feed/ 0 Present Tense – Alumnus & UCLA Prof. Frode Steen at BPS http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/26/present-tense-alumnus-ucla-prof-frode-steen-at-bps/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/26/present-tense-alumnus-ucla-prof-frode-steen-at-bps/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 06:59:25 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1108 In the ‘Present Tense’ series, Alumnus Frode Steen talks about his time at Brockwood Park School, and how important it was for his development. His talk was entitled “Making a career in academia without giving up your soul.” It took place Saturday 3rd of March 2012:

“Brockwood is sometimes accused of being excessively idealistic and impractical, failing to prepare students for the harsh realities of life. Frode will talk about how his background at Brockwood provided the impulse for his work in graduate school, helped him get through hard times, and laid the foundations for his interdisciplinary research.”

Frode was a student at Brockwood in the late ’70s and early ’80s, and is a trustee of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America. He is a professor of Communication Studies at UCLA in California, and an associate of the Mind & Society Initiative at Azim Premji University in Bangalore.

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/26/present-tense-alumnus-ucla-prof-frode-steen-at-bps/feed/ 0 Thank you! Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/19/thank-you-six-oak-tree-saplings-planted-by-students-with-gary-primrose/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/19/thank-you-six-oak-tree-saplings-planted-by-students-with-gary-primrose/#comments Mon, 19 Mar 2012 06:07:44 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1112 As a way to thank donors who gave £100 or more last term to our campaign for a beautiful new garden at Brockwood, there is now the lasting gift from us of a new oak tree, bearing the name of who donors individually chose (on a biodegradable label – carved on wood by students). These trees help offset the use of oak timber in the construction of the Pavilions, and they form part of our general effort at replanting and caring for the Brockwood parkland. With the assistance of students, former head gardener and current trustee Gary Primrose planted the trees on March 11th in six different locations on a visit to Brockwood. (See the lovely pictures below courtesy of current head gardener Mark Apted). Thank you so much to all!

Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose

Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose
Six Oak Tree Saplings Planted by Students with Gary Primrose

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/19/thank-you-six-oak-tree-saplings-planted-by-students-with-gary-primrose/feed/ 0 Brockwood in Paris Alumni Reunion http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/15/brockwood-in-paris-alumni-reunion/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/15/brockwood-in-paris-alumni-reunion/#comments Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:27:43 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1068 On February 18th 2012 over 30 Alumni and friends of Brockwood came together and networked, discussed their ties to and questions about the place. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly positive and even energizing! You can see for yourself by looking at both, the pictures below, but also the text of the Brockwood post cards we asked each attendees to fill out at the end of the event. Thank you all again so much for coming and making it a success!

Paris Alumni ReunionClick on the picture to see it in full size.

Paris Alumni ReunionParis Alumni ReunionClick on each picture above to see each side of the postcard in full size.

Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion
Paris Alumni Reunion

 

My time at Brockwood has been to me like a wonderful poem, a sweet melody, always resounding in eternity.

I cannot call this special place mine; yet it always is with me, part of me – because it opened my eyes to the WHOLE of life.

I am deeply grateful for this time, this seemingly everlasting source of inspiration, and for the feeling of being at home.

Paris, 18/02/2012
Sebastian Arnold

Great meeting you guys!

I wish I’d had an opportunity to go to BP as a teen (or ever actually…)

Anonymous
Paris, 18/02/2012

Hello dear Brockwoodians,

Thank you for arranging for a meeting like this. It was wonderful to see ‘old’ and new faces, to hear about people’s experiences.

Brockwood is such an important part of my life, it is difficult to put it into a few words – the openness, warmth and critical questioning seem to me to be the most important qualities that I’ve ‘taken’ from BP.

Much Love,

Lakshmi (’89 – ’93)
Paris, 18/02/2012

This is a very common thing to say but I couldn’t imagine my life without Brockwood. Because of BP I became someone. Someone I wanted to be. And I could go out facing the world feeling good in my body and in my head. I am so thankful for that and also I feel so much stronger to know that I’m not the only one to dream of an alternative way to live. And the amazing thing is that it exists!

I am in art school at the moment. Art should be something with which you think that everything is possible. But at BP everything DOES seem possible and I didn’t find this energy in my art school. Even though it’s hard to find a job in art, I want to carry on a bit more. It feels weird having to be competitive after BP. But if I don’t succeed in anything in art, I will be very happy to become a teacher – or something like that. And anyway, everything is possible!

Pauline Gaubert
Paris, 18/02/2012

The thought of going to Brockwood felt great. Being there was awesome. And looking back on those 2 years, I simply cannot imagine not having been to this wonderful place…

Jeanne
Paris, 18/02/2012

How was it for me today? Wonderful! I am SO HAPPY to have been part of this reunion and to have met other people from Brockwood!

What Brockwood has given me? Brockwood has given me SO MUCH! I am still inspired by BP everyday of my life! BP gave me love, strength, insight, courage, and an endless taste of investigation.

Much Love,

Françoise
Paris, 18/02/2012

Brockwood is the place where I grew up. I feel so grateful the school school let me learn by myself how to be the happiest and the healthiest! BP is my home and my family. I feel so happy and so much love when I think about it. I wish to offer and share everything I can with BP.

It [today] was such a warm and exciting moment! Makes me realize how much we can support the school outside so easily.

Gives me a lot of motivation to be more “active”.

Lia
Paris, 18/02/2012

Nice event. Gathering is always the good approach! – much more than dividing…

BP is a great center, the core of something very important for me…

Gaspard (former Mature Student)
Paris, 18/02/2012

It has been very nice for me to see all of these people from Brockwood – a way to keep in touch with the new generation.

It was really nice to meet all these people and discuss and change my impression about this wonderful place.

Alexandre
Paris, 18/02/2012

It’s good that such a place exists, even if it is not perfect, it cannot be perfect because we are not perfect (but what is perfection?) Thank you to the founder and thank you to the people who are trying to continue the work and do their best to maintain the “spirit” the best they can.

Claudette
Paris, 18/02/2012

Brockwood has changed my life!!! I am very happy that this little reunion was organized in Paris. Unfortunately I couldn’t stay the whole time…

Hilkka
Paris, 18/02/2012

At Brockwood from 2006 to 2008. Growing up never ends. I’m still learning about those years. Today was filled with networking, opportunities, memories and emotion.

Lucie Galvani
Paris, 18/02/2012

Very happy to have once more been touched by the affection surrounding Brockwood participants. I hope this will encourage me to be more involved in BP networking. At least, that’s what I want to do…

Stephanie
’89 – ’94

Brockwood is a place of joy and sharing! And the adventure goes on…
Maïa
Paris, 18/02/2012

Dear Brockwoodians!

It was nice to re-connect with you again! :-)

Brockwood is a very special place for me.

Love,
Slava
Paris, 18/02/2012

Always nice to see familiar faces and network with new ones from our big family that BP is. Would have liked to hear more personal experiences, though.

BP has, as for a great deal of people, changed my life in the sense that it allowed me to discover my inner me. I’ll treasure that forever…

Anonymous
Paris, 18/02/2012

The reunion today has given me SO much. Now I can start “living”, even more than I do now. We’re all gonna get together now and good energy is going to spread! We’re going to help each other now.

Brockwood has given me so much strength, and I am getting stronger. My mother is dead, she died of cancer in 2007. She was the chairman of the Krishnamurti Center in Stockholm, Sweden. My mother is with me, together with Krishnaji, giving me so much strength, so it will be enough for so many of us! :-)

You’re all welcome to stay with me in my flat in Stockholm.

Love,

Annika Englund
Paris, 18/02/2012

It was really great meeting up with Brockwoodians and share what one feels and everybody’s experiences. As always I (we) miss Brockwood and love Brockwood.

Anonymous
Paris, 18/02/2012

Always great to see old friends and meet new ones.

I think we are all here because Brockwood has touched our life deeply – and I am no exception!

Brockwood lives on in my life and continues to inspire me.

Anonymous
Paris, 18/02/2012

I’ve never been good at writing postcards so I’ll make this short.

It was really great to meet other Brockwoodians from different years. I hope we’ll stay in touch in one way or another.

I’ve been meaning to come back for a while and this reunion made me long for this beautiful place even more!

See you soon (hopefully)

Steph (2002 – 2003)

It was lovely to meet ex-brockies whom I had not met before. It’s amazing how easily you can connect quickly.

Brockwood changed my life in so many ways. I feel eternally grateful. It broadened my horizon and help me find peace and harmony.

Guy ’88 – ‘89
Paris, 18/02/2012

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/15/brockwood-in-paris-alumni-reunion/feed/ 0 ‘Vivre-Autrement’, French Fair at the Parc Floral in Paris, 16th – 19th March 2012 http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/08/vivre-autrement-french-fair-at-the-parc-floral-in-paris-16th-19th-march-2012/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/08/vivre-autrement-french-fair-at-the-parc-floral-in-paris-16th-19th-march-2012/#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:35:08 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1058 We will have a Brockwood exhibit in Paris at http://www.salon-vivreautrement.com.
Staff Eva and Yannick, together with mature student Amel will be there, happy to talk with you about the school and answer in person any questions you might have. We’ll be on stand E33 and are excited to see as many of you as possible.

We have free tickets for you for the fair. If you want some let us know as soon as you can so we can post them to you. Send us your details (name, postal address and number of tickets) via the contact page on the school website.

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/03/08/vivre-autrement-french-fair-at-the-parc-floral-in-paris-16th-19th-march-2012/feed/ 0 From La Cecilia School to Brockwood Park School and back http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/02/06/from-la-cecilia-school-to-brockwood-park-school-and-back/ http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/02/06/from-la-cecilia-school-to-brockwood-park-school-and-back/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:22:52 +0000 admin http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/?p=1049 Ginés del Castillo and Nancy Cecilia Giúdici, founders of “La Cecilia” (http://www.lacecilia.org/comentarios/gente.htm), a Krishnamurti school that opened in Argentina over 20 years ago, visited Brockwood for the first time this past January. Below is a letter they wrote and read aloud at their last school meeting prior to leaving (their original text has been edited to correct mostly spelling and a couple of words here and there for clarity):

Coming from the south of Latin America to Brockwood is like going to meet the aroma of Krishnamurti in one of the places where he spent a lot of time, where he walked, slept, and held many conversations with famous people, teachers and students.

Even being so different in size, amenities, customs, our stay here at Brockwood, has been like staying with family, like being in our own school.

I dare say that the same spirit animates both schools. The spirit of the teachings of Krishnamurti which invites us to go beyond likes and dislikes, beyond thought.

Here and there, in our school, students should learn what might be of use to live in this world but our school and yours are not only intended for it.

In any case, the academic demands are secondary, though sometimes we may be in a hurry to run after this or other demands.

I understand that here and there we need to be aware of these issues and not let ourselves be caught by the demands and pressures of the governments or parents.

Possibly, both in Brockwood and in La Cecilia there are difficulties and hard work, but what unites us is the way we walk through them, not letting the challenges become problems in our mind.

I have seen in Brockwood many people seriously interested, others less so, and even some unhappy, if I may say, but it is easy to see that the heart of the school is in the teachings of Krishnamurti and that some people actually live them.

We have always understood that even if one person only was living the teachings, the work would still be worth it, and here there is and the work is worth it.

I wish everyone could see, understand and take advantage of it. This is the current challenge of all these schools, as I see it.

Brockwood, its principals, officers, teachers, students, everyone has been very kind, very warm, very understanding of our language difficulties that, I hope, did not prevent communication.

We have nothing more to say but thank you for everything.

Finally, we want to put our school and ourselves open to you and hope that we come still closer in cooperation and mutual learning.

18 January 2012
Written by Ginés del Castillo and Nancy Cecilia Giúdici
Ginés del Castillo and Nancy Cecilia GiúdiciPicture by Mark Apted

]]> http://blog.brockwood.org.uk/2012/02/06/from-la-cecilia-school-to-brockwood-park-school-and-back/feed/ 0