Sat, Sept 3
Hello DM Heng Yi Shr,
I am sorry it has taken me a while to respond to your email. When I
read it, I wanted to share some of my experiences as a CTTB Boys Summer
Camp teacher, a public school teacher, and a mother.
First, I have been teaching summer camp for the past six years and I
have met many many people who are interested in our school. They share
they are interested in our school because it offers Virtue
Studies/Buddhist Studies/Spiritual Development, Meditation, and the
opportunity for their children to be around monastics and good people.
These experiences, they share, can not be found in many other places.
They are especially interested in meditation, Buddhist Studies, Virtue
Studies, and children having classes with monastics.
Secondly, during camp, we often offer a Buddhist Studies class that is
taught through age appropriate Read Alouds and taught by a monastic
(bikshuni, bikshu). This summer, DM Jin Kai Shr, taught a meditation
class and Buddhist Studies. Many of the Buddhist and non Buddhist
parents asked if they could participate in the class. Additionally,
this summer a laywoman taught simple age appropriate Buddhist songs,
mantras, and Buddhist texts. Again, Buddhist and non Buddhist parents
would come early during the day, to hear the teachings. This has been
my common experience during summer camp.
As a public school teacher, I have met many families who come in and
are asking for help to raise their children. I, also, meet parents who
are looking for character and moral development in the public school
system. At this present moment, there is a big emphasis on test
scores and the academic development of children. The state is pushing
for the children to learn more and more in shorter periods of time. I
have heard over and over again, that student's should be prepared to
compete in the economic global system. The student's emotional and
spiritual well being are disregarded.
In my classroom, we meditate or play the "freezing game" for 1-2
minutes. I share with children that be learning how to freeze, they are
learning how to be calm, make better choices, and be better friends. I
have seen much improvement in children's overall well being just by
meditating a few minutes a day. In a public school, I am very cautious
on how I approach the children's emotional and spiritual development. I
can't wait to teach at CTTB Summer camps because I can teach meditation
and talk about Buddhist principles freely. What an opportunity!
This Fall, my ten year old son started at the Boys' School. I moved
five hours away from my family, so that he and I could be closer to CTTB
and the school. I want my son to learn to meditate in a kind
compassionate age appropriate manner, I want my son to study Buddhism
(age appropriate and applicable materials), and learn mantras. Per my
conversation, with other parents, I know I am not the only one who wants
their child to have these wonderful experiences.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my experiences and starting these discussions. Please feel free to share this email with others. I did not know how to send the email so that others could read it.
Peace,
Graciela Rodarte