Why I No Longer Encourage People to Participate In Natural Learning Rhythms or Encompass Programs
Regrettably, I can no longer encourage people to participate in Natural Learning Rhythms or Encompass programs, even though I did get value from their programs at one point, and even wrote about that fact in my article, How We Dealt With Bullying.
I discovered in August of 2007, that Ba and Josette Luvmour, the founders of NLR, in one of their holistic learning programs promote violence against animals (in the case I know of - it is a chicken which they provide live and encourage the children to participate in its slaughter.) They defend their practice by arguing that they are "Raising a child's awareness to where their food comes from, at the right developmental moment." They also expressed the perspective that when it comes to violence against other sentient beings – everyone draws the line somewhere different, and therefore there is no point in working to expand our circle of compassion further. In so doing, the Luvmours are not only embracing a perspective in direct opposition to Holistic Nonviolence (watch this wonderful 2 minute video about Holistic Nonviolence) but using their role as trusted mentors to parents and their children, to perpetuate their own desensitization and injuries (in this area) onto yet another generation.
One can teach children where their food comes from, without encouraging them to personally engage in violence against other beings. And for those children who are revolted by this violence and not afraid to object to it and choose to NOT participate in it (which the Luvmours point out is their choice and that they respect that choice when children do speak up) it seems injurious to me, that such a child would then be faced with the fact that their trusted mentors (Ba and Josette) were enticing their peers to participate in harming other beings. (If you have trouble seeing how this might be harmful....imagine if the Luvmours were encouraging children to kill a cat or dog....and the obvious harm to children of being aware of such a situation!) In any event, it would actually be a MORE honest approach to educating about where meat comes from by taking the children to visit a chicken processing facility, since that is where most of the meat that Americans eat comes from.
I attempted, but was unsuccessful in helping the Luvmours to see that this "exercise" they continue to support is totally contrary to their goal of bringing about a more peaceful world. I am saddened that they actually educate other parents and teachers about how our own past injuries can blind us to the ways we may be hurting others, but when it comes to themselves, the Luvmours still have a significant blind spot, and are unwilling to look at this issue from a compassionate perspective.
Serving meat to children, who have grown up consuming it is one thing - but encouraging children who have never killed a bird or mammal - (animals that they typically have a natural affection for - if encountered alive) to become killers of them, is quite another. The beautiful documentary, Peaceable Kingdom (watch it free on-line HERE) shares the stories of some amazing people who grew up on farms –and as young children were encouraged to become desensitized to the routine violence that farm life requires if one is to be economically successful farming animals. Surely our world would benefit from MORE people expanding their circle of compassion – rather than encouraging more of us to be desensitized. But I find it even more problematic when this desensitization is being facilitated by people who claim to be promoting peace and justice, and the healthy development of children.
The Luvmours, by using their position (as trusted mentors to the children in their programs) to encourage children to commit violence against other beings, (or subject them to witnessing their peers being manipulated into participating in such violence) are committing child abuse, and are violating the relationships they have with these with children. This is contrary to holism.
For more of my views on this subject, please read my article, Raising Children Who Will Stand for Justice.
I discovered in August of 2007, that Ba and Josette Luvmour, the founders of NLR, in one of their holistic learning programs promote violence against animals (in the case I know of - it is a chicken which they provide live and encourage the children to participate in its slaughter.) They defend their practice by arguing that they are "Raising a child's awareness to where their food comes from, at the right developmental moment." They also expressed the perspective that when it comes to violence against other sentient beings – everyone draws the line somewhere different, and therefore there is no point in working to expand our circle of compassion further. In so doing, the Luvmours are not only embracing a perspective in direct opposition to Holistic Nonviolence (watch this wonderful 2 minute video about Holistic Nonviolence) but using their role as trusted mentors to parents and their children, to perpetuate their own desensitization and injuries (in this area) onto yet another generation.
One can teach children where their food comes from, without encouraging them to personally engage in violence against other beings. And for those children who are revolted by this violence and not afraid to object to it and choose to NOT participate in it (which the Luvmours point out is their choice and that they respect that choice when children do speak up) it seems injurious to me, that such a child would then be faced with the fact that their trusted mentors (Ba and Josette) were enticing their peers to participate in harming other beings. (If you have trouble seeing how this might be harmful....imagine if the Luvmours were encouraging children to kill a cat or dog....and the obvious harm to children of being aware of such a situation!) In any event, it would actually be a MORE honest approach to educating about where meat comes from by taking the children to visit a chicken processing facility, since that is where most of the meat that Americans eat comes from.
I attempted, but was unsuccessful in helping the Luvmours to see that this "exercise" they continue to support is totally contrary to their goal of bringing about a more peaceful world. I am saddened that they actually educate other parents and teachers about how our own past injuries can blind us to the ways we may be hurting others, but when it comes to themselves, the Luvmours still have a significant blind spot, and are unwilling to look at this issue from a compassionate perspective.
Serving meat to children, who have grown up consuming it is one thing - but encouraging children who have never killed a bird or mammal - (animals that they typically have a natural affection for - if encountered alive) to become killers of them, is quite another. The beautiful documentary, Peaceable Kingdom (watch it free on-line HERE) shares the stories of some amazing people who grew up on farms –and as young children were encouraged to become desensitized to the routine violence that farm life requires if one is to be economically successful farming animals. Surely our world would benefit from MORE people expanding their circle of compassion – rather than encouraging more of us to be desensitized. But I find it even more problematic when this desensitization is being facilitated by people who claim to be promoting peace and justice, and the healthy development of children.
The Luvmours, by using their position (as trusted mentors to the children in their programs) to encourage children to commit violence against other beings, (or subject them to witnessing their peers being manipulated into participating in such violence) are committing child abuse, and are violating the relationships they have with these with children. This is contrary to holism.
For more of my views on this subject, please read my article, Raising Children Who Will Stand for Justice.
