What is CbE
The Approach
CbE is a systematic approach to unfolding the full potential of every pupil, based on Maharishi’s teaching about the full value of human consciousness. According to Maharishi, everyone has an “inner treasury” of energy, happiness, creativity and intelligence that, for the most part, lies hidden from view deep within our mind, lies hidden below the surface values of everyday life. “Below the surface values” means beneath the physical and mental activity that demands most of our attention. However, if we don’t find time to put some attention on re-connecting those surface values with the inner, more silent values of our own consciousness, those inner values remain out of reach, undeveloped and unused.
CbE uses the simple and natural practice of Transcendental Meditation (and Word of Wisdom for younger pupils), an effortless mental technique, to dive within the mind for a few minutes every day to access that inner treasury and unfold those inner values of energy, happiness, creativity and intelligence. Once they are open to view, they naturally become available for use.
Lessons
In addition, our pupils learn about themselves and that inner treasury in lessons – through the use of a range of special Integrating Themes used in all subjects. In particular, they learn how “knowledge is structured in consciousness” (our school motto!) and that their own consciousness is the natural home of all knowledge. They learn that knowledge is for action, that action is for achievement and that achievement brings fulfilment.
They are also taught, in simple terms, that knowledge is structured through analysis and synthesis, and that these two processes are natural functions of their own creativity and intelligence. Analysis breaks a topic down into its component parts and synthesis brings the parts together into an understanding of the whole.
Analysis and synthesis used together also help to integrate the inner values of consciousness (energy, happiness, creativity and intelligence) with outer values such as perception, understanding, action and behaviour. In this way CbE encourages the development of “wholeness of awareness”, an awareness in which our pupils are fully awake in themselves, settled yet confident in their own capabilities, eager to learn and ready to be successful in the world on their own terms.
CbE also connects the individual and collective values of consciousness in the lives of our pupils, via group and class activities, reflecting on families and friends, appreciating their own part in the school community and extending outwards into society on the basis that “the World is my family”.
