Eddie - Your experience exactly parallels my own, including the fact that anxious adults were the ONLY cloud in an otherwise clear sky. I think there is a lesson here. As I talked to the potential interveners (anxious adults/teachers) in an effort to keep them in their seats, or at least out of the way, I learned a lot. The major fear was not that the children would get out of order - but rather that they wouldn't. Sounds odd, I know - but if Kids work well in Open Space, and they do, major questions are raised about the nature of teaching, the training of teachers, and the profession of teaching as it is commonly understood. And there are a whole mess of people who would find massive amounts of egg on their escutcheons - if any of this ever got out. Just think of the careers, books, tenured positions, and reputations - all at risk. Under the circumstances, Open Space simply can't work. It is illegal, immoral, fattening, and contrary to the received doctrine.
Harrison Harrison Owen 7808 River Falls Drive Potomac, Maryland 20854 Phone 301-365-2093 Skype hhowen Open Space Training <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com Open Space Institute <http://www.openspaceworld.org/> www.openspaceworld.org Personal website <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com OSLIST: To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives Visit: <http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html> www.listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html -----Original Message----- From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of eddie palmer Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 2:50 AM To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Re: Open Space in a private school Dear Nata We have used OS in schools in Scotland with no problem. Children are very receptive, organise themselves very quickly, and there are no problems - they are great! We worked once with 7-8 year olds, and they took to it. We had a long project with two groups (on alternatives to examinations, for assessment) - the upper/top classes in Junior Schools (10-12 year olds), and they were very impressive; and 16-18 year olds, who were of course different, but very adult. All of your ideas will work. Now in Scotland, junior school children have 'Circle Time' in some schools, which is very like OS closing ceremony. They are also used to working in small groups, and, of course, they can be entirely trusted, and should be left alone to run their groups. The only problem have been some adults who want 'to organise groups'! The outputs from our various OS events in 2006/07 went straight into government policy here. Best wishes Eddie Palmer Open Futures Scotland eddiepal...@classmail.co.uk _____ From: OSLIST [mailto:osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu] On Behalf Of nata marchuk Sent: 30 September 2008 21:18 To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu Subject: Open Space in a private school Dear All! I am in the process of thinking through a project of using OST in private school, my children go to. I was so inspired by the OS on OS conference in San Francisco this summer, so I could not stop thinking about this wonderful approach. Our school is small and relatively flexible, and we are looking for ways to effectively communicate ideas, thoughts and concerns that any part of PTA may have. I see it happening in two formats: on-going bulletin board with topics that are interesting for people, providing available rooms for discussion and possible solutions generating on the weekly basis with a "World Cafe" rules. And a big school-wide OS conference 1 or 2 times a year with the help of the outside facilitators. Ideally (in future) I want our children to be able to use this tool for their ideas and concerns! Do any of you know or have an experience of OST working at schools? Can you please share any insights, warnings, ideas and/or support? I am not a OST consultant/facilitator yet, although I am thinking of taking a class with Lisa Heft in SF, and I know that people without proper understanding/skill set can ruin not only one event but appreciation for the OST as a whole for that group. So any critiques is constructive for me, my goal is to learn, learn, learn! Thank you in advance! Warmly yours, Nataly Marchuk Independent Associate Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. Home office: (408) 749-0936 Mobile phone: (408) 420-0095 www.femida-network.com * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
