Modern Classroom
In the wake of Steve Jobs death, messages of inspiration have been spiraling through the web. An influential member of society and major contributor to the past and future of technology, Jobs lived an inspired life. Personally, inspired by this great man, I wanted to find what other great members of humanity are doing in the name of sustainable innovation and inspiration.
The man who stood out among others is John Hardy, the founder of the Green School inBali, Indonesia. Originally known for success in business, this owner and designer of a Balinese jewelry line decided that he would use his business success to start a school. Inspired from the movie “An Inconvenient Truth”, Hardy contemplated the idea that his world is deteriorating and that his children and grandchildren may not be exposed to the wonders of nature as he experienced them. Disturbed by this fact, he moved into action.
In efforts to truly make a change for the next generation, Hardy and his wife, Cynthia, began a project to start a school that was solely focused on creating a “whole” person. As Hardy says, “we practice whole-ism, and for me it’s just the idea that if this little girl graduates as a whole person the chances are she’ll demand a whole world in which to live”.
To do this the Green School teaches reading, writing, arithmetic, along with bamboo building, gardening and Balinese arts. This school has no walls, which allow for natural light classrooms. It teaches children through observation and interaction with nature, and Hardy believes one of the most important lessons is that the world is not indestructible. In its third year, the Green School has 160 students, and 20% are from local Bali.
With a concern for the loss of forests and global water issues, Green School is made from sustainable, local bamboo. The school is one of the largest bamboo buildings in the world and Hardy has incorporated the practice of using bamboo infrastructure into many of the locations for designers of his jewelry line. The facilities lie on 20 acres, next to a river, and surrounded by gardens where children learn to take care of and produce their own food.
John Hardy’s school is becoming a model for sustainable efforts internationally and his influence and passion for sustainability is being passed down to his students. Greencupboards.com tips our hat to this man who accepted the challenge to change the world, and started locally.
Sources:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/john_hardy_my_green_school_dream.html
http://www.thesourceasia.com/index.php/mind/227-cynthia-and-john-hardys-green-school
Images:
http://www.alternative-learning.org/?paged=2
http://www.thesourceasia.com/index.php/mind/227-cynthia-and-john-hardys-green-school
