People often marvel at how well Rainbow runs. ย We have an incredible philosophy, curriculum, teachers, community, etc; but all of that doesn’t produce results without great systems. ย Five years ago, Rainbow adopted “Sociocracy,” also called “Dynamic Governance” — a governance system that collapsesย the hierarchy at specific times, so that everyone has an equal voice. ย Not only is this very empowering, but it seeds incredible innovation. ย It is a critical reasonย why Rainbow has become the innovative educational leader that it is.
There has been a lot in the media lately about Holocracy — the non-hierarchical governance system that Zappos has adopted. ย It’s not going so well, as this New York Times article notes. ย What is different between Holocracy and Sociocracy? ย The problem is thatย Holocracy “throws out the baby with the bathwater” by completely doing away with the hierarchy. ย Hierarchy, for all it’s problems (lack of innovation, lack of empowerment), has one really huge advantage — it’s VERY efficient. Sociocracy, on the other hand, is the best of both worlds. ย It retains the efficiency of hierarchy, while adding a level of systems that flatten the hierarchy for appropriate times. ย People have a voice in how the organization is run, they take on leadership and ownership, AND everything runs very efficiently. ย Best of all, in today’s world of fast-paced change, Sociocracy systems make Rainbow incredibly adaptable. ย As new ideas are introduced or problems arise that need to be solved (internal or external), innovative and effective solutions and strategies are quickly, often seamlessly, adopted.
Is that Elijah on the tractor? ย Omega Middle School students started their afternoon elective courses. ย These 7th and 8th grade students chose “Facilities Management with Max” as one of their electives. ย They are currently installing a trail from the old campus to the new. ย This is real learning! ย (Blisters included.) ย Other electives offered this year: computer coding, sacred geometry, drama, home ec projects, changemaking through service, 3-D Printing/computer engineering,ย plus a host of music and art electives.
“The perpetrator has been caught, but the killer is still at large.” ย We can always count on Reverend Barber, head of North Carolina’s NAACP and leader of the Moral Monday Movement, to speak the Truth. ย The killer is racism in all it’s forms. ย Nowadays, when blatantย racism is seldom seen or heard in public, the underlying racism in our institutions, societal structure, cultural assumptions, classism, and the like, are even more pernicious. ย The killer who slaughtered nine of the brightest in Charleston is still at large, and as Professor White Cornellย puts it, “The killer is us.” ย All of us who have beenย complicit or ignorant to racism. ย All of us who have watched ourย non-violent prison populationย explode.ย All of us who have failed to make eliminating “othering” from education and to make positive racial identity a key piece of education. ย All of us who have unchecked privilege. ย We are all responsible for what happened in Charleston. ย Once we can come forward and admit to that, hope grows. ย There is hope. ย There is always hope!!
If you want to hearย Reverend Barber’s full sermon, check here. ย (It really gets going about 30 minutes in.) ย One thing you will learn that the media has not highlighted, is that the nine people who were killed were being mentored by the Reverend at Mother Emmanual. ย He had left his post on the SC senate to help his brilliant mentees become leaders in social action and in the church. ย Nine potential Martin Luther King Jr’s were just slaughtered.
โWhen I gave my first concert in Chartes, I felt that the cathedral almost kicked me out.ย โGet out with you!โ she said.ย For I was young and I tried to perform as I always did: by just playing my violin.ย But then I realized that in Chartes you actually cannot play your small violin, but you have to play the macro violin.ย The small violin is the instrument that is in your hands.ย The macro-violin is the whole cathedral that surrounds you.ย The cathedral of Chartes is built entirely according to musical principles.ย Playing the macro violin requires you to listen and to play from another place, from the periphery.ย You have to move your listening and playing from within to beyond yourself.โ ย ~from violinist, Miha Pogacnik.
Our quest at Rainbow is so far beyond teaching children how to โplay their little violins,โ that we operate in another galaxy than most schools: We want them to vibrate from beyond (to use Pogacnikโs word).ย We want every child to sing their heart out!
Rainbow graduates are known to be brilliant.ย Brilliance is something more than smart or well-educated.ย ย Brilliance is indescribable light โ so bright it fills us with inspiration.ย Brilliance captures something that is beyond us and vibrates within us. So what is the formula for teaching brilliance?
The arts are one of the most important means of helping children tap into spirit, or the powers beyond and within us. The arts help teach children how to play their macro violin. When one is truly creating, something takes over that is beyond articulation.ย When a group of people create togetherโฆ a force even larger exists.ย Finally, when that creation is shared with an audienceโ if the magic happensโ everyone is united in something that no one can describe.ย ย Welcome to the first IMAGINE performance in our own auditorium โ our own humble version of Chartes Cathedral.ย Sit back, enjoy, and help us play the macro violin together today.ย Our quest is a journey into the beyond.
