Education, poetry, and the process of growing old

Should all generations be included in our society's educational project? In PEP (Prosjekt eldrepedagogikk), in Bergen, we argue that the concept of care for old people should be redefined to include an aspect of learning. This learning can have a creative and existential purpose, not necessarily an instrumental one. "To grow old" also has a meaning of growth. Education can strengthen this growth. Old people have mental, spiritual and creative needs. PEP has aimed at stimulating older people's verbal creativity through the writing of poetry and the telling of stories in groups. Many courses of this kind have been held during recent years. This learning activity has had a positive impact upon the life of the participants. The work has served to sharpen the senses, keep thinking alive, support self-esteem, and establish good social relations. Another fruit of the project is the publishing of texts. Both education and poetry can have a function of emancipation. As a consequence of this project, the University of Bergen has started a process where research on the education of the elderly will be put on its agenda.