TACTics Journal

December 3,1999

Holiday schedules and Wishes from Kathy

Those readers whose access to TACTics is through a school computer will be effected by school holiday closings which impact the vast majority of our readers the last two weeks of December. Even without this obstacle, most of our readers are very preoccupied with family events during these holidays and not likely to keep up with correspondence. TACTics publishing dates would normally fall on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve and we would like our editors Cheryl and Kay (and their helper, Bernie) to spend those days with their families. For all of these reasons, we will not publish TACTics on Dec 24 or Dec 31. The last edition for 1999 will be on Dec 17th.

We are, of course, a multicultural family and some of our family members observe different and equally important holidays. To our Jewish members, we extend warm thoughts this week as they begin to celebrate Chanukah-- a word which means dedication.

We in TOCFE are all children of the world and though we live, pray and celebrate in different ways, we are linked by our dedication to a common dream. Here's to all of us as we celebrate holidays this month and strive to make the wish come true--more and more-- in the new millennium.

CONNECTIONS:

The Netherlands--a first TOC class in a new country! Eleanor May-Brenneker from UK--and who speaks Dutch!--will teach the TACT seminar on Dec 20-22 with the remaining sessions in January 2000. The class is full and there is already a waiting list for a next class! Congratulations Eleanor for getting this class organized!

Cape Town, South Africa--NEW location in South Africa! A TACT course will be taught by Francois Moll and Alfreda Bekkers to an entire staff of 30 teachers in January 2000. Up to now, Francois, Director of Operations in South Africa--and who also teaches full time-- has been spreading TOC primarily in his hometown of Georga which is a 5 hour drive from Cape Town. Francois writes, "the school where we will be teaching is in an area where people were deported in the dark days of apartheid. It remains a bleak, dangerous and poor area. It is rife with gangsterism, unemployment and staggeringly high rape statistics. In the USA when a student shoots someone, it seems to make world news--here it is a regular occurrence. I would welcome any advice from the network--particularly from those with experience in these conditions. fmoll@netactive.co.za

EVER WONDER WHAT OUR FOUNDER, DR. ELI GOLDRATT, IS UP TO? THOUGHT YOU MIGHT…

We lifted this bit of information contributed by Kathryn Leishman from the Wednesday Report. (Thanks, Kath and Uncle Patrick)

From Delhi to Agra, India and back in 3 days-

Dr. Goldratt gave a two-hour presentation to 350 managers at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Quality Summit in Delhi, India, which earned him a standing ovation. A quick drive to another venue and he gave a 3 hour presentation to a group of 110 CEO's, challenging them to take the initiative to improve their companies with a holistic approach.

Bright and early the next morning Eli participated in a TV interview with a government minister and then had several hours of individual interviews with journalists and finished up with a photo session with a professional photographer.

Next, Eli participated in a strategy meeting with key members of the CII all of whom are interested in an initiative to introduce TOC to India.

He also spent 9 hours getting to and from Agra using the time to confer with Sarita Nagpal of CII and Kathryn Leishman, partner, AGI Australasia Pty Ltd.

All of this and a few hours of sightseeing, too?

Eli sets a wild pace for the rest of us to keep up with. Or should I say " for the rest of us to try to keep up with'?

AJR's comment on Joy Middle School
This is an experience of TOC that really gives HOPE because it has given RESULTS in students (and teachers/ counselors) owning their own behavior and achieving their targets in a self-motivating/self-propelling way. Kudos to Larry Till! Helping students find the answers for themselves (and not you providing them) is a thin line, a balanced walk in a tight rope between spoon-feeding the answers and sitting back complacently to wait for the answers. It requires commitment to do as Larry did, a very clear understanding of the thinking and communication skills in TOCFE and a conviction that these tools are very student-user friendly. Success at Joy Middle School seemed to have been achieved in these specific areas:
1) The students have learned to ask their own questions.
2) More peace and better learning environment for Joy Middle School due to a decrease in the number of fights and an increase in peace-enhancing and problem-solving dialogues-empowerment of the students in the peer mediation program.
3) The usage of the cloud has expanded to the parents and has reached the family itself.
4) And other teachers in the school sit up and take notice - nothing succeeds like success (though very hard-earned sometimes) and nothing attracts notice like results and fruits to show results.
5) I find it a truth that one of the surest signs of belief in /or commitment to a cause and a vision is volunteer work or donation of time, talent and Joy Middle School teachers including the special needs teachers are doing this. Kudos!
6) "Raising standardized reading test scores (MEAP) in the 7th grade from 8.2% satisfactory to 49.5% satisfactory".
Father Anthony Ranada
Philippines

POOGI Pool

Rami Question # 7
B - Enjoy company
D - Invite friends over
Is the following statement a suitable assumption for B - D?
"I don't like to be alone."

Rami Answer # 7:
Let's check it: In order to "Enjoy company" I must "Invite friends over" because "I don't like to be alone." The assumption does not explain the connection between the Want and the Need. The fact that I don't like to be alone does not explain why "Inviting friends over" is necessary for "enjoying company". This is a very common mistake, instead of clarifying the connection between the Need and the Want; we explain why the Need is important. "I don't like to be alone" explains why the Need "Enjoy company" is important. Explaining why the need (B) is important, exposes assumption underlying A-B not underlying B-D. The answer is NO.

TOCFE NETWORKING

From Eleanor May-Brenneker, United Kingdom …
I would like to share some thoughts and quotes on responsibility. Firstly, I often say, "If pupils aren't learning the way we teach, then we aren't teaching the way they lean…" The teacher's responsibility is to log onto the student's learning style/mode/level, otherwise you start in leaving them behind. Secondly, real learning is only taking place when a transfer of the learning (the learned skill) happens, and that is the point at which the pupil is taking charge of the responsibility, I think. Both learner and teacher (as learner) share responsibility, so it is an AND-AND situation, rather than EITHER-OR.

"Quotes"

"Never assume the obvious is true." William Safire

As always, your contributions are what make this TACTics Journal. Please continue to share so that we all may maintain our POOGI. Thanks!

Send HYPERLINK to:
bucknek@resa.net
cherylaedwards@aol.com

Send mail to:
Cheryl A. Edwards
2253 S. Hill Island Road
Cedarville, MI 49719 USA

Kay Buckner-Seal
10230 Dartmouth
Oak Park, MI 48237, USA