Wrobel approached Barrash to see if together they could expand the development of those resources to create a shift in perception in students about their concept of self, and their concepts about how the universe works. The experiment started at Harrison Secondary in 1991, and a year later expanded into a maximum security prison where a strong connection was made with Native American inmates.
Since then, Continuum has served as an ad hoc resource center for many Native Americans leaving prison, helped beat the oppressive 80% recidivism rate for Native Americans leaving prison and continues to support them in a variety of ways.
Unfortunately when prison authorities realized that Barrash and the Continuum Center were becoming a resource for released inmates and thus a potential security risk, Barrash was not invited back to teach.
However, since 1995 the training program has been taken into many different organizations, businesses, shelters, medical centers and treatment programs, with great success and only minor curriculum changes necessary to match each audience. Even those familiar with many of the topics find it effective. “This material is so fresh and new that everybody is a kid,” says Barrash. “The workbook was written for students operating at the level of a 12 year-old. But even to a corporate executive much of this is new information, so they are listening with the same kind of beginner's mind.”
It only takes a small seed to grow into something remarkable. The next evolution of the Discovery of Self program is a Minnesota charter public middle school (later adding high school) which will be opening next fall. Called Continuum Academy: academic excellence, social and emotional intelligence, the school will carry the normal course curriculum of any public accredited school in math, science, history, English, writing, etc. Unlike any other public school Continuum Academy will also teach classes addressing internal concerns: how emotions affect bio-chemistry, how to regulate emotions and attitudes, and how to approach life with greater self confidence, self-esteem, and optimism - in other words, Continuum Academy will offer all the skills necessary for academic and social success.
The school, like the Discovery of Self programs, also will provide something kids rarely receive in public education: inspiration. “The stories from the kids, homeless adults, welfare-to-work mothers, corporate executives and others who take this course are just mind blowing and incredibly uplifting,” says Barrash. “I think the medicine of the 21st century is inspiration. And there isn't a lot out there right now. But I think inspiration can, with some tools and proper orientation, be something that really can be used as a walking stick to move us all forward.”
For more information www.continuumcenter.net
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