Full Description
Juǀ'hoansi have occupied the Kalahari Desert in Namibia, Africa for at least 35,000 years and possess the oldest human DNA. Their traditional educational practices are the oldest curricula human beings have. Juǀ'hoan collective decision-making processes epitomize direct, participatory democracy: one person/one vote, enhanced by in-depth negotiations that lead to consensus. These practices are the basis for their education and culture. For Juǀ'hoansi, child autonomy is paramount and for democracy to thrive, children require independence to make decisions through play-exploration to experience multiple possible outcomes. This book explores how this egalitarian culture became the foundation of an enduring democracy.
Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Chapter 1. The Earth is Not Flat
Chapter 2. The Hunter-Gatherer's Old Clothes and the Emperor's New Clothes
Chapter 3. Beginnings. In 1999, !Xoma N!a'an, from Botswana said: "Da'abi ge a g/a'a n!ang ko e /a'asi ko ta e !kasi" (Our Children are the First Things in our Eyes and Hearts)
Chapter 4. Learning Trust
Chapter 5. Many Children, Many Baobabs, and "It Will Taste Sweet"
Chapter 6.The Whole Life Picnic and other Botanical Lessons.
Chapter 7. Beyond Competition: Building a Community of Learners
Chapter 8. "Oh Place Where We Have Played: Stay Well" ǀKunta ǀUi
Chapter 9. The Pitfalls of Praise
Chapter 10. The Roots of Innovation, Individuation & The Hidden Nature of Play
Chapter 11. Play-Exploration: The Ultimate Democratic Teaching/Learning Tool
Chapter 12. Something New Under the Sun: Play
Chapter 13. Learning about Juǀ'hoan Ancestors through Rock Art, Storytelling, and Drawing
Chapter 14. The Explosive Power of Pretend. Looking for Uharosi
Chapter 15. Class Picnic at the Baobab and the Hidden Power of Play
Chapter 16. The Origins of Writing, and Numeracy
Chapter 17. Where has the Trickster Gone?
Chapter 18. Teaching and Learning in a High Accumulation Society
Chapter 19. Teacher as Student
Chapter 20. The Nyae Nyae Peace Talks, 1990
Chapter 21. "Different People Just Have Different Minds"
Chapter 22. Democracy in Practice. Nyae Nyae Namibia,1991-2016
Chapter 23. "ǀǀXaǀHoba Wellcome Dancing Articfacts"
Chapter 24. 1991 Land Rights Conference and Beginning Lessons in Literacy and Democracy
Chapter 25. The Whole Village Learning Environment
Chapter26. Juǀ'hoan Education Values
Chapter 27. ǀǀXaǀoba Curriculum Gathering
Chapter 28. Hidden in the Villages
Chapter 29. "Two Packages of Tobacco" & Dancing Artifacts Or "Who do these People Think They Are?"
Chapter 30. Ehe! A last Lesson in Literacy and Humility
Chapter 31. Family Based Schools
Chapter 32. Embers from the Old Fire. Democracy, Childrearing and Forms of Government
Chapter 33. Ju nǀe'e.' We are One
Chapter 34. The World of the Spirit
Chapter 35. Healers and a Dance. More Experience in the World of the Spirit. Journal Entry, Nǂaqmjoha 2002
Chapter 36. The Hierarchy of Modern Religions
Chapter 37. Solutions from Old, Old Juǀ'hoan Fires
Chapter 38. Namibia & Botswana, 1992-1999. "Our children are the First Things in our Eyes and Hearts."!Xoma Na!an, Botswana, 1999
Chapter 39. A Return to Nyae Nyae in 2002. Lessons in Progress
Chapter 40. Nǂaqmtjoha: The Village
Chapter 41. The Black Mamba Tree
Chapter 42. Hidden in the Villages II
Chapter 43. ǀAsa or How to Start School in Nǂaqmtjoha
Chapter 44. Reconnecting
Chapter 45. Learning and Democracy: From the Ground Up
Chapter 46. Anthropology, Juǀ'hoan Style
Chapter 47. Arc of Sorrow: Leaving Again
Chapter 48. Return to ǀǀXaǀhoba Village and School. Journal Entry, July 13, 2012
Chapter 49. The Grinding Edge of Culture
Chapter 50. Healing Dance 2018. N!um: Healing for All. (From my Journal)
Conclusion: A Conclusion in Two Parts
References
Index
