"We build the road the road builds us"

“We build the road the road builds us." Sarvodaya Shramadana

Every tradition was once new. This concept can apply to many aspects within society from families, to communities but especially in schools. There comes a time with each tradition, a time to continue to hold onto the tradition and then a time to let it go. But there are no directions or guidelines to let us know how much longer we still need to continue to hold on and there are no directions when it is time to let go.

Imagine three old traditions – three old ideas-traditions in education that you think that right now is the time to let them go. Identify them and briefly write why you think it is time to let them go.

After you have identified the old traditions in school to let go then identify three new ideas or new possible traditions in education that you think it is time to start, right now. Write why you think these three ideas are important to start now and how you might start them.


The Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement is the largest people's organization in Sri Lanka. Sarvodaya is Sanskrit for "Awakening of All' and Shramadana means to means “to donate effort” (http://www.sarvodaya.org Retrieved November 21, 2010).

Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFQFLvOCSWs&feature=related and/or http:/ /www.youtube.com/watch?v=38Fd1g2PXLE and think of one way that with your students you can create a new tradition that a difference can be made – not just doing something for a community or organization but working with people in the community or organization. Share the idea and a possible game plan to make it work.

Imagine