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VI.
Identity and Environment
The way in which we organize, interact, and live our environment, represents who we are and
what we value. In the VESS model, the environment we create and experience is paramount to
everything that takes place in the institution and to all the agents that interact in it.
The identity of an institution is built from the interaction between the environment and the
agents living in it. The environment emphasizes the culture and the relationships between all the
players. It represents the values, issues, dynamics and objectives of the institution. The VESS
Model is strongly inspired by the infancy centers in Reggio Emilia where the environment is
perceived as the “third teacher,” and becomes itself a source of provocation, inviting the learners
to explore and discover the world around them.
Physical Environment
In general, the school
environment of a VESS school
must
be,
above
all,
safe,
organized clean, and welcoming
to all. It must comply with the
rules and regulations of the state
or nation in terms of security at
the school, and ensuring a safe
physical
space,
that
is
welcoming and friendly. This is
a priority in every VESS school.
To Edu1st, the only way to live a VESS life is by leading life with a positive approach
that sees the individual as a good being full of potential. If materials are presented in the right
way, by permanently modeling and reinforcing the right way to use them, children learn to use