Valmiera Secondary School No 5. Director I.Riekstins.
http://www.uac.valm.lv/v5v/
During secondary school I attended a class with specialization in biology and chemistry, headed by teacher A.Narbuts (1987 -1989).
Strongest impressions from the period: during years of elementary and secondary school I played first alto in the brass band of Valmiera Pupils' House, conductor A.Cepitis. Together with the brass band I participated in Latvia Pupils' Song and Dance festivals of the period.
I played basketball in Valmiera Sports school - couch V.Krumins. Thanks to the sporty stamina, later I could twice finish a 100 km running - walking race from Riga to Valmiera in honour of J.Dalins - the citizen of Valmiera, walker and Latvian national patriot.
Bac.paed., Dipl.Biolog. Daugavpils University of Pedagogy (DUP). Rector Dr.paed.Br.Jansons.
I was student of the academic study program History of Education and professional study program -Natural Sciences in the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology (1990 - 1995).
Strongest impressions: Green evenings, which I organized myself and the period of pedagogic praxis in Ilgas. Valuable experience I had got also during the four months' studies in Denmark - in Nature Folk High School at Stege in 1993.
Mag.paed. University of Latvia
(UL).
Rector prof. J.Zakis. I was student of the academic study program History of Education in the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology. (1995 -1996).
The liveliest recollections of the period are connected with part of practical research when I was on two months study trip to Sweden - Stockholm and Finland - Helsinki, as well as visited Folk High School in Åland Island.
AUTHORITIES
In Latvia - Auseklis, A.Kronvalds, Kr.Barons, Kr.Valdemars, J.Alunans, Fr.Brivzemnieks, T.Celms, Z.Maurina, J.Cakste, J.Rainis, U.Germanis, A.Balodis, A.Ulme, L.Grantins, and G.Astra.
Abroad - N.F.S.Grundtvig, A.Toffler, C.A.Reich, J.Palahs, A.Solzhenicin, A.Saharov, E.F.Schumacher, J.Porritt, A.Naess, and The Dalai Lama.
MOTTO
When light is called, light comes! (Auseklis)
Wake up, get up, and work! (A.Kronvalds)
Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo. (Ovid)
(The drop hollows the stone not by power but by frequent dropping.)
Work, finish, and publish. (Michael Faraday)
De omnibus dubitandum (Rene Descartes).
(You should doubt everything).
STUDIES ABROAD:
1993 School "For life" in the national Nature Folk High School - M¸n, Stege, Denmark - 4 months. Naturh¸jskolen R¸dkilde is a folk high school ("people's college") with special emphasis on nature and environment, principal Olav Liengård);
1996 Stockholm Institute of Education (Lärarhögskolan Stockholm)- 2 months in Sweden, in the course of Environmental Science (Tvär 96) guided by lecturer Thomas Krigsman;
1997 University of Aarhus (Aarhus Universitet), Denmark, 6 months studies in the N.F.S.Grundtvig Centre guided by PhD Kim Arne Pedersen);
1998 University of Copenhagen (K¸benhavns Universitet), Denmark, 5 months in the Faculty of Humanities at the Institute of Education, Philosophy and Rhetoric. (After invitation of doc.T.Winther -Jensen).
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Native language - Latvian. I can communicate and read a speech in English, German, Danish, Swedish and Russian.
INTERNATIONAL BURSARIES:
1993 The Danish Democracy Fund & Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). "Caring for the Earth - Baltic Programme".
1996 Nordic Council of Ministers & The Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet).
1997 Nordic Council of Ministers & The Danish Ministry of Education and Research (Undervisnings Ministeriet)
1998 Latvian Foundation Inc. European Association for the Education of Adults & Bob Schouten Fund.
SCHOLARLY INTERESTS:
Main interests - history and education, learning and teaching, social and cultural studies in education. More specifically - popular education, community and culture, environmental education. All these branches of science in Latvia until 1991 have been under the influence of the communist ideology and "the iron curtain". This means that for the propaganda purposes, the facts were changed, it was difficult to get access to the results of findings in the free world and the true history of the Latvian schools was not revealed. While carrying out research about these themes, new research methodologies have to be worked out as well as the results caused by russification - unilateral treatment and even falsification of the history of Latvian schools - should be overcome. No structure - including school - can be formed from "above", therefore I try to work on the level of "grass roots"- when I do not work in the university or library and archives, I am together with the Grass Roots activists from Latvia and other countries to discuss the democratic development of Latvia.
Popular education.
Topics related to the history of Latvian educational thought. Reform movements and their effects. National Awakening movements, national identity and the positive nationalism. Schools as the national ethnic identity strengthening institutions - within the context of history of education. The nature of historical methodology and historiography through a case study in the history of education. Historical research skills and historical perspective. Participatory research. Education as political activity. Education as a vehicle for furthering the ideals of democratic societies. Politics and education - education and the democratic promise; education and liberation, democracy and education, democratic school - democratic society. Democratic social change for the common good.
Community and culture.
Evaluating quality of life for various types of communities by studying their social cultural structures and cosmologies. The way school culture is created and sustained. Non-traditional approaches to cultural - social - economic education for adults. Private and independent schools, continuation schools, Scandinavian folk high schools, American folk colleges, and the church - religious programmes, etc. Danish national patriot and theologian N.F.S.Grundtvig as a personality, his vision of Northern Folk High School and the concept of the "Alive word". History and activities of Scandinavian and Baltic Folk Universities and Folk High Schools (including folk high schools offering day classes) today.
Environmental education.
Nature and society - the oral traditions of indigenous peoples,
Gaian science and the philosophy of Deep Ecology. Issues of sustainability and life - sustaining global environment. Community, sustainability and globalisation. Interests within cross-curricular and socio-political context: theory and practice of translating ecological knowledge, environmental issues, and values in educational forms for all ages and all facets of society, including schools. Environment and moral aspects of society. The Green movement in Latvia as the third national Awakening movement. The influence of the grass roots movement through its environmental activities on democratisation of schools and society in Latvia and in the whole world.
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
1996 The Grundtvig Society (Copenhagen - Vartov, Denmark)
http://www.vartov.dk
1997 European Association for the Education of Adults - (Barcelona, Spain)
http://www.grundtviginengland.org.uk
1999 The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, Inc. (Portland, USA; AABS Baltic Office - Riga, Latvia). AABS was admitted to membership in American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) in 1992.
http://come.to/grundtvig
1999 American Educational Research Association - (Washington, USA); British Educational Research Association (London, UK); Educational Association of Latvia (Riga, Latvia); Teachers' Association of Latvia (Riga, Latvia); Scientists Association of Latvia (Riga, Latvia), Students' Corporation - scientific unit "Austrums" (Riga, Latvia).
http://www.nfs-grundtvig.dk
PARTICIPATION IN PARTIES AND GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT
1989 Conservative party - For Fatherland and Freedom & LNNK (certificate No10.545). My political ideal of Latvia- Citizens' Congress of Committee of Latvia during Third Awakening with the legal idea to renew Latvia from November 18, 1918.
1990 Co-operation with the Green party of Latvia. The first national political party of the Third Awakening that together with the conservative For Fatherland and Freedom&LNNK has been a coalition party in the Saeima of Latvia until 1998.
1998 Due to tactical considerations I co-operated with Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party in Stockholm - it would be an ideal situation, if the conservative party in Latvia would work 'in rainbow government' together with social democrats: Latvian politics should be as a bird with two wings - one is the vision of national and Latvian state (each small nation should be national 'in order the large ones do not trample them down'); while the other is the social democratic vision of welfare of Scandinavian countries and integration of Latvia as national state into Europe.
1988 Grass Roots NGO lobbying the government in attempt to influence politics: Environmental Protection Club - 1988. (Valmiera branch).
1990- 1995 President of Daugavpils Environmental Protection Club. The roots of Latvia's inhabitants are connected with the countryside - through centuries we have grown together with the countryside thus every person in Latvia is more or less 'green-thinking'.
1999 Patriotic youth organization Klubs 415 lead by Kriss Kapenieks.
2000 Cooperation with Daugavas Vanagi (DV) and Andrejs Eglitis' Latvian National Foundation (LNF).
PUBLICATIONS - 28
(with abstracts)
Sanda Reinvalda raksti
1987 - 1991 The Green as nationals of Third Awakening. A seven publications' summary from periodicals analysing the development and growth of People's Movement of Third Awakening. The main articles: On ecological education. Private schools - yes or no? What does it mean skill to live? O, tempore, O mores!
1991 - 1995 Concept of a folk high school in Latvia. Bachelor's paper worked out in the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology at Daugavpils University of Pedagogy. Work about Scandinavian Folk High Schools - the past and the present. On the basis of this research the conception has been modelled for the activity of Folk high schools in Latvia and the Baltic states. The practical research chapter includes my study experience in Nature Folk high school in Stege, Denmark. Nature and society. Summary of 22 articles published in periodicals containing analyses on socio-political environment of Latvia - how it forms the ethical criteria of community in daily life. The main articles: Environmental protection - problem of morality. With God and love in the Green world. The river Daugava expects our protection. About the struggle with ourselves, or three 'tasks' to fulfil. Green campaign of children in Daugavpils "Our voices". Seemingly opposite articles are: "One should start anew honestly" (about the political environment), "Will Latvia have pine forests at the beginning of the century?" (on biologic ecologic environment), "Where the event has been planned" (on art environment). Yet, all the articles have something in common - the environment has been analysed as socio-political unit. Let us do no Harm to the River of our Fates. An analytic article with 6 arguments against the construction of Daugavpils hydroelectric power station. In my argumentation I do not stress the threat to biologic ecologic environment only. I analyse environment as socio-political unit. The Green Grass Root in the process of democratisation. Where does the Green road lead? Student with a green soul. We can afford to say that black is black. Those that are hated by manufacturers. "The Greens" in Daugavpils. The Green pages of history. Actual issue - issue about environmental protection: 6 interviews with me containing analysis about the green grass roots movement in Latvia and positive samples for grass roots how to act in practice. The Green freelance journalism in democratisation of community. Journalistic methods of activity in formation of popular thought -issues connected with and regarding social politic environment. The first part of the article summarizes my articles published in the "Elpa" (Latvian newspaper about environment and person), while the second part contains three analytical articles that have been prepared in the local Daugavpils newspaper "Daugavpils Vestnesis" from magazine "England", radio "Briva Eiropa"(Free Europe) and materials provided by S.Jansone - representative of Environmental department at Environmental Protection Club.
1996 Model of Nature Folk High School. Master's paper has been worked out in the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology at the University of Latvia. Chapters of the paper: Nature Folk High School - within the system of education and adult education. Scientific theoretical justification for Nature Folk High School. Purpose, contents, organization and methods of Nature Folk High School. Folk High Schools as an Element of "the Third Way". Summary of practical research results: Murmuiza Folk University (Latvia) and Workers' Academy (Työväen Akatemia) (Finland)- comparative survey with conclusions. Why Ilgas is suitable for organization of a nature folk high School. Article about the unique nature territory - Ilgas in Skruduliena pagasts, Daugavpils region, within social politic context. The article stresses the necessity to investigate the unique flora and fauna of Ilgas, as well as the influence of Ignalina APP. For additional information see also the article "Nature paradise in Ilgas", by M.Grinberga, in the newspaper Diena, December 6, 1996, page 9.
1997 Denmark today - my vision of Denmark. On national identity of Danes and Latvians. Concise analytic summary of my conclusions made during studies in Aarhus University, Denmark. First published in 20 continuations under the title "Golden horseshoe above my door" in Valmiera regional newspaper "Liesma" in the winter of 1998. The Greening of Latvia. On Enlightenment of Latvians - Awakening and Scandinavian Folk High School as the main element of this process. Chapters of this article are: Latvia's future in the 21st century as I see it in the context with the Nordic countries. The independence for Latvia did not drop from the skies - such things are not presented. What distress have we inherited from the soviet regime? Without cleaning itself from the rubbish of Soviet times Latvia does not correspond to the basic life values of the Nordic countries and cannot join the European Union and NATO. Latvia in the 21st century is oriented towards the Nordic region - folk high schools as one of the mental orientators. Ignalina Atomic Power Plant (IAPP) Problem and its Solutions. Embodiment of the Green Alternative. Analytic article that provides 6 alternative ways of obtaining electric power rather than atomic power. Chapters of the article: APPs worl-wide are neither clean nor safe nor inexpensive. "Green" alternative projects have to be financed. Not to generate more energy but to consume it cleverer. On the cellulose plant construction problem. Analytic article containing 5 arguments "against" this project. Incommensurate cutting of Latvian forests and moral ethic aspects of society within this context. Chapters: World scale problems in Latvia. Why is the forest cutting so wild? NO! to the cellulose plant. We need the forest ministry. Butinge oil terminal - ecologically, economically and politically groundless project for the Baltic Sea region. 6 arguments "against" this terminal. Chapters of the article: Ecological threat to Kurzeme seashore. The only policy of the "greens" - clean sea. We should think globally.
1998 Green Light to the Danish "Folkeh¸jskole" in Latvia. History of Danish Folk High schools within the context of Latvia. The article contains the following chapters: Danish Folk High Schools and N.F.S. Grundtvig's FHS education approaches. Folk High School as a component of the "third way". Way to people's education. Opinion of Danish professors about the establishment of FHS in Latvia. Funding to Folk High Schools (FHS). Some Thoughts and Remarks about Danish and Latvian Issues. An article about ways to strengthen positive nationalism and favourable political atmosphere between the Danes and Latvians. The article contains the following chapters: Danes in my point of view. Copenhagen manifesto'85. Unwillingness, inability or deliberate betrayal? Absurd situation has arisen. Meeting with N.I.Nehring. Meeting with H.Christophersen. Negotiation with L.Friis. Meeting with G.R.Olsen. Denmark and Latvia as Northern regions. Analytic evaluation of socio-political environment of Denmark in spring of 1998 from the Latvian's point of view. What is the so-called "open information systems"? Which of the political and economic levers "keep us together" daily? The basis of this analytical article is 5 e-mails that have been sent to Latvijas Radio and 8 letters to the newspaper "Diena" evaluating socio-political environment of Denmark of that time. About Latvian and Northwards oriented Latvia. Comparative survey - history of Folk High Schools in Latvia and Denmark. Chapters of the article: Inhereted rubbish from Soviet system. What is Latvian national movement? Free School of N.F.S.Grundtvig (Denmark). Will the ideas of Danish Folk High School reach Latvia? Mental freedom of people - listening to each other's conscience. Latvia and the EU - Latvia and Europe. Analytic article with 6 arguments why it is necessary for Latvia to be within the EU. A statement that united Europe is impossible without the Baltic states and that it would do no harm to Latvia to stress more its belonging to Scandinavia: Estonians have expresses openly the thought that their country belongs to Scandinavian states and we have not heard that somebody from aside has advised this idea to them or denied it.
1999 Latvia is the country of Latvians and Liivs. View of ethnic identity in the Latvian youth congress in Riga. Will it be possible in future to fulfil the hope of those social democrats that was formulated by Latvian Social Democratic Workers' party in Stockholm in the programme of 1970? About the positive nationalism and 'national mankurtism' - sickness that should be 'got through'. The national in Latvia and November 18 - 21st century. Analytic article on 43 pages (in Latvian) about the ways towards Latvian dominated Latvia and Latvian education in 21st century. Six definite tasks are proposed to carry out in order to get closer to the ideals of Latvia founded on November 18, 1918. The work includes 5 definite arguments why history of Latvia should be taught as a separate subject and from the books written by Latvian national patriots historians Dr Uldis Germanis and A.Balodis. The article about the positive Latvian nationalism on the turn of the 21st century within the context of both my native town Valmiera and Latvia, as well as the Baltics and the world. Memorandum of Latvian youth. About 'functioning democracy' and Latvian school as its basis. Analytic review about the "actual moment" in the educational system of Latvia - from the position of Latvian youth. The article provides 4 tasks to fulfil: to establish Latvian Folk High School, Teachers' Institute of Latvia, prepare methodological resources for teachers of history of Latvia, organize publishing houses that would publish study books for history of Latvia. We and Independent Latvian state. What have been our national strivings to renew independent Latvia? Dual interpretation of Article 6 of the Declaration of Independence from May 4, 1990. Evaluation of state independence of Latvia, taking as a basis the statehood of Latvia founded on November 18, 1918. Statehood of Latvia - within the aspect of current Latvian ethnical identity and formation of Latvia as welfare state. We should not enter 21st century with war. About the war in Kosowo and violence caused by war from moral ethic point of view. Chapters: yougoslavism - fear from future? Latvia - a positive sample to P. Miloshevich. Crimes against humanity have no lapse. Mood in Latvia is similar to mood in Germany. On the way to the green altruism. Eight ways to solve the Kosowo crisis. The greens - the only hope for Latvia in the 21st century. History of Green Movement in Latvia - within the context of third Awakening as national movement of Latvia. Chapters of the article: How to achieve harmony and balance? Care for environment and mentality. Economic interest. Myth "anyway we cannot change anything". The unique laws of thermodynamics. The greens - the only hope for Latvia in the 21st century.
2000 System of Latvian values in education in the 21st century. Analysis regarding national and Christian values system in Latvian education, by stressing 7 main guidelines in the national - Latvian value system. The essence of Latvian democracy and Latvian school. The truth of Latvians - the third way? Analytic view of social politic concept of third way from four aspects: economics, independent Latvia, language and humanism, "the actual moment" within the Latvian educational system on the way to Latvia as national and welfare state. History as component of today's perception. On necessity to be aware of the national history. About pedagogic methodologies to be used at school to achieve deeper awareness of own historical roots and four socio-political factors this depends on. What is the borderline between historical events of the past and today's conscience when evaluating nation's history?
P.S. All the abovementioned articles can be accessed and read also as electronic files. In case you have interest, I will kindly provide you with the copy of an article chosen by you - but when cited, please indicate the
source.
STARPTAUTISKAS STIPENDIJAS
Danu demokratijas fonds
http://www.demokratifonden.dk
Pasaules Dabas fonds WWF
http://www.wwf.org
http://www.wwf.dk
Ziemelu Ministru padome
http://www.norden.org
Zviedru Instituts
http://www.si.se
Danu Izglitibas ministrija
http://www.uvm.dk
Latviesu fonds
http://www.latviesufonds.org
Eiropas Pieauguso Izglitibas asociacija
http://www.eaea.org
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
Eiropas Pieauguso izglitibas asociacija
http://www.eaea.org
Baltijas Studijas AABS
http://www.balticstudies-aabs.lanet.lv/
Amerikas Izglitibas asociacija
http://aera.net
Britu Izglitibas asociacija
http://bera.ac.uk
Latvijas Izglitibas biedriba
Jekabpils 19 a, Riga LV 10 03
tel. 7212766
Latvijas skolotaju Savieniba
A.Caka 32, Riga, LV-1011
tel. 7 283 207
Latvijas Zinatnieku Savieniba
http://www.lza.lv
Studentu korporacija Austrums
http://www.austrums.lv
PARTICIPATION IN PARTIES AND GRASS ROOTS MOVEMENT
Tevzemei un Brivibai LNNK
http://www.tb.lv/
Latvijas Zala partija
Kalnciema 30
Riga, LV- 1046
tel. 7614 272
Socialdemokratu partika Stokholma
http://www.briviba.org
Vides Aizardzibas klubs
http://www.vak.lv
Klubs 415
http://klubs415.x-i.net/
Daugavas Vanagi
http://home.mira.net/~vanagi/
http://home.parks.lv/dvcv
http://www.daugavasvanagi.org
Andreja Eglisa Latviesu Nacionalais fonds LNF
Parstavnieciba Stokholma 10122. Box 108, Sweden
Parstavnieciba Riga O.Leitane, p.n. Babite, Sila iela 1-2, LV-2101,
Dz.Liepina, Strukturas iela 10-4, Riga LV-1039
Correspondence:
Sandis Reinvalds
13 Beates Street, flat 33
Valmiera, LV 4201
LATVIA
Telephone: (+371) 42 25 494
E-mail me at sandisreinvalds@hotmail.com
July 11, 2000