White Ajah Class Outline

[Leala Sedai]

I want to get a White Ajah Class going, like the Blues and the Yellows have.  I don't see any information on traditions anywhere, so I'm assuming I can make some of them up, if that's okay?  >.>

 

Post 1:  Introduction

 

• Start the lesson off by asking everyone why they think the White Ajah is in the White Tower.  Make sure that they understand that you are not asking what the mission is.  In this assignment, there will be a challenge:  do not use the word "logic."
• Once ideas are presented, explain why the White Ajah is there.  They are there for the progression of ideas, they keep their heads in crisis situations, they search for answers others would not.
• Clear up some misconceptions.  The White Ajah does not strive to be cold and off-putting.  That is just the way they must be in order to find the truth they seek.  The Whites, much like every other Aes Sedai, are human and do have feelings.  Their Ajah color is not a reflection of the novice dresses or the White Tower.  It is symbolic for the pure truth and logic that they value so much.  The White Ajah values not only education, but intelligence, in order to make the world a brighter place.

Homework:  Write a short essay (no minimum word count) on why they themselves, as Accepted, are in the White Tower.  As a challenge, they cannot say in any way that they are there to become Aes Sedai.

 

Post 2:  Traditions

 

• Bring to class a small sheet of white silk, and a small leather notebook.  Have the students pass around both items and decipher what it is that makes them special.  Mention somewhere in the narrative that the piece of white silk has the Flame of Tar Valon sewn into it, but it's not immediately visible, because the Flame isn't embroidered or painted on: the thread of the silk is facing a different way from the rest of the thread, and can only be seen at the right angle in the light.  The notebook has cryptic writing in it that seems mundane: it seems to be a dream journal, but it's actually code.
• When someone figures out what's different about the silk, confirm that they are correct, but their answer is not complete.  There may be some guesses about the notebook, but keep guesses open for a moment.  If no one guesses correctly, or someone does guess, explain their purposes.  
• Aes Sedai of the White Ajah are given the white silk upon entering the Ajah.  This is used to communicate with contacts and other sisters.  It can announce your presence to anyone from the White Tower if they care to look at it in the right light.  The notebook is another tradition.  Each notebook has a white Flame of Tar Valon on the inside of the back cover.  It is used to create and maintain a sister's code.  However, each sister has three of these, and two of them are not her code.  

Homework:  None today.

 

Post 3:  Philosophy

 

• Explain what philosophy is in your own words.  Guidelines:  Philosophies are mental constructs that help guide us to the truth.
• Give some of your own philosophies and how they have helped you out of different dilemmas.
• Explain that there are all kinds of different philosophies for all kinds of different things.  Choose one subject (the Wheel, Saidar, something you can latch on to easily) and give your philosophy on that, and expand on it with examples.  Use symbollism, make it your own.  Philosophy is a broad subject, so the best way to handle it is to be as specific as possible.

Homework:  Write out your philosophy on Saidar and its use.  As Accepted, they have worked with Saidar well enough that they should have formed their own opinions and philosophies.

 

Post 4:  Truth

 

• Truth is the end result of one's philosophy.  Explain this in a logical way:  Set up two clearly different (or opposing) philosophies, give a scenario, apply both philosophies, and see how the truth differs.
• Apply this to the Ajahs.  (Ex:  Political leaders sometimes hire Aes Sedai as advisors.  Those who are concerned about their political standing normally hire Grays.  Those who are more concerned about the happiness of their citizens hire Blues.)  You can use any example you want.
• To expand on this, talk in general terms about Portal Stone Worlds.  Each world, according to records, has a different outcome because of different circumstances.  The truth in each place is different from the truth that we know.

Homework:  Write a scenario in which a decision that you made changed the outcome of events.  What would have happened if you had chosen differently?  Challenge:  Do not write about deciding to come to the White Tower.

 

Post 5:  Logic and Strategy

 

• Meet in the library in a room sectioned off from the actual library.
• Start with something along these lines:  Why are we meeting in the library?  Information and logic often go hand in hand.  The more information we have about a particular situation, the more effective our actions brought about by logic will be.  Give a situation that applies to this line of thinking. Ex: evacuating a village because of an attack or a natural disaster.  Who do you lead out first?  It can't be healthy and capable adults, because it's likely that they can help locate and move elderlies or infants, they can help you organize their neighbors who would likely trust them over you as an Aes Sedai.  You use strategy to get people out in the most effective way possible.
• Pass out history books where failures of strong leaders are marked.  Their assignment before they leave is to find holes in the logic of the leaders.  OOC:  Leaders may be made up for the sake of creativity, just as long as they didn't do anything significant.

Homework:  Explain your findings, and explain how things would have ended up differently if the leaders had had more information about the situation.

 

Post 6:  Human Element

 

• Meet in the library again.
• Ask your students what every single book out there has in common.  Try not to give it away in the narrative.  After sufficient guesses have been made, tell them that the common denominator is people.  Humans.  Authors.  Every piece of information that enters books, that enters minds, that enters trains of logic has passed through a person.
• It's a common misconception that the White Ajah lacks feeling and empathy, that all they care about is logic.  Give examples of your own life (trying to avoid instances in the tests to become Accepted and Aes Sedai) that evoked emotions.  Try to give examples after you have attained the shawl.  The White Ajah is still made up of Servants of All.  Logic and philosophy must take into account feelings and individuality of human beings in order to serve all.
• As an assignment: have students take every piece of homework they have written, hand it to another student, and have them write about their classmate.  What kind of person are they?  What will they contribute to the Tower?  Anything they can glean from their assignment adds to their view of their classmate.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Leala Gymorraine

[Leala Sedai]

Getting this done.  Weeeee.  :P

[Leala Sedai]

This is actually helping me think of new stuff for when we get new members.  :)

[Leala Sedai]

Okay, I think I've got this thing done.