Carla Rinaldi - some history.
Last Friday morning, while at Technoploe, we were treated with a talk by Carla. It was based on the history but also encompassed links to philosophies and as she would say, ‘political choices/perspectives’.
Here are a few of the main points she shared:
Emiliana was originally a place of co-operative working, so it’s a state of mind here. To me this makes complete sense, as in my life, growing up on a farm (Dalhousie) where there were two families each with five children, working together for the greater good was just what you did- and we had fun doing it. So I understand Carla when she says that co-operative work is a mindset.
Humans are social animals. We originate in our mothers womb (togetherness) and from there we connect with others. Putting our energy together is more effective. Reggio is a ‘culture of ACTION’ of getting things done.
The inception of the first Reggio Emilia school initiated women’s emancipation in 1963 and this became another defining (political) position that Reggio Emilia remains very proud of to this day. It originated because the women teachers in these schools were seen as agents of social change. Many of them took on wider political positions in the community later in their lives and and continued to influence thinking. The original women teachers are still alive, living in Reggio (now in their 80s and 90s ) and fortunately for us, our group is going to get to meet them.
Carla urges the women & mothers amongst us to use this personal lens of ours in our research, to also have a personal investment in our projects.
Out of women’s emancipation came the idea of children’s emancipation; children are seen as competent citizens of the community, here are now.
The history of the Atelier was also shared- the Atelier is like what we in New Zealand schools today would call a provocation….an activity or experience which provokes thinking. The original concept of the Atelier was started at Summer Camp in this region the 60s too. People were very poor and couldn’t afford holidays, so the community organised Summer Camps for children. In this space of freedom they developed the idea that learning didn’t always need to be directed by adults, that children would naturally follow their own interests and adults could bring the learning to this.