Why the Trees Died: A Lesson for Homeschoolers
Right now I’m reading a book called, Jellyfish Age Backwards: Nature’s Secrets to Longevity by Nicklas Brendborg. In chapter five, Brendborg mentions an interesting experiment. The Biosphere 2 experiment, conducted in the early 1990s, was a groundbreaking attempt to create a self-sustaining ecosystem within a sealed environment. The project, which involved sealing off a 3.15-acre plot of land in Arizona, was intended to be a proof of concept for creating closed ecological systems on other planets. Elon probably paid for it. However, the project faced a number of challenges. Even though the trees initially grew quickly, many of the trees died within the sealed environment.
One of the primary reasons for the death of the trees in Biosphere 2 was the lack of wind. Trees rely on wind to distribute their pollen and to strengthen their roots, trunks, and branches. Without wind, the trees were unable to reproduce and their growth was stunted. This highlights an important lesson about the importance of stressors in the natural world. It reminds me of an Afrikan proverb: "The wind that blows does not tell you where it has been, but you can always see its effects."
Stressors, such as wind, can be dangerous to living organisms, but they also play a critical role in shaping and strengthening them. In the case of trees, wind helps to create stronger, more resilient trees that are better able to survive in their natural environment. Similarly, in the case of humans, stressors such as challenges and obstacles can help to build character and resilience.
This concept is especially relevant in the context of homeschooling. While homeschooling can offer many benefits, such as more personalized instruction and greater flexibility, it can also deprive children of the stressors and challenges that they would encounter in a public fool system setting.
Homeschooling parents must be mindful of the importance of stressors in the development of their children and actively create opportunities for their children to experience stressors in a safe and controlled environment. This can be done through activities such as homeschooling co-ops, sports teams, and other extracurricular activities.
Furthermore, curriculum choices can also play a role in providing stressors. For instance, a curriculum that encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning can provide children with the intellectual stressors that they need to develop cognitively.
It is important to note that stressors should be age-appropriate and not cause harm or trauma. It is also important to provide support and guidance to children as they navigate through stressors.
Like the trees in the Biosphere 2 experiment, we as Africans understand the importance of wind in shaping and strengthening our communities. The wind, or challenges, can be dangerous, but it also plays a critical role in shaping and strengthening us. Without wind, the trees in the Biosphere 2 experiment were unable to reproduce and their growth was stunted, just as without stressors, our young warriors can become weak and unable to adapt to the challenges of life.
Remember, a tree without roots cannot stand.
Revolutionary Love,
Baba Samori Camara
