Thursday, January 14, 2016

The Needed Curriculum that integrates all learning Models

786 - ICRA Comprehensive School –  Motivate, Integrate, Accelerate the Learning Culture – HLL Purpose-Matrix of Resources & Content for All Time & All Grades
·         HLL– Time Frame – All Subject Curricula Resource Presentations  must be completed before the June Examinations of each year- God Willing.
HLL Foci ,
Activity areas & CAPS Subjects
Conservation

Survival
Clarity
Profitability
Accuracy
Functionality
Holism
Outcomes
Nature
Life Science
Resource Care
Biodiversity

Communities
DNA

Research
Systems
Tourism
Exchange
Balance
Selection
Raw Materials
Reproduction
Innovation
Environment
·         Scientific enquiry
·         Problem Solving  
·         Environmental Sensitivity
People
Life Orientation
History
Beliefs
Social Skills
Nationalism
Family
Self-development
Resistance

Contact
Human Rights
Wars

Skills
Careers
Capitalism/
Communism
Respect
Ethics
Protests
Development
Opportunities
Unions
Growth
Relationships
End Cold War
Democracy
Global World Order
·         Personal well-being
·         Recreation
·         Careers
·         Enquiry
·         Sustainability
Languages
English &
Afrikaans
Literature
Reading
Lees
Dialects
Drama
Arts
Grammar
Taal
Diplomacy
Publications
Meaning
Plan
Courtesy
Presentations
Understanding
Review
Hersiening
·         Review
·         Analyse
·         Communicate
Trade
Economics
Tourism
Accounting
Markets
Systems
Sectors
Accounting Equation
Freedom
Cycles
Sustainability
Ethics
Accounts
Growth
Communication
Final
Accounts
Investments
Dynamics
Foreign Exchange
Budgeting
Jobs
Labour
Care
Cost Accounting

Transactions
Interventions
Mapping
Bookkeeping
Survival
Development
Attractions
Indigenous 
Systems
·         Impact Study
·         Wealth Creation
·         Human Development
Calculations
Mathematics
Physics
Equations
Patterns
Systems (Mech & Chem)
Applicability
Geometry Calculus, Change
Reason
Functions
Equations
Budget
Finance
Matter,Wave
Relation
Trigs; Stats
Units
Ease
Probability
Electricity, Magnetism
Conservation
Algebra
Materials
·         Measurement
·         Relationships
·         Enhancement
Construction
Assignments & Projects
Skills

Engineers

Plan

Versatility
Beauty
Aesthetics
Safety
·         Dexterity
·         Relevance
·         Creativity
Micro- & Telescopic
Investigations
instruments
Interest
Observation
Properties
Recording
Potentialities
Possibilities
·         Observation
·         Research
·         Innovation
CAPS Assessment Guidelines and HLL Assessment levels Gr1-5 (Preparatory) Gr6-9(Comparative) Gr 10-12(Analytical) shall test students’  progress and needs – God Willing
·         HLL – Holistic Leisure Learning  - Holistic Integration of HLL Activity Areas -Nature encompasses People, People need Languages, Trade is business language, Calculations is necessary for trade, Construction is a result of calculations, and everything in the Micro-and Telescopic Universes are constructed

·         Any institutional subject/ skills development can be integrated into the above HLL-Content Matrix – by God’s Grace. HLL finds its origin in The Holy Qur’an.

Friday, January 1, 2016

In Memory of Zakieeyah Arnold (1986-2006)

We found this hand-written piece of reflection in my daughter Zakiieyah's Visual Diary a day after she had passed away ( She actually received her final results that same day after she passed away - and she had distinctions )- she had just completed her 3rd year in Graphic Design at Stellenbosche University. She died on 26 November 2006.

The paper we found was as if she was counselling us from the grave. -may Allah SWT Grant her a High place in Jannah - in shaa Allah and may these words of her be an inspiration to many in shaa Allah. A close friend of her became Muslim 7 years after her death - and came to say her Kalima in our home - saying to us that she found inspiration by having known Zakieeyah and hence wants to accept Islam in the home Zakieeyah lived.

These were her words:

" Logically there is a peace in Islam, which lives in air, hearts and moves us when we hear The Words  of our Lord, Whom we love more than anything or anyone in this world.

Our breath is what allows us to live, to love, to hate, to be. Our breath is not our own. We cannot command it, as we cannot will our hearts to beat if it may cease to do so. Our minds are not our own, nor our thoughts. We are products of those around us. We do not create, we imitate and re-interpret. Nothing we do is original. We cannot make air or water or force life into rock, which has no order to breathe. We exist in the realm of ultimate dependence. Every breath we take is by The Grace of God - A Power from which all love, all creations, all beauty that is in this world comes from; A Power from Whom all knowledge stems. These very words are incapable of expressing the vastness of such an Almighty Force. He is closer to us than our jugular vein. We are slaves of His Will and followers of His Message. Our lives are lived to serve and learn. IQRA, read, the First Word Revealed to us from The Almighty - Read, Question, Understand. Learn about His world, The Beauty, The Science and those whom He has Chosen to bring His Message. We must follow. The Truth is The Only Reality: The Truth of One God, and The Religion of Islam. There is no separation between Islam and Spirituality - Islam is Spirituality and Spirituality is Islam.

Sleep is pleasant death - one which comes as quietly and forcefully as the sun. Sleep in which I dream is my sweet death. The life , which we live forever in different forms, becomes quiet and solemn when sleep blankets our eyes,. Our consciousness, which rules our minds in the day, steps aside for our sweet deaths.

We only die once

We only die once and live forever

We only die once, but live forever

Death is an awakening to the Reality that is Truth.
Truth is the Certainty of God - All Knowing, All Powerful.
Truth is or Obedience.

Alghamdu Lillaa-hi Rob-bil 'aa0la-meen
(Praise be to Allah, The Lord, Sustainer of all the universes)

Please - never forget to pray for her - that Allah SWT will raise her in Stations upon Stations in paradise in the life hereafter in the close proximity of our Loving GOD, Allah SWT (Most Exalted) and may we be united with Him and her in the hereafter - in shaa Allah - aameen.

She is in the constant memory of her parents and sisters  - in shaa Allah
We will always love her and we shall miss her and we ask Allah SWT to ease our pain in our hearts - and grant us patients and contentment  - in shaa Allah

P.S. I home schooled my children on the Holistic Leisure Learning method. The day after she passed away a friend of her told us that she loved her home schooling - this was my inspiration to reopen the school on a bigger scale - in memory of her - the school children and I pray for her everyday at ICRA Comprehensive School in Bo-Kaap cape Town. Pray for us that Allah SWT make all our children from our school successful in this life and in the hereafter - in shaa Allah - Aameen.


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Awareness by M.F.Arnold

786
Awareness by M.F.Arnold

Critical Skills, without interconnected Value,
Is like isolating ingredients, but Missing the Meal.
Duality, without Complimentary Necessity,
Is like a Mother and Father forgetting their Parenthood.

Science & Maths, as separate subjects,
Denies their Interdependent Processes.

Multiplicity is Unity
And Unity Creates Multiplicity.
This Awareness Builds Communities,
Through Individual Consciousness
of Divine Connection,
Who Grants Personal Growth & Social Benefit.

Schools have longed to individualise, to create
Competitive animals for cut-throat profit drivers,
To serve rich manipulators.
The market Crash in 2008/9,
Demolished "It is all mine !"
Ushers in the Need for The Divine.

Charity came to Save
the Chaotic Waves.

Research now proves Divine Order.
Submission, Attains Permission,
Refuting Evolution
and Establish the Ever-Present Revolution:
"all for One and One for all".

The Prophets, be Blessed,
who long taught how to Assess
The Value of True Success.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

The Value of Faith

In the day of open communication and extremist behaviours, personally confused readers and listeners are swept away from faith while sincere seekers enter the faith of Islam. Evils are veils to truth for the ungrateful egotist and openings to the grateful seeker of goodness. There has always been a time when enemies of God try to discredit Him - at the time of the prophets and up until today and it will be so in the future. This is understandable, because the ego of mankind will always exist and that must go through stages of questioning and arrival. 

Good intentions are the key to truth. Evil intentions naturally lead to confusion and evil actions whatever the sources of learning may be. When so-called liberalists and secularists try to discredit a faith on the basis of the evildoers it is obvious that they were looking for a reason to excite their inner agitation to be a disbeliever/ ungrateful human to God. Any human who refuses to believe in God as his/her Creator is obviously oblivious to his existence as a human body, as a creation that does not operate by its own will, but through the Grace of God.The "involuntary" God-given functions of all his/her organs including his/her brain (he/she wishes to use) to refute its Creator, are marvels of God's Mercy. The human body and the universes existence are the proofs of the existence of A Supreme Power that regulates and moves each atom. The simplest question - where do "I" come from and where do each predecessors come from, will naturally lead to the Origin being from One who is Infinite, Uncreated, All Powerful and All Present. 

The actions of evil-doers are fuelled by ungrateful, egotistical self-absorption, which stems from critical thinking, which has its origins in mistrust and doubt. For a believer he/she starts from a position of faith, sincerity, certainty and learns to integrate all existence into an holistic appreciation of goodness and thus increasing in faith in God. The disbeliever's time is spent trying to convince himself/herself that he/she is right to disbelieve and in the process alienates himself/herself from the people and world around him/her while secretly feeling the agitation of inner faith which he/she is trying to quell. This results is an accumulation of dissatisfaction and disharmony that translates into self-delusion - deaf, dumb and blind to any form of truth - a kind of empty peace with no-one to thank except him/herself for being arrogant. To the believer, he /she basks in certainty, which translate into discovering of new arena's of amazement and extended feelings of gratefulness and appreciation for The Creator. His/her world expands into multidimensional universes of experiences that leaves him/her in awe and wonder of the Magnificence of the Creator's bounties. His/her life is filled with nearness to worthy people who are quietly enjoying every moment and not spending his/her time arguing with people about his/her personal view, but rather joining with people of certainty that enhances the value of goodness and creating harmonies through which all can benefit.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Comparing HLL with Conventional Schooling

Comparing HLL (Holistic Leisure Learning) and Conventional School Systems
Core Issues
Holistic Leisure Learning
Known/Possible effects
Conventional Schooling
Known/Possible Effects
Central Focus
Holistic Student Development via integration of subjects and grades in open interconnected spaces
Sees the value of self, others and subjects in broader holistic integrated context, seeing the value of young and old developing a sense of extended family values
Capitalistic Career driven via
Fractionalisation subjects, peer groupings
 Individualistic competitiveness within  group mentality creating the basis for bullying and gangsterism
Position of the child
Child Central with regard to personal interests, talent, skills, knowledge and choice
Positive self-esteem and  self-image and value of others’ talents
Grade and prescriptive subject curriculum central
child’s personal interests, talents, skills, knowledge oppressed – only academic skills determine pass – loss of self-esteem – increase aggression /inhibitions/ disengagement
Content
Integrated matrix that give value to continuous learning
Holistic value of all subjects
 Subjects  fractionalised into periods and lessons and the holistic value and no integration with other subjects
Students and teachers lack knowledge of the holistic integrative value of all subjects
Learning exposures
Resource driven – summarised posters and videos covering months and years of work in one day exposures, student free to engage with the resources and teaching is on demand when students have difficulty.
Each child gets personal attention. Flash-drive lessons and cell-phone pictures and recording are constant references

Self-motivated student that takes responsibility for his/her learning and developing a confidence in approaching others and trust in being assisted when needed. Reading and critical skills develop through interaction with resources, performs well due repetition of the whole through the year.
Supply Teaching –centred through fractionalised lesson presentations that stretch small amounts of unrelated knowledge over a 10 month period – often teachers do not complete the syllabus leaving the rest for homework. Even technology use is restricted to period availability and teacher skills. Child fades away in the group. No personal attention. Class group dynamics
Students become dependent on teachers, losing their self-motivation, forgetting basic knowledge over the long stretched-out periods thus not being able to perform well at the end of the year when all the knowledge is tested. Learner reading and critical skills are lacking because teachers drive the process. Student become a passive learner with no confidence to ask questions
Time
Needed state Curriculum completed in 3 months. Flash-drive lessons available for student’s interventions 24/7
Allows research. Time available for students’ personal interest development as part of student’s contribution to school content. Students become personally motivated to strive.
Curriculum needs take 12 months.
Students no opportunity to follow personal research to add to the content of the school. Frustration sets in
Home-work
None.
 Freedom to study, explore
Over-supply.
Little time to study/explore
Spirituality
Holistically integrated
Personal transformations
No discipline problems
None
Spiritual deterioration, school crime increases


Sunday, September 20, 2015

Understanding The Structural Problems in Education, Unemployment & Health

786
Understanding The Structural Problems in Education, Unemployment & Health by M.F.Arnold
Formal Education (secular & religious) is primarily seen as a must for progress, yet many people, including the Prophet (Pbuh), had no formal education. He could not read or write. He was as pure as when his mother gave birth to him (Um-mee-yuun). Thus, he was absolutely pure in thought and action, because he was unadulterated - uncontaminated by outside influence and indoctrination. He observed life and appealed to the Greatest Truth, Allah SWT, for Guidance and he received it for humanity. With the Support of God, he acted fearlessly and courteously and Arabia was transformed from a barbaric existence to the seat of enlightenment.

It is understandable that every effort will be made by people without faith in God to try and influence people to believe in human systems and constructs to survive. Their systems and constructs create fears in people to give of their assets to them for securities. If fears come from satan, then anyone who succumbs to fears will become a disciple of satan, because he/she will promote belief in fear and lose the strength of positivity, which is faith in God, Almighty, as Provider, Protector and Powerful.

To create fear, they create systems and constructs that break down the self-worth of people:
1.       Standardise all through “education” and give no credit for talent and informal learning
2.       Group the masses so that competition can thrive and cut-throat tactics can be employed
3.       Create hierarchies that create red-tape that saps the energies of people in education, business & religion
4.       Give titles (academic achievements) to instill in people obedience in hierarchies
5.       Control people through consistent monitoring by the management staff of hierarchies
6.       Sponsor aggressive team sport that foster group mentality and competitive natures that builds hostilities to divide people
7.       Create policies for external assessments – with curricula drafted by the enfranchised - to drive acceptance to conformity through fractionalisation of knowledge that drags out content to frustrate students and ensures a lack of self-worth in individuals, controls the job-market and creates a pool of unemployed to ensure exploitive wage offers – modern slavery.

These kinds of systems and constructs (the status quo) create structural educational dilemmas, unemployment, crime and illness (of those who feel the manipulation but lack the skills and support to make qualitative changes). When one understands the origin of social and medical problems due to all the stresses created by human constructs, one sympathises with the victims of social, intellectual, economic, cultural and religious abuse. Abuse is a result of fear and control mechanisms that feed on the lower ego of man that wants to be in charge and control others. That is why slaves often became slave-owners and the abused often become the abusers. Fear sells products of “security” –interest-related loans, insurance, credit, education accreditations, burials, products and services appeals to lower-self fears. This creates attachment to materialism which translates into different forms of arrogance as a camouflage for inner insecurities. – This makes people aggressive and oppressive towards one another and forgetful of The Divine Presence and Grace.

When people realise that what they possess is divinely entrusted to them to be shared (only 2.5% per year on savings) to support others, they will act differently. The will help each other achieve success without fear of losing position or safety, because they know God Cares for all. These simple Qur’anic Guidelines free all to respect each other and progress together. There is no better feeling in life than to know you have helped someone reach his/her dream. This is how each one becomes Blessed and feels valued from within and then need no false securities or tricked accolades. Crime and exploitation will cease to exist in a supportive community and health will improve- In shaa Allah Aameen – because no-one will live to impress another or be in fear of being alone/ abused, because they experience genuine communal support (Ma’ruuf).


The young cyber success bosses, without hierarchical university degrees, and the gifted children who give scholarly lectures in Qur’an are the Divine Signs against hierarchy and human constructs. Let’s value each other, to ensure our own and the community’s success – in shaa Allah – Aameen – It is possible – Make a niyyah (sincere intention) and Allah SWT (God) Will Make it happen. Let’s entrust our work with Allah SWT.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

The Mathematical Equation of Faith


The Mathematical Equation of Faith and Trust [Imaan] - 

by: Mogamat Faadiel Arnold - PTD III, B.A. PhD[HC] - Bo-Kaap Cape Town

 I = C.P.A.W.F.T = CTh = G = Gh = IP = S =1

I - Islamic Faith (may also refer to the self-"I" in search of Guidance through - I=Imaan)

C - Contemplation/ Reflection on the value of things, persons, situations and occurrences  (Ta-fak-kur) as the Marvels of Allah (SWT)

P - Piety - staying away from all forms of Evil, because it is a hinderance

A- Adab (courtesy towards Allah SWT, His Creations,which include mankind)

W - Work - sincere application of knowledge and skills to transform self and all environs - inner and outer

T = to Trust in only Allah SWT as Provider, Protector, Powerful Lord and Sustainer

F = Requesting Forgiveness in admission of imperfections

CTh - constant Thikr (Remembrance of The Creator, Allah SWT every moment

G = Gratitude for every moment, opportunity, Gift, creation, life, honour and faithfulness

Gh - Allah SWT Grants Ghikma (Wisdom) to the seeker for His Countenance/ Divine Presence (Wajh)

IP - Inner Peace = security in faith in God's Ever Presence, Help, Wisdom, Protection & Support ( thus absence of Fear of anything/ any one/ any situation - with secure consciousness of Allah (SWT)'s Nearness - and carefulness not to sin.

S - Success in this world and the Next, due to Nearness and Experience of the Presence of Allah SWT at all times - thus free from worldly attachments/ meaning to strive for worldly positions/ riches while forgetting Allah SWT (instead of appreciating the worldly Gifts from Allah SWT as Signs which reminds us of HIM and to be constantly grateful to Him for Granting us the Rizq (Gifts)) - this state of freedom from all forms of material enslavement, is thus total Freedom ( those who do not fear nor do they grieve - the Friends of Allah SWT - who are granted miracles - traversing the earth, skies, walking on water, the universe feeding them - The Perfect Human example Allah SWT has Sent us in the personality and practice of Nabie Mughammad SAW - the Is-raa (from Makka to Jerusalem) & the Mi'raaj (from Dome of the Rock through the seven heavens - Alghamdu-lilla-hi Rob-bil-'as-la-meen )- from an orphan to the leader of Arabia). Nothing can stand in the way of the Ibaad (sincere worker for Allah (SWT))

1 (One) = being in Unison with the Creator (Where the Ibaad (the adorer and worker for Allah SWT's wishes becomes The Wishes of Allah SWT, and Allah SWT does not hesitate to Grant him his/her requests and Grants him/her true vision, word and actions)- The Equation's answer is = The One and Only God - Allah SWT - Who encompasses  all creations which reflect His 99 Divine Attributes - of which the human has all the 99 Attributes of God potentially in the self - waiting to be actualised. Its actualisation is the application of the Equation above - in shaa Allah, May Allah SWT Grant us the Strength and Wisdom to traverse the Path of the Equation of Faith.

The DOTS between the letters represent Multiplication = The constant improvement of the application of the inter-related, holistic improved application of the equation creates a multiplier effect on the soul that allows it to connect with the Pure Frequencies of The Spirit Ruugh within, which allows the person to holistically transcend time and space and in this way Allah SWT Reveals various Divine Secrets to the traveller towards the inner Truth which Allah SWT has Granted all of us in His Love and Mercy for His Creations - and the Recital, Reading and Reflection of Qur'an - The ONE Resource as the Guidance to humanity to start the Process to Success in this World and The Next - in shaa Allah Aameen.

The above constitutes the Road to the Lord of Power, which allows the individual to be the representative/ vicegerent of God. Such Friends of God traverse the earth with or without vehicles, will be able to walk on water or fly through the sky at the Will of The Creator's Wish, because the Adorer of God (IBAAD) will then reflect his/her divinity inherent in the human to transcend even gravity and other natural laws that restrict those forgetful and ungrateful ones. When the seeker of God's Presence acts, he truly lives the Moment of Divine Power which overpowers everyone and everything with Peace, Harmony and Reverence.

The above equation gives sense to all acts of worship and existence and removes many doubts and allows a greater focus on our purpose in life. The Equation gives direction towards success in a short but absolutely profound way - One Ayah of the Qur'an Can lead us there -
Q54:49
Verily We have Created Everything with/by/in Qadr [measure, number, proportion, ratio, strength, power... etc]
Alghadu Lillahi Robbil'aala-meen.

The Above was inspired by the book of Ibn Al-Arabi - Journey to The Lord of Power, The Qur'an, Aghaadieeth, my personal reflections on the features of the book and some poignant questions from our (ICRA Comprehensive School (ICS)) Grade 10 students at our school, on delivering the lesson to all on the "Mathematical Equation of Faith". I am truly humbled by what Allah SWT has Granted me and the children of ICRA at such a crucial time of many core world changes that have shaken humanity. I have hence, based on this Holistic Knowledge Written One Textbook for All grades that unites all subjects in a reflective way entitled Holistic Curriculum-related Reflections- Alghamdu lillaah -  May Allah SWT continue Guiding us to Him - in shaa Allah.

In activating this Mathematical Equation of Faith over and over one is able to experience higher and higher orbitals/ levels of consciousness that draws us nearer and nearer to experiencing the Presence/Face of God - these are the people for whom God Becomes their, Eyes, Ears, Month that Speaks, Hand that touches, Foot that Walks and for whom Allah SWT Grants all their wishes and If they Ask Allah SWT for His Protection, God will not Hesitate to Grant it to them - as He hesitates to take their Soul at the appointed Death for He does not want to disappoint them - WOW - Hadeeth 508/9 Shagheegh Bukhari Vol 8. Ghadeeth Qudsi. We are so fortunate to be Believers in God, to an extent that the disbeliever is envious of of Divine Connection and their own inability to transcend to theses levels of experience due to their own barriers of arrogance and self-glory they are trapped in - but as believers we must still pray that God Guides them - in shaa Allah - but know that to Pray to Him for others is part of our true faith. 

Wal-laa-hoe ta-'aa-laa "a-lam

and Allah SWT Knows Best