The SEEDS Logo: Background

     It is said that the first 3 years of formal education can set the learning habits for the rest of your life.  Sustainable Early Education Development System (SEEDS) strives to help empower people to become their own best teachers and life-long learners. 

     The SEEDS logo embodies the critical elements for the Sustainable Early Education Development System.  Yin-Yang is the backdrop for a young sprouting plant.

     Yin-Yang is a non-linear model of dynamic equilibrium.  This symbol is a model summarizing the dynamics of the universe in simple (i.e. basic or fundamental but not necessarily easy) terms.  Conceived in China in the 6th century B.C., Yin-Yang symbolizes the dynamic and changing forces in the universe.  The forces may appear to be opposites.  It is best to think of them as complementary.  There are few absolutes; few things (if any) are 100%.  We must constantly and consciously be aware of this when studying the world.

     To properly view this model, first focus on the entire symbol.  There is one circle. Yin-Yang is a unified whole.  Inside the circle are large areas of light and the dark.  These appear to be contrasting opposites.  Instead, view the two parts of one whole circle as complements.  The division between the light and dark areas is not a straight and static line.  Instead, it is curved, dynamic so that each area appears to be moving into the other.  This shows the dynamic nature of the forces in the universe.  Change will occur.  If you draw straight lines across the symbol, you can get different ratios of light to dark.  Each ratio can represent a different “balance” or a kind of dynamic equilibrium.

    Inside each large area is a small spot of the opposite color.  This indicates that nothing is 100%.  You can also think of the small spot as the “exception to the: rule” or a reminder that contradictions exist.  There are no simple (i.e. easy or black-and-white) situations or answers.  And yet there are some simple (i.e. basic, fundamental, or universal) models to help guide our inquiry.

     In traditional Taoism, the light area represents (Yang, the Sun, male, positive, facing south) and the dark (Yin, the Moon, female, negative, facing north). At first, these seem to be opposites.  In reality, you cannot have any humans without both male and female.

     Yin-Yang accommodates "Chaos Theory'” as it represents dynamic equilibrium. In “Chaos Theory” small, random or unexpected events sometimes result in very disproportionately large outcomes usually regarded as a different equilibrium or level of balance than existed before the change.  Yin-Yang indicates that change occurs and the "balance' is dynamic. It doesn't require the "balance" be the same as before the change.

[Note: Yin-Yang is hyphenated to show it is a single unified entity. It is spoken as one word. To say “Yin and Yang” is to indicate a pair of separate entities. Yin-Yang cannot be separated. You cannot have one without the other. It is more appropriate to view them as complements rather than opposites.]

The young sprouting plant represents the result of sowing seeds.  For us, P.L.A.N.T.  means Personal Learning and Natural Teaching. P.L.A.N.T. goes back to the days before schools, diplomas, colleges, teaching certificates, and departments of education existed. Inherent in PLANT is the idea of LIFE-LONG learning. People need to continuing learning throughout their lives.  SEEDS teaches people to become their own best teacher.  Beyond the individual, the teaching unit is the family.

     P.L.A.N.T. evolved out of an earlier community-based education effort I began in 1999. My approach to community-based education came from:

·         my personal learning and education experiences starting from public schools in Hawaii,

·         college training in various universities,

·         my work experiences in the private sector which involved on-the-job training of new hires,

·         professional teaching

·         my volunteer experiences in various communities and countries over the years.

     Here are some key points that have shaped my thinking about PLANT and

community-based education:

Education Defined: Generally, an educational system involves teachers and students.  This can occur both in and out of formal schools.  In fact, most parents are the first teachers most of us have in life.  And most parents do not have formal teaching credentials and certificates.  Education is derived from two Latin words: Ex meaning “out of” and ducere meaning “to lead.” Ironically, traditional teaching seems more of a “pouring in” process rather than a “leading out”.  Teachers (as fountains of knowledge) fill up students (empty containers) with knowledge.  Exams try to determine if the containers were adequately filled.

     I prefer to think of educators “leading (themselves and others) out” from ignorance and toward enlightenment. [Note: I feel ignorance can be “cured” by learning. This is reinforced by Thomas Dewar’s quote: “Minds are like parachutes; they only function when open.”  Education is a life-long endeavor.  

As a reminder of this idea, I created the “cyclic saying”: “Learn to live, live to learn.”  This cycle suggests learning is perpetual.

Education is holistic.  The Geographic Systems Model, General Systems Theory, and Yin-Yang are the guiding conceptual models to perceive and identify connections and interrelations in our world.  I have another cyclic saying: “Connect to learn; learn to connect.”  Teachers and learners, while attempting to be “objective” are immersed in the subject / object being studied.  Thus, they must always be wary of personal biases affecting their studies. Integrity can be readily maintained by transparency; openly declaring your biases and potential or apparent conflicts of interests and taking steps to safe guard against them.  Peer review is a common reality check.  This is obviously an optimistic and positive view.

Self-Selection: I see education as an individual’s free choice. The learning can be self-initiated or guided by others. In C-bE model, self-selection is a key factor. Teachers and learners self-select to get involved in the education process. This also involves personal responsibility for their actions and decisions. In the end, learning is best facilitated when the learner wants to learn.  My cyclic saying for this is “Learn to choose, choose to learn.”

Teachers as Examples and Facilitators: For a teacher to be credible, they must be knowledgeable and skilled (competent) in their subject. Other personal qualities include integrity, consistency, and thoroughness (among others).  Teaching by example is far better than “do as I say, not as I do.” Effective C-bE teachers care to share. They care about people. They freely share their knowledge and skills expecting nothing in return. Effective learners are the key reward for dedicated C-bE teachers. I created the “cyclic saying”: “Teachers should be students, students should be teachers”. Consider this cyclic saying: “Learn to care; Care to learn.”