La Jolla Private Elementary School The Whole Child

The Whole Child

Every human being is essentially a spiritual being, or soul, who is born with a mind, life-energy (vital), and body. These parts of human nature must be integrated in healthy ways so that we can realize our highest and truest potentialities. Integral Education, focusing on developing these four aspects of being with an emphasis on balance and harmonious growth, therefore aims for the following goals:

1. For the Mind: a proper training of the mental faculties in the fields of the various Humanities and Sciences;

2. For the Emotions: an effective channeling of the life-energy into pursuits that contribute to the healthy and creative growth of the personality;

3. For the Body: the fullest possible development of the physical being;

4. For the Soul: the bringing forth of spiritual qualities that allow the soul to come forward and gradually begin to govern the rest of the being.

The aim of Integral Education is, therefore, to prepare our students to not only "succeed" in life and to function in society to the best of their abilities, but to embrace and exceed this purpose by increasing their perfectibility in all areas of human life and existence.

Education for the Mental Being

To develop mental skills focused on concentration, observation, precise
   recording, and faithful memory.

To develop the expansive, wide, complex, rich, and diverse facets of the mind.

To organize ideas around a central idea or a higher ideal that will serve
   as a guide in life.

To control ones thoughts, and reject undesirable thoughts.

To develop silent, calm, mental receptivity to inspirations coming from
   higher regions of the being.

Education for the Vital (Emotional) Being

To develop and utilize the sense organs:

so that they are far more accurate and sensitive than what is normally
   expected of them;

in order to cultivate discrimination and aesthetic sense, the capacity to choose
   and take up what is beautiful and harmonious, simple, healthy, and pure.

To become conscious and master of one's own character:

by cultivating positive moral qualities (i.e., honesty, unselfishness, generosity,    tolerance, etc.), healthy desires, and noble ambitions;

by realizing a strong, noble, and dynamic vital nature that serves the
   enlightened demands of the mind and the body;

by eliminating despair, depressions, and all other negative and base
   emotions and impulses.

Education for the Physical Being

To realize grace, beauty, and harmony in the body.

To lengthen the life-span of the body as much as possible.

To develop self-discipline, positive morale, and a strong character.

To develop courage, hardiness, steadiness of will, rapid decision-making,
   cooperation, sportsmanship, and leadership.

Education for the Psychic Being (Soul)

To develop the mental, vital, and physical consciousness for integration
   with the individual's inner most psychic being.

To create in the outer personality complete receptivity to the higher
   spiritual consciousness and open it safely to that consciousness.

To feel oneness with all beings and things.

To know and execute the divine will behind one's life in order to become
   the master of one's destiny.

Spiritual Development

The aims for Spiritual Education are not specifically geared towards children but instead provide guidelines for adults who choose to take up spiritual disciplines in the midst of their worldly existence.

To spiritualize and universalize the lower triple consciousness of mind,
   life, and body.

To develop the power of intuition.

To be receptive to the inspiration, integral power and spiritual vitality of
   the mind and body.

To achieve complete union with the transcendental Divine Consciousness in
   order to transform the individuals human nature into an integral Divine Nature.

NOTE: A key goal of Integral Education is to enable an adult human being to choose to follow and create a conscious, consecrated spiritual life. From this standpoint, Integral Education is a life-long learning process that makes it possible for anyone to manifest the full potential from their inner-most being and to create opportunities for living a better life.