project

I am doing my project on one aspect of a vision that I have for my life. For ten years now I have had a dream to eventually have a group home/ summer camp and eventually end up doing humanitarian work overseas in Africa. My project will in essence be a foundational plan for the educational, disciplinary and utility aspects of the group home/ camp as well an examination of the work of Muhammad Yunus overseas who truly believes his methods of business and helping the poor will eradicate poverty on a global level.As far as the educational plan is concerned I plan to write about the Paideia and Montessori methods of learning arguing their value while particularly emphasizing the effectiveness of the Paideia method as it is less popular and visible. I will examine the implantation of the Paideia method in Guilford County Schools, (Greensboro, High Point) to persuade its effectiveness.The disciplinary and conflict resolution aspects will pull from the works of Parker J. Palmer, Walter Wink and William Glasser. Parker J. Palmer is a widely regarded institutional hero in that his theories are literally saving institutions from implosion and failure while bringing a true renewal to the social health to the entities he is involved with. Walter Wink is a Nobel peace prize winner for his non violent educational efforts during the apartheid in South Africa. His book series concerning "the powers" discuss and educate many ideas for non violent reforms. William Glasser is a Psychologist who developed the applied control theory. Glasser's theory is one that regards all human behavior as intentional. He viewed all misbehavior as failed attempts at reaching ones true intention or motivation behind whatever act effort was made to meet ones basic needs. Glasser views man as having four basic needs while at the center of these four needs is the instinct of survival. The four needs are fun, freedom, belonging and power. Each need has several subsets of needs that are all listed under the central four, for example, power has elements of choice, independence, liberty and autonomy. Power has the elements of importance, recognition, skill and competence. Glasser's model provides a powerful tool to equip people in roles of authority with difficult people especially when it comes to young children and teenagers. The method also really helps bring about more self awareness in people who are being disciplined or nurtured under this style.