TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

March 23, 2001

 

CONTENTS

Networking

    (1)     Rami Goldratt Visits Texas, Paula Sommer

  (2)   TACT News from Texas, Paula Sommer

Connections

    (3)     Don’t Compromise, Go for Win/Win the TOC Way!  Cheryl A. Edwards

    (4)      5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference, Cheryl A. Edwards

Editors’ Notes

   (5)     Airline Tickets: Savings Alert!  Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

 

 

NETWORKING

(1)        Rami Goldratt Visits Texas

By Paula Sommer

 

A new Jonah course for educators, Analyzing and Improving a System through the Theory of Constraints, has been developed by Rami Goldratt. And, Rami, leaving his new bride home, came all the way from Israel to teach it.  Thank you, Rami and a special thank you to Mary, too.

 

We all agree that there has never been so much emphasis placed on the education system to improve.  Considering this emphasis on school improvement, this TOC course meets a growing need.  So, how do we improve the system?  Do you think educators will agree on “What to change?”  …Probably not.  Many of us are stuck in old paradigms.  Certainly, everyone will not agree on the "What to change to?” or the "How to change?” 

 

TOC provides a way for vested stakeholders to analyze their system and create ways to improve it.  TOC is not bringing solutions to education; it brings a systematic way to find the solutions that will work for them and are in the best interest of their students.  Ownership in solutions goes a long way in implementation.  Read what others have to say about the Jonah course:

 

Jonah Comes to Texas—

We thought that our greatest TOC experience in learning occurred at the conference in Mexico this year— then Jonah came to Texas and we are still learning.  Rami Goldratt pushed us to new depths of understanding of the TOC tools and the system in which we work.  The core problem identified hit us right between the eyes. (It was one of those Nobel Prize winning results that Eli speaks of, “The Oh-my-God-of-course!")

 

The core problem is to align to the state-mandated curriculum or to not align to it.  We are in the process of validating our work with three superintendents from very large Texas school districts.  Of course, the whole concept of alignment and deployment are incredible hurdles in the way we manage in the US, but through Rami's leadership and just a little “push” we more clearly see the obstacles.  With this clarity, we can better lead the way in helping other key leaders to discover the truth and simplicity.  His trip will result in our increased effectiveness as we provide a clearer vision to those with which we work.  With the clearer vision, there will be less time in the wilderness for these districts.  (Personally I have been in the wilderness more than 40 years and I am delighted to be coming out of it where school systems are concerned.)

 

Thank you, Rami for coming and spending the time and energy with us.  Thank you, Cheryl and Kathy, for championing this.  Thank you, Eli, for your dedication, commitment and unwavering support to teach the world to think.  We appreciate each of you and each of the wonderful people who joined us here in Texas.

 

Your devoted Texas TACT Advocates,

Charlie Blanton, Dolores Harris, and Paula Sommer

 

From Denise Meyer, California, USA

Thank you, Rami, for a very complete and comprehensive coverage of the Jonah course in 6 days.  Six days for the teaching of it; but, of course, many more days for those of us who are really trying to analyze, dissect and put back together our challenging problems that we are trying to better understand, resolve, and communicate to others in our field. 

 

I'm thinking now how wonderful it would be for students to look at a subject in history or literature in the same way.  This could be a semester long course in English literature or phases of the development of the United States.  Imagine using the Jonah course to examine the issues concerning the colonization of the United States, the War of Independence, or the Civil War.  There are always so many frustrations with TOC- so many possibilities and we can't do them all.  Yet, it makes me want to go back into the classroom and try it.

 

At the end of the course, Rami asked what our commitment would be as we leave and go our separate ways.  I was pretty vague.  It is very easy for me (and maybe I'm not the only one) to put my work aside and go on with immediate concerns.  But I want to put this commitment here in writing to the group who sat with me in rainy Texas and worked on their clouds and branches.  I will work at least 4 hours every week on my branches.  Rami claimed I was choosing a very broad topic: the teaching and learning relationship between teacher and student.  I told him I didn't care; that's what I wanted to do.  I believe that the TOC tools are at the heart of the teaching and learning relationship between people and I want to write something of significance about that relationship.  If people don't begin to understand that learning is not about accepting and conforming to the formal and informal standards of our society, but about examining those standards to look for the value in them, then we will continue to teach children to accept what we say as correct and conform to norms- good or bad.  I hope to send you some trees to scrutinize soon.  Again, thanks Rami.

 

 

(2) TACT News from Texas

By Paula Sommer

 

We are pleased with the progress we are making with administrators in Texas.  This last week we finished our second day in the series of TACT tools teaching the Evaporating Cloud.  We had four school districts participating including a teacher, a counselor, an assistant principal, principals and associate superintendent.  Principals from three additional school districts had planned to come but were rerouted to other activities by their administrators.  We are looking forward to working with the group on the Negative Branch, April 5. 

 

Our most outstanding school district in applying the TACT tools is Van Alstyne.  Van Alstyne is located about an hour north of Dallas, where the urban sprawl is reaching and bringing new challenges to this once rural area of Texas.  Bill Lytle’s, Van Alstyne’s superintendent, focus is on excellence.  Last fall we began a series of meetings with Bill and his administrators at the invitation of high school principal, Mique Allison.  The first ambitious target was on Van Alstyne becoming an excellent school district as measured by the Texas Education Agency Indicators of Excellence.  One of the obstacles identified was the need for curriculum review to ensure alignment with the latest changes in the state-mandated curriculum.  Once having this vision, Bill, his three principals and two assistant principals did another ambitious target on how they would each take a group of the faculty from across the district and do the ambitious target to align the core curricula of math, science, and reading/ writing/ language. 

 

On February 23, they executed their plan.  They began by doing a skit to introduce the ambitious target.  The skit centered on Bill’s target of winning a local fishing contest.  The crowd went wild and really opened up to the possibility that their work was going to make a meaningful difference in what was taught in Van Alstyne.  At the end of the day, Principal Mique Allison would not leave the building until she called and faxed us the results.  The administrators were thrilled at how well the ambitious target worked with the faculty.  Excerpts from the evaluations:

 

“My gosh!  Where to begin?  Systems analysis alone was worth the admission. The planning methodology, I can use at home or at school.  I feel a sense of awe when confronted by the spectacle of such outstanding school administrators.”

 

“From the first process towards aligning our curriculum, I learned how all groups have several of the same ideas and how really compatible all our ideas are.”

 

“I learned the need for vertical training and I can use the ‘if/then’ technique in my teaching.  Putting things in logical order using if/ then.”

 

“The process for reaching the target, the logic of the process, the cause and effect.  I need to rethink textbook adoption.”

 

“We need to create grade level horizontal alignment to help facilitate district curriculum.  I saw the missing information between grade levels.” 

 

“Van Alstyne is very pleased with the results of the ambitious target and we are delighted to be associated with them.  We find each of their administrative leaders exceptional and must comment that their superintendent is leading the process in every way a truly outstanding leader does; he is leading by example, providing time and resources to others, and is leading with a deeply committed heart to excellence.  We at the Institute of Standards in Quality Education applaud Bill and his administrators for their unparalleled work with the ambitious target.”

 

“Van Alstyne is the brightest star in our efforts in working with school districts in Texas, the Lone Star State.”

 

CONNECTIONS

(3)       Don’t Compromise, Go for Win/Win the TOC Way!

By Cheryl A. Edwards

 

Is this your CLOUD?

A:      In order to have a good family life

B:      I must take a vacation that my entire family will enjoy.

D:      In order to do that, I must not go to the TOC for Education International Conference in Michigan, USA.

A:      On the other hand, in order to have a good family life

C:      I must spend my vacation time wisely.

D’:     In order to do that I must to go to the TOCFE Conference.

 

Could any of these be YOUR assumptions?

B/D:     In order to take a vacation that my entire family will enjoy, I must not attend the TOCFE International Conference because:

1.    My entire family will not enjoy the conference.

2.   My time for vacation is limited, spending most of it at the conference leaves little time for going anywhere else.

3.   Travel to Michigan, USA will take much of our vacation savings, so we won’t have much left for anything more.

 

Check out these INJECTIONS!

1.        There are sessions at the conference specifically designed for my family that they will really enjoy :

·         a session just for parents and

     an exciting program for young people - a new “conference within a conference” that will be attended by children from all over the world.

2. & 3.  Vacation in Michigan!  Great Lakes-Great Times

·         After the conference we can save extra travel time by continuing our vacation exploring Michigan. 

·         Money can be saved and better spent if it is not spent for transportation to another location.

 

MICHIGAN prides itself as a world class vacation destination.  Explore these Internet sites to find out more:

www.everythingmichigan.net/

www.travel.michigan.org/

www.michigan.org

Think WIN/WIN!  See you AND your family at the TOC for Education International Conference, June 25-28, 2001!

 

(4)  5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual

TOCFE International Student’s Conference

From Cheryl A. Edwards

 

The best way to predict the future is to create it through TOC."

TOC for Education, Inc. presents the 5th Annual TOCFE International Conference and the First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference!

 

Date:                                June 25-28, 2001

 

Location:                                Detroit, Michigan USA

 

Hotel:                                Northfield Hilton

                        5500 Crooks Road

                        Troy, Michigan 48098

                        248. 879. 2100

The Northfield Hilton is adjacent to Interstate 75 at Crooks Road, Exit 72

 

Reservations:                                1. 800. HILTONS

                        Ask for TOC for Education’s special room rates.

                Single or Double Occupancy

Per night $139.00 U.S. + Tax (6% Michigan Sales Tax and 7% Occupancy Tax).  This rate includes breakfast for two.

 

Transportation:                                Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

 

Editors’ Notes

(5)        Airline Tickets: Savings Alert!

From Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

 

Checkout Northwest Airlines, they have a promotion going on right now with special prices for children traveling with parents!

 

Thanks, Paula for the Texas update.  After reading about the success of your efforts, we feel that it is a great idea to encourage our educational administrators to attend the “Administrators Strand” at the 5th Annual TOC for Education International Conference held in Detroit, MI, USA, where Rami will share some of the TOC strategies used in the holistic system approach to educational improvement.  Make your plans TOCFE family!

 

If you would like to contribute to TACTics, send your ideas via snail-mail to Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, MI 49719, USA.  Or, send hyperlink to <redwards@sault.com> or <bucknek@earthlink.net>.

 

 

 

To view TACTics in the formatting that is intended, please visit our website at www.tocforeducation.com.