I am just catching up on my listserv reading and saw Virginia's question about previous postings. I have them all!
Also, Birgitt, Rich Henry has used Open Space quite a bit at Pierce College. Not that he's at Bellevue Community College, he's brought OS with him. You can reach him at [email protected] And if you haven't connected with Anne about Pathways Elementary, David Paul, the principal can be reached at "WPGATE::VAXES::DPAUL"@is.ssd.k12.wa.us (As weird as it looks, I have sent a message to him at this address). And I almost forgot. The Busch School, a fancy private school in the Seattle area used OS for a gathering (I think it was faculty and administration, but I don't know the details.) I think Dell Drake opened the space. Fred Mednick is the Dean. He's at [email protected] Peg -----Original Message----- From: Virginia <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Wednesday, March 25, 1998 6:32 AM Subject: Re: OS and Teenagers >Esther >I, too, have used Open Space only with teens at college (for US OSlisters >this means a more trade oriented post secondary ed. in Canada, typically >meaning they are younger by one year than university entry level) > >Interestingly, mine nick named me "crazy woman" (I think Birgitt may have >posted the first installment of this story on this list before I got >online) as they did not know what to do with themselves or what I expected >of them - the CHAOS reigned supreme as you have also discovered during the >topic posting and the sign up. > >I also found that the students were in their full mode of "tribe" behaviour >with looking to the dominant members in the group, not sure if they wanted >to speak up...this is where the safe space creation is critical. My kids >now respect and listen to all of their peers more carefully as they have >progressively been exposed to ongoing healing circle teaching methods >through out this semester. > >Birgitt in her process facilitation course has taught me how right brain >exercises 'transfer in' the students full spirit - they now treat this like >a feeding frenzy at the start of each class (laughter, diving to the centre >of the circle like scramble!!). The rewards of teaching third year design >as a part of my landscape architecture practice are great! >I enjoyed your sharing Esther! >To all a great sunny day (yet again here in Ontario) >Virginia >---------- >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: OS and Teenagers >> Date: Wednesday, March 25, 1998 7:46 AM >> >> Hi from Esther Ewing of Toronto: >> >> I have mostly lurked in this list but have some thoughts to share about >> using OS: >> >> I conducted an Open Space at a high school in North York (now part of the >> Toronto District School Board) on the topic of Safety at Downsview ( the >> name of the school). >> >> The participants were volunteers - students - as well as the appropriate >> teachers, ie. those who were in guidance and positive peer culture >> teachers. What I learned: >> >> 1. I need to discuss with the teachers their role ahead of time - how to >be >> part of the discussion but not overpower - not to debate with the kids >but >> at the same time express their own views. A couple of teachers did not >> manage that balance as well as they could. >> >> 2. I need to give more time to the actual signing up for sessions with >> teens as they spent time discussing who else was going to which sessions >> before they would make their own decisions. Especially the girls tended >to >> hold back on signing up for sessions until they could see which of their >> friends, male or female, were going where. In other words, for them there >> was a highly social aspect of choice as well as what aspect of the topics >> would be meaningful for them. It took almost three times the amount of >time >> for the kids to sign up as it would adults. >> >> 3. It also took more time to open the space. They needed more examples of >> how things would work. >> >> They were almost unanimous in liking the process: "Miss, I actually felt >> listened to!" A couple of boys didn't like it. They said that it was too >> open and allowed some (unidentified) others too much say. A couple of >kids >> came to persuade others that drugs were okay(!!) and to justify their own >> lifestyle choices. The kids did not reward that but they were so vocal >that >> a teacher had to step in and make sure that others got heard. A whole >bunch >> of kids came because it meant that they could skip French class but got >> really engaged in the process. >> >> Overall, the kids said that they would like more Open Space process. The >> teachers felt relieved that they didn't have to be solely responsible for >> fixing all the school safety issues, they could share that with the kids. >> And they liked that the kids were willing to try to get things happening. >> >> That's all, folks, >> >> Regards, >> Esther >
