Gil Parker
A UNIQUE VILLAGE: Pearson College of the Pacific—March 2000
If you knew of a village where people from 83 nations lived, where the underlying philosophy was goodwill and peace among nations, you'd probably think that was some kind of artificial idealism in a far away place. If you knew that the village was a utopian community that had lasted 25 years, you'd be even more skeptical. But that village does exist, only 20 kilometres from Victoria, and it is called the Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific
There are actually ten of these villages worldwide, all part of the United World Colleges group whose philosophy is "the promotion of world peace and understanding through international education." The citizens of these villages are students learning to be leaders in the world of tomorrow and their faculty, the people who have bought into the dream.
One of these is Stuart Walker, newly arrived Director, who comes from Australia, where he worked in two other schools in somewhat similar geographies. He knows that, in spite of the community support of sponsors and host families in Victoria, a major part of his work will be in publicizing the College and its programs. He is committed to the ideal of international understanding; he believes that students learn leadership when given challenging activities.
Pearson College provides education to an International Baccalaureate level, or an entry to almost any university in the world. This is a bonus for many of the students, some of whom come from countries that may not have even one university in their home nation. Walker is impressed by the students, who range in age from 16 to 19. "I've never seen a group like this gathered together. They are bright!"
But the programs involve much more than the academic. Walker wants to see more emphasis on service activities, tasks that bring the students to learn more through doing. "Humanitarian Service" in the community has always been a part of Pearson College life. Helping with the elderly, or taking handicapped children swimming or kayaking can be more difficult than purely physical tasks. "Village Service" means caring for the buildings that house the villagers and maintaining the unique site above the waters of Pedder Bay. "Active Citizenship" is a program started in the tenure of previous director, Peter Bavinton, to show students how to understand and actually influence events in the world.
But it is the "Outdoor Leadership," particularly the "Wilderness Program" that is nearest to Walker's heart. "Sitting on top of the mountain watching a sunset-they've had the whole day out in this fantastic environment--that's when learning takes place…" says Walker, who wants the student expeditions to be longer and less structured, "giving the students the ability to create their own possibilities."
Even the academic options are exceptional at the College. Teacher Jean Godin guides students in the study of physics and is in charge of the on-site astronomical observatory (available also to community groups.) Students take their knowledge, and mobile telescopes, to area schools, so that they can share what they have discovered. The observatory is a popular facet of the College; students often use a digitized camera (charge-coupled device) to capture events such as the Hale-Bopp comet.
Garry Fletcher teaches biology and environmental systems, especially via the Marine Education Centre at the Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. An extension of the "Coastwatch" program that includes stream enhancement, sailing, kayaking, beach clean-up and environmental mapping, the Race Rocks initiative will eventually feature continuous video camera footage flashed to a receiver at the College, allowing students to experience a complete functioning marine ecological system.
Pictures of these activities (and others) are up on the College Internet web site at www.pearson-College.uwc.ca [now www.pearsoncollege.ca], a site built and maintained mainly by students. There you can find data on academic programs and other activities, including an excellent history of the Race Rocks lighthouse from 1860 until today. A future web site will be developed at www.racerocks.com [now operational].
How do the 200 plus young people all get together in this village? Over 150 of them come from 83 countries from Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas to join 50 Canadians from every province and territory. Most come on scholarship, so their participation is not dependent on family wealth. The annual cost of $25,000 per student covers faculty, administration and, since this is a live-in College, food and accommodation in one of five dormitories. Most students are supported by 90 endowed scholarships, created by individuals and organizations (for example, the Ukrainian community, or Zonta, a business women service club), and totalling about $30 million. The rest of the scholarships come from funds raised annually, or from committees located in countries where the students live. Victoria's twin city groups, such as the Victoria Khabarovsk (Russia) Association, help provide personal support and airfare financing for visiting students.
Victorians can share in the life of this unique village. Hundreds have enjoyed "One World," a gala of dance and song performed in Victoria by Pearson College students every year. Many programs at the College, the "National Days" among them, are open to the public and are well attended. Victorians provide homes away from home, too. Pierre and Elizabeth Beguin have been a host family for students for ten years, hosting girls from Japan, Venezuela and Papua/New Guinea. They would have liked more contact with these "bright, so mature" students, but the College programs are so intensive that time often is not available. Pamela Ellis, another long-time host, still keeps in touch with five alumni. "It's a wonderful idea," says Pamela, "but some go back [to their home countries;] others do not. There needs to be a roster, a follow-up."
Local organizations are increasingly using the facilities at the village site. The Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts holds a residential session in July. Marine biology and environmental science groups do field work there. Summer language programs teach English (E.S.L.) on site. And the College itself runs the Seminar on Youth Leadership, where young people can interact with some of the College students to develop their ability to communicate in environment and global issues.
Every five years the United World Colleges from around the world hold an International Council meeting. From March 10 to 12, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Pearson College, a conference will be held in Victoria, with leading experts in economics, environment, ethics and education. Not surprisingly, the theme is, "Visions of Peace for the 21st Century."
When Lester B. Pearson first discovered the United World College in Wales, he knew it was an idea for the future of the world. Though he died in 1972 before his dream could be realized, the project was completed and students were accepted, starting in 1974. A village may be defined as "a small group of dwellings in a rural area," or as "the inhabitants of a village; villagers." Pearson would be pleased that now we have both. Victoria's international village will eventually help us to create a global village.
