On Saturday, February 9, 2008, forty-three people gathered at the KPM Institute to hear an overview of the objectives and strategies of the KPM Network for Educational Resources.  The Network includes: Atma Vidya Educational Foundation in India, KPM Education in France, and KPM Institute in the US.   

The meeting was introduced by Law Watkins, Chairman of the Board of KPM Institute, with the comment that, “For the last four months, members of these organizations have been meeting to discuss the Network as a whole.  We entered these conversations as a network of organizations.  We emerged as the KPM Network of Educational Resources, reflecting what we can offer to others around us.  We began as organizations with closely related but somewhat different purposes and areas of interest.  We emerged with one purpose and one strategy.”

Law then handed the meeting over to Torran Anderson, Outreach Director, KPM Institute.  Torran voiced the basic statements developed by the Network:
“Education based on the fundamental dignity of the individual can change the world."

Torran spoke of educational principles harmonious with the KPM Approach to Children.  He emphasized the importance of making education based on these principles available to children: “The KPM Network of Educational Resources provides a proven model and support for those committed to action in realizing this kind of education.”

Pattye Henderson, Director, Sri Atmananda Memorial School, Austin, then discussed these educational principles in action in the school.  These principles are: children are natural learners; the child learns in an integrated way; every child learns and develops in his or her own way; relationship is the foundation for development.  Pattye observed that children “do not separate who they are from what happens to them.  Some schools teach subjects in isolation from one another.  That is often why children do not understand connections.  If they learn in an integrated manner, then everything has relevance to everything else.”

Sheridan Wilson, General Secretary of Atma Vidya Educational Foundation, reviewed the resources of the KPM Network which includes three organizations, two schools, over six hundred network members, and a considerable base of knowledge of expertise.  She began her remarks by asking, “If somebody asked you why you went to today’s meeting you can say that everyone here believes that in order for children to be successful adults they need to be treated better by adults when they are young children.”

Torran concluded the presentation by speaking of how we all fit into the picture that had just been outlined.  “We are all part of the Network,” he said.  He announced an orientation meeting on April 2nd, “This meeting will be the beginning of a new way of working together as members of the Network.  What is new is that each of us will have the full backing of the Network and its resources behind us.”  The meeting will familiarize each of us with speaking about the Network and its resources.  The twenty minute presentation was followed by a lively hour of discussion in which participants explored what this new way of working meant for each of them.