It is said to be bright, positive, and hopeful, while the focus is on taking care.
Growing Up Happy
Isn't it every parent's wish to see their child flourish? What are the conditions, factors, and environments conducive to the development of their full human potential? How can we protect their enthusiasm? How can we ensure that we don't inflict our performance stress on them? How can we create a place where different forms of intelligence are valued and where play, autonomy, and cooperation predominate?
Here and elsewhere in the world, for decades, even centuries, parents, teachers, and experts in childhood and active education have been coming together to create different schools that reflect their values and which, looking at Quebec statistics from the last 50 years, see 95% of students persevering in high school and further studies. When compared with the current dropout rate, questions must be asked. Perhaps solutions are lying right under our noses.
Following a three-year process, a new public school founded by parents, supported by the school board, and guided by a caring and dedicated teaching staff has opened its doors. Since then, and for five years, footage has been filmed, and this film is taking shape.
With this documentary, I want to invite viewers to reflect on the need for performance and grading, which sometimes has short-term repercussions. How do we learn naturally? What do we want to see develop in our children? Can they still be children before becoming adults? She asks these questions directly to the experts gathered*. What are the effects of imposed performance (versus the rather healthy one that motivates us to surpass ourselves): insomnia, profound discomfort, feelings of inferiority, insecurity, lack of confidence, stress. Can we do otherwise? Is pleasure harmful to learning?
My wish is to remove this pressure from parents and especially from children.
I imagine groups of adults quietly turning the tide towards a climate of freedom, autonomy and pleasure.
- Jacynthe René (director and producer)
Growing Up Happy movie trailer
To learn more about the alternative school foundation
To learn through play
—————————
Idea, Production: Jacynthe René
Production: Maison Jacynthe
*Experts: Colette Noël, Charles Caouette, André Stern, Luc Doyon, Danièle Starenkyj,
Guests: Monique Fournier, Jean-Nicholas Verreault and other parents
Camera: André Gaumond - Michel Bolduc - Jean-Benoît Duval - Daniel Daigle
Sound: Sébastien Trudel - Alexandre Rochon
Editing: Daniel Daigle
Sound editing: Denis Dufresne
Computer graphics and coloring: Studio Plasma
Music, composer: Alexis Dumais
Theme song: On ira by Zaz (Authors: Becue, Volovitch, Soltani)
Leave a comment