Posts: 71
From: Port Orange, Florida USA
Registered: Sep 2007

posted November 08, 2007 07:58 PM         

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Well… ever since I first attended school I always wanted to be a teacher. I knew it was my calling. As I grew older though, I kept getting annoyed with the way the subjects were taught to me. I made good grades, but when I went home I would think of a better way, or a way that would be more interesting to my classmates. When I was a senior in high school I became a vegetarian and started learning about how I had been brainwashed in basically every area of my life. Then when I started college I decided not to go to school to become a teacher, but to try to start my own school. I thought maybe just having a little daycare or preschool would be enough to make a difference, but I want to do something, or I should say BE PART of something much larger. I can go to my local community college for free, but every time I start going to classes there I feel like I’m being dumbed down or brainwashed again. I’m not sure what type of education would be best to get me started. I know a strong knowledge in business would be necessary, but would I be better off just studying it on my own? The past year my ideas have expanded quite a bit… always being modified or added on to, but my basic idea is a village type community, or perhaps like a college campus ground where there are local businesses gathered that BENEFIT the earth, humans, animals, and all the relationships in between. Trust me I know this is not a unique individual idea, I’m sure all of us having once thought I wish the business was this way….. but it’s an idea that I want to make a reality. At first when I thought of everything being right next to each other I didn’t like the idea because I thought of Wal-Mart , the one stop shop, and of the group of people that would be alienated from the rest of the community and it would be pegged as more of a cultist group. I sat on the idea for quite sometime thinking that there must be a better way. I realized though that as idealistic as I can be, I also MUST be realistic in order for it to work. People shop at Wal-Mart partly because Wal-Mart (and any other one –stop shop) makes it EASY to be there. You just park your car, and you can buy your tires, toothpicks, and tampons all in one place…AND get McDonald’s on your way out! I envision a community center where you can park your car (or your bike ;-)) and drop the kids off at Waldorf school (or a school of similar caliber) or daycare and go to your Yoga or Qi Gong class. Then you can go shopping at a TRUE HEALTH FOOD store that actually has a very large organic produce section and select high quality supplements. (Where I live right now this is non-existent) You could eat a raw food restaurant, or a restaurant that caters to individual dietary needs. You could take your pet to a holistic veterinarian and you could take YOURSELF
to a TEAM of doctors that work together to help you help yourself. For example the health center would have a central hub where you would get a “check up” and every part of you (mind, body, and spirit) would be taken into account. You could create a personalized guide book there to help get your lifestyle and health to your own ideal and your team of chiropractors, m.d.s, all forms of therapists, holistic dentist, eye care, etc would be there to assist you. Like how at a spa or health retreat you can get many different therapies done and many have saunas, roman bathes, and you could stay there in a set up hotel, or just come to visit as well. I see a huge outdoor recreation center were there would be family pools, hiking areas, and my favorite, a large community organic garden. As you walk through the center there would be fruit trees everywhere FREE FOR THE PICKIN’! and many areas set up for entertaining all ages, like, a movie theater that shows independent films and serves nuts and fruits! My favorite part would be the open education center that teaches classes to the open public about conservation, politics, history, economics, etc, and start getting our heads back on straight! I see many different types of classes and ideally they would be free or at least a very minimal charge. There would also be a theater where there would be plays, guest speakers, musicians, seasonal celebrations, etc. Everything would be made out of natural materials, everything would be reasonably priced or free if possible, many areas would be based on donations and worked by volunteers, and there would be something for everyone. EVERYTHING would be recycled or composted. There would also be a spiritual center for all faiths. It would probably be set up similar to a college campus, but most importantly this center would be located WITHIN the town/city maybe even NEXT TO Wal-Mart! Ha-ha. I would love to have as many of these areas as possible, in every state, in every country even, so that it creates competition for other businesses within the city and so that eventually this way of life is not in anyway separated or segregated but filtered into all areas of life and become the “normal.” I know it might sound like a pipe dream but I would really like to see and be a part of a community like this. I know enough now to know how much I don’t know and that much of my life has been sheltered, so please, if I seem naďve to you, don’t ridicule me or blow me off, but TEACH ME what you know instead. I’m constantly learning something new every day. The center would be a lot of work and take a lot of cooperation, but I think it would be worth it. I just don’t know how to get started! Also I would love to hear others ideas, or thoughts on this community center and maybe there is something out there already like this that I could visit and see how it all works. Or maybe you think this idea is stupid and I would also love to hear why you think so as well. ALL thoughts, suggestions, opinions, ideas, critics are welcome! Thank you for your input.

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Posts: 25385
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted November 11, 2007 01:50 PM         

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I like the idea. Make it so.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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Posts: 70
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2007

posted November 11, 2007 02:40 PM         

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I think this sounds great, something I would love to do as well!

Perhaps contacting your local mayor or city counsel may assist you with the first monetary funds?

Also, it may be helpful to first have a polished draft to present the rest of the community. You know, just to get a clear idea what it actually is, and what is in it, the benefits, etc.

Now only if we could get the middle class stabilized into the social strata..

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Posts: 24
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Oct 2007

posted November 11, 2007 09:05 PM         

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This idea sounds fabulous to me; someone who truly wants to refine the way students learn. I don't remember if you mentioned it in here, but where will you be teaching? Do you have a designated area? Do you have the money to afford this type of responsibility?

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Posts: 25385
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted November 12, 2007 10:00 AM         

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It may be an idea ahead of its time, but given a few years and some investors, it should manifest.

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"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things." "I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." Lewis Carroll

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Posts: 71
From: Port Orange, Florida USA
Registered: Sep 2007

posted November 13, 2007 08:57 PM         

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thank you to all who replied. That is one of the main questions people ask me...where will you get the money from? and honestly i don't know yet. i'm currently sticking with....if there's a will, there's a way.....
grrr...so much to do and learn it seems....

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Posts: 25385
From: Columbus, GA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted April 10, 2008 08:07 AM         

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"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Schultz

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Posts: 1117
From: Rochester Hills, MI USA
Registered: May 2004

posted April 16, 2008 08:48 AM         

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Maybe you could get the backing of some holistic practicioner's and start with that part of it.
Sounds very good..don't give up.

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Posts: 78
From: england
Registered: Dec 2007

posted April 16, 2008 04:20 PM         

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there was/is (?) places like this, one i read about was called the university of trees, and another the findhorn project, whom are still going and also publish books. i identify with the brainwashing you feel at school, though i expect the further you go into education the freer you can become. by the way, its an excellent idea, though more of a lifestyle than a business. what about looking at your idea more closely and trying to implement some of them into your neighbourhood? little acorns and all that...

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