TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

March 7, 2002

In this week’s issue:

Elementary/Secondary TACTics

(1) The Cloud on Border Discussion, Rafael and Francis Conde

(2) 7 th International TOCFE Conference

(3) Registration Form: 7 th International TOCFE Conference

Editor’s Notes

(4) Kay Buckner-Seal

ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY TACTICS

(1) The Cloud on Border Discussion

Rafael and Francis Conde, TOCFE Directors Venezuela and Columbia

Dear Kathy,

As we promised you, we enclose the class content about "The Cloud on Border Litigation".

It was an amazing work done in Francis’ school with the participation of the class teacher, Francis and myself as a facilitator of the cloud construction.

Best regards,

Rafael

Pre-work:

We need to understand/“solve” the border litigation between Colombia and Venezuela, which has existed since 1833, with a group of students in the last year of primary school (ages 12 – 13 years old).

We started by saying that we need to analyze to see if both countries are actually friends or enemies, because it was important to establish a common objective.

To determine this point the teacher asked for positive and negative features of the relationship. The follow list was made:

Positive Facts:

-Commerce

-Mutual help

-Sports competition

-Common language

-Common religion basis

-Democracy

Negative Facts:

-Borders litigation

-Guerrilla

-Smugglers

-Kidnappers

-Narcodealers

-Illegal migration

Looking at the two lists, we decided that with exemption of the border’s litigation, the other problems are not related with the policy or nationality, but with criminal people that should be eradicated by a cooperative alliance.

Then, the teacher suggested to discuss: “What if the two countries became just one.” And enthusiastically the students said:

- Petroleum deliverance capability increase

- Agriculture increase

- Fishing increase

- Access to Pacific and Caribbean seas

- Commercial capability increase

- Industrial base increase

- Not more smugglers

- Accomplish with Bolivar´s thought

- Better sport performance

- Cattle exploitation increase

- Cultural features increase

- Mine resources increase

- More chance to compete between the globe

- Increase the capability to face the guerrilla

- Increase the democratic base to have better government

The above discussion provided enough stamina to build the conflict because all the students, even the foreign students who were at the schoolroom, wanted to keep the positive features of the common alliance.

The Cloud:

A: Colombia and Venezuela being in peace

B: Colombia needs to defend its productive area.

D: Colombia wants to settle its border in Castillete

C: Venezuela needs to recognize its historical rights

D’: Venezuela wants to settle its border in Chichivacoa

Assumptions:

BD:

- Because Colombia has its sovereignty on the Monjes island and some part at the northwest of the Venezuelan lake.

- Because The Pombo Michelena Agreement defined the borders right there in 1833.

CD:

- Because the border was establish by the Agreement of the Capitanía General de Venezuela by Royal Edict from Carlos III in 1777.

- Because Venezuela is the absolute owner of the Venezuela Gulf and its continental platform.

- Because the agreement Pombo –Michelena was not accepted by Venezuela Congress, even there were a referre laudum from Alfonso XIII in 1899 and by a Switzerland Commission in 1941.

At this point it was amazing how the students recognized, memorized and use in logical way the historical data. They accepted by consensus the need to read and to know in deep understanding the content of the agreements to be able to criticize them.

Injections

Three terrific proposals of solutions were settled:

1 - Give the political administration of the Guajira territory to the Wayu tribe, because the historical rights are with them, the people who lived there for hundreds of years.

2 - Share the territory between the two countries and establish a common administration regarding the economics of each one. For instance, Colombia has 20% of the rights in petroleum and Venezuela 80%, but in agriculture should be the opposite.

3 - Have the Monjes Island as an independent location. Use this archipelago as a security common area.

Finally, two students read the cloud and the assumptions and the injections as a speech into the diplomatic environment. All the classmates were very proud because they looked like a good Chancellor, not as the bad politicians in charge of these handlings. :-).

As homework, the teacher recommend to analyze the negative branch derived from these solutions.

(2) 7th International TOCFE Conference

May 16-19, 2003

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort

1500 Miracle Strip Parkway

Ft Walton Beach, Florida, USA

Hotel:

• For reservations, USA toll free: 800.874.8962.

• Please reserve your room under the TOCFE Conference block of rooms.

• Boxed continental breakfast-up to two per room included.

• Blocked rooms will be held until April 24, 2003 (afterward, reservations only if space available).

• The following prices are for maximum of 2 people per room (additional person is $10/person per night up to maximum of 4 per room).

Standard: $120 (plus tax) per night.

Courtyard: $135 (plus tax) per night

Poolside: $155 (plus tax) per night

Beach Front: $175 (plus tax) per night

Airport:

• Fort Walton Beach, Florida (VPS is the airport code).

• Cab/shuttle service from airport to hotel is about $15.

• Driving information will be shared in a future TACTics.

Conference Fees:

• Daily Rate: $25 includes lunch, coffee breaks and all materials.

• Full conference rate: $125 includes 4 lunches, all coffee breaks, all materials and Special Dinner/Entertainment Event on Sunday, May 18. A Special Event is still being planned for Saturday, May 17!

• 10% discount if registration fees are paid by April 1, 2003

(3) Registration From: 7th International TOCFE Conference.

REGISTRATION FORM

7th International TOC for Education Conference

May 16-19, 2003

Ramada Plaza Beach Resort

1500 Miracle Strip Parkway

Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, USA

Phone: 850.243.9161

Toll Free: 1.800.874.8962

Name:

Home Street Address:

City: State: Zip Code:

Country:

Home Phone:

E-mail:

Job Title or Position (Include level of children you work with:

elementary, etc.):

Conference Fees:

10 % discount if registration fees are paid by April 1, 2003.

Daily Rate: $25 includes lunch, coffee breaks and all materials ($22.50 before April 1. $27.50 after May 1.)

Full 4-Day Conference Rate: $125 includes 4 lunches, all coffee breaks, all materials and Special Dinner/Entertainment Event on Sunday, May 18, 2003. ($112.50 before April 1. $150 after May 1.)

Mail completed registration form with check (sorry, no credit cards accepted) for registration (payable to TOC for Education, Inc.) to:

Kathy Suerken, President

TOC for Education, Inc.

1532 Glenlake Circle

Niceville, FL 32578 USA

EDITOR’S NOTES

(3) Kay Buckner-Seal

Rafael and Francis Conde, thank you for sharing another fine example of how the Cloud is applicable to authentic instruction: higher order thinking, deep knowledge, substantive conversation, and connections to the real world.

If you would like to share your applications of the thinking processes, lessons, announcements, and etc., please send your responses, by mail to:

Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, Michigan 49719, USA.

Or send hyperlink to cedwards@cedarville.net or bucknek@earthlink.net.

You may view previous issues of TACTics in its intended formatting, visit our web site at www.tocforeducation.com and click on “What’s New.”