Honoring the Heart's Voice

Yesterday, I found myself deeply engrossed in a talk by Light Watkins, a renowned meditation teacher. He was discussing a concept that resonated with me on a profound level - the idea of the "heart's voice." This is the authentic voice within us, the one that guides our actions and lets our true selves be known. Light pointed out that children are often the most in touch with this voice. It comes naturally to them, like breathing or laughing. Yet, as they grow older, the clamor of societal expectations begins to drown out this voice.

In our Western society, children are often told to get serious about their education, to fill their heads with ideas and concepts that others have deemed important. They are handed a list of things to learn by rote, things they are "supposed" to do, and these expectations begin to cloud their access to their heart's voice. The result? A gradual disconnection from their authentic selves so subtle and slow there is no way to pinpoint the exact moment that it occurs.

As I listened to Light, I realized why I feel so passionately about Alpine Valley School and other democratic education models. Our mission is not to interfere with the process of self-discovery but to facilitate it. We trust in the innate wisdom of all people, especially children. We believe that they should be able to hear the call of their heart's voice at full volume throughout their lives. Everything else - the knowledge, the traditional learning - will naturally follow.

For the past twenty-seven years, we've seen this philosophy in action. We've watched as our students, guided by their curiosity, naturally gravitate towards "book learning." But it's not forced or imposed; it's a natural progression of their journey of exploration and self-discovery.

At Alpine Valley School, we see our role as creating a space for young people to maintain their connection to their authentic selves. We provide resources for when they want to dive deep into unfamiliar territory, but we never push or prod. We also remind them that they are part of a larger community, a larger society, and that they play an important role within it as well.

There are countless ways to approach education, and numerous institutions prioritize different aspects of it. But for me, both as a former student and now a staff member, Alpine Valley School stands out. It prioritized reconnecting me with my heart's voice and continues to do so for dozens of children in the Denver Metro Area.

In a world that often tries to mold children into predefined shapes, we stand as a beacon of individuality and authenticity. We honor the heart's voice, and in doing so, we honor the unique journey of every child who walks through our doors. And to me, that is the most important thing in the world.