"The problem is not what kind of education the child should have,
but rather, that the educator needs education." - J. Krishnamurti
Teaching Academy
Co-sponsored by
Oak Grove School and
University of California, Santa Barbara’s
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education
Click to see video
Download brochure | UCSB Course Credits
The 5th Annual Summer Teaching Academy sponsored by UCSB's Gevirtz Graduate School of Education and Oak Grove School will offer a two week intensive education program in Ojai, California. The program consists of two distinct yet complementary week-long sessions and participants may choose to join one or both sessions. The program will provide grounding for both new educators and renewal for veterans in the educational field.
Each session provides a course with opportunities for educators to review and reflect upon their teaching or administrative practices and to envision new and coherent alternatives. The Academy's pedagogy is aimed at developing an inquiry based, self-generative, constructivist ethos, in a contemplative setting of mutual respect, self understanding and shared learning.
“Surely a school is a place where one learns about the totality, the wholeness of life. Academic excellence is absolutely necessary, but a school includes much more than that. It is a place where both the teacher and the taught explore not only the outer world, the world of knowledge, but also their own thinking, their own behavior.” - J. Krishnamurti
How to Apply
To apply for the course, please fill out our Online Application Form.
Session 1: Re-envisioning Education
Sunday August 1st to Saturday August 7th
The intent of this session is for teachers to rigorously question assumptions about education and to start from scratch to practically design alternative learning environments.
This session will explore and grapple with the following questions: What are the aims of education and schooling? What does it mean to be well-educated? What is the nature of attention, learning, goodness and intelligence? What does it mean to work together as teachers, students, parents and administrators? What is the culture of education? What are the challenges of living in the modern world and can education prepare students to meet them? Participants' questions and emergent questions will also be explored.
Session 1 Course Description | Apply
Session 2: The Art, Science and Craft of Teaching and Learning
Sunday August 8th to Saturday August 14th
The intent of this session is for teachers to engage in self-reflective and shared inquiry involving the close observation of school and classroom activities and hands on experiences of teaching and learning.
This session will explore and grapple with the following questions: What is teaching? What is learning? What is the relationship between the teacher, the student and the subject matter? What is the role of the teacher? What are the daily concerns of teachers and how can we address them? What is the culture of a classroom? What works and does not work for individual teachers in their everyday classroom practices and activities? Participants' questions and emergent questions will also be explored.
Session 2 Course Description | Apply
Program Details
We will primarily use J. Krishnamurti's insights on education as the foundation for our considerations.
In an atmosphere of reflection and a setting of natural beauty, participants will engage in daily activities such as:
| Inquiry and dialogues | The Art of Observation |
| Developing facilitation skills | Classroom observations (viewing film clips) |
| Designing learning environments (a school in a box) |
Study and Research |
| Educational narratives or time-lines | |
| Role play and theater | Silence and Quiet time |
| Developing communication skills and emotional literacy |
Journal writing |
| Developing a learning/teaching portfolio |
Recreational activities including nature walks, folk dance, music, theater and film viewing will also be available.
Texts
| Krishnamurti, J. (1953). Education and the Significance of Life. San Francisco, CA: Harper. |
| Krishnamurti, J. The Whole Movement of Life is Learning (Letters to the Schools), Brockwood, UK: Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. |
All texts and photocopied material will be provided.
Instructional material
Participants will have access to an extensive collection of books and audio-visual materials. There will also be free computer and internet access. Participants are encouraged to bring their own personal computers.
Program Directors
The program will be facilitated by Gopal Krishnamurthy (director) and Karen Hesli (co-director).
Gopal Krishnamurthy has been a teacher for 18 years. He has taught in India, the UK and the USA. He has taught a variety of subjects including physics, mathematics, geography, environmental studies, philosophy, drama and Indian classical music, at High School, Middle School and College levels. Gopal has spent most of his life since the age of 4, as a student and teacher at the Krishnamurti schools. He is currently a PhD student in Education at the University of California Santa Barbara, his research interests include teacher development, classroom observation and J.Krishnamurti's educational philosophy.
Karen Hesli has worked in education for 40 years. After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1970, she taught middle school and conducted human relations training for teachers during the desegregation of Minneapolis Public Schools throughout the 1970's. Inspired by the profound implications of J. Krishnamurti's writings and talks on the nature of mind and the art of learning, she visited the K schools in India and England, and moved to Ojai in 1980. Since then she has held various teaching and administrative positions at the Oak Grove School and is currently a board member of the school, a trustee of the KFA and a part-time teacher with middle school students.
Coordinators
Susan (Sunsong) Clark, Program Coordinator
Michael Lommel, Technical Coordinator
Program Fees
All participants will be charged a non-refundable registration fee upon acceptance: $100 per student.
Residential course fee (including tuition, room & board): $900 per weekly session.
Non-residential/commuter fee (including registration and tuition only): $500 per weekly session.
Spaces are limited and preference will be given to early applicants. The deadline for submitting all completed applications is July 30th, 2010. Final payment is due 30 days prior to the commencement of the course. All payments are non-refundable.
Program fees are based on double occupancy. A limited number of private rooms are available for a $200 per session supplemental charge. Spouse (person who wishes to accompany a participant and stay at the retreat but not to participate in the program): $400. With advance reservations, participants may arrive at the Krishnamurti Education Center the day before the second session, or stay the day after either session, for $75 per night (breakfast only).
* Single Supplement and Spouse accommodations are limited and on a space available basis only.
** Please do NOT make flight reservations until final confirmation of the program and your enrollment. If the program is cancelled for any reason, all payments will be returned.
Refund policy
All of the above payments are non-refundable. If a participant has paid their tuition bill in full prior to the 30-day deadline, and withdraws prior to the 30-day deadline, 50% of the total Tuition Fee (excluding the registration fee) will be refunded. After the 30-day deadline, no tuition payments or fees will be refunded. Participants may purchase trip insurance through such sites as insuremytrip.com.
University of California Santa Barbara Extension offers 4 units of professional-level credit for each course. The approved course numbers are ED X 321.89 and ED X 321.90. The credit fee for each course is $115. The course credit fee is payable to UCSB Extension. Please refer to the UCSB Credit Fees Chart for more information.
Food
Vegetarian food is served as part of the program. No meat is allowed at the Krishnamurti Education Center. We will make reasonable efforts to meet your dietary and other special needs. Please let us know in your application.
Venue and Transportation
Pepper Tree Retreat and Education Center,
1130 and 1098 McAndrew Road, Ojai, CA 93023.
Participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the Retreat and Education Center. Students may purchase trip insurance independently from a number of carriers for around $80 - $120. (www.insuremytrip.com). Roadrunner Shuttle Service (1-800-247-7919) will transport you from LAX to the retreat for $92 per trip (please consult www.rrshuttle.com for up to date fares). There is also a Ventura County Airporter shuttle from LAX to Ventura (Holiday Inn Express) for around $35 (www.venturashuttle.com). At no charge, the retreat will pick up participants at the Holiday Inn Express at 3:00pm the day your program begins, and/or drop offstudents to the Holiday Inn Express at 1:00pm on the day the program ends. At all other times, there is a $50 pick-up and a $50 drop-off charge. Arrangements must be made in advance.
Policies
Please read the course policies before applying.
Contact
For more information, please contact Academy Coordinator Gopal Krishnamurthy via email, or call him at (805) 462-7360.
How to Apply
To apply for the course, please fill out our Online Application Form.
More Programs