TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

March 28, 2003

In this week’s issue:

Connections

(1) News Flash!, Kathy Suerken

Reader Feedback

(2) Joyce Beasley

(3) Denise Meyer

Editors’ Notes

(4) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

CONNECTIONS

(1) News Flash: 7 Th International Conference Delegations, Additional Speakers and You!

By Kathy Suerken, suerken@cox.net

From the Philippines, Dr. Nora Uy:

“We have just finalized the list of participants to the 7 th TOCFE International Conference in Florida. There are 22 of us.”

From Serbia, Snezana Klasnja, Director of Professional Development, Serbian Ministry of Education:

“I am very happy to accept your invitation to share the story of our efforts to bring TOC into our education system. I will feel privileged to participate in an international gathering where educators share ideas about using TOC methods to build schools that meet the needs of children.”

From Russia, Svetlana Tchoubakova from Dubna, who will also be sharing her unique TOCFE experiences in Russia:

“Last August I had a talk on TOC at the ‘Women’s Forum of the 5 Former Soviet Republics.’ There were 170 participants, specialists from different pedagogical universities, teachers’ training institutes, who were very much impressed about TOC marching over the world. Since then, I have been performing TOC activities with different groups:

1. Scouts, where the goal is to spread the use of concrete tools. I try to meet the scout groups once per week or two weeks after introduction. You know, the CLOUD is working amazingly, but the negative branch is used more frequent.

2. A very important group is a regional women’s group called ‘Stimula.’ They asked me to conduct an every week seminar on TOC—from one side information, about the materials which are used all around the world and the TACTics Journal and the other part-concrete practice of real situation treated with CLOUD, negative branch and the Ambitious Target. Of course, to do it regularly every week is not easy because of work obligations, but we have managed to do this practice EVERY WEEK since the New Year, because step by step more and more people got interested in the tools!

3. Teachers and psychologists, though with distrust at first, but still, after introduction, although of course not all, I am happy to see some of them try to practice it at school.

4. The most difficult contingent is police, with whom I have been working almost for 2 years on the project of domestic violence against children and women. Now, after many meetings with the staff of the division who work with crime among youth at risk, they are using these tools, finally! The first obstacle was their assumption that these tools could unite the criminals in the crime! I never expected such a vision of the subject! And you know, the favourite and simple phrase by Eli Goldratt, ‘PEOPLE ARE GOOD’ played a great role in assuring these people that the tools are to be used for the growth of the personality too, and for the future of these young people. Then it was tried and began to work at this police division. All the questions in promoting this practice were discussed with the head of the division in detail.”

• TO ALL OF YOU, who are helping to create these incredible results and who need to hear and respond to them first hand: If planning to attend, PLEASE DON’T FORGET to make reservations with the hotel.  Remember, our block of rooms will only be held until April 24, 2003 (afterwards, reservations only if space available.) If you are coming from overseas and need help in handling these details, please email me. Bernie I will make every effort to assist you.

For reservations, USA toll free: 800.874.8962. Please reserve your room under the TOCFE Conference block of rooms, which include a boxed continental breakfast-up to two per room. 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

• Attendees also need to register with TOCFE in order to ensure that we order the correct number of meals and have materials for you. Full conference registration is $125 for 4 days and includes all lunches, coffee breaks, materials and a special dinner event. To download a registration form or to see the most current conference agenda, visit www.tocforeducation.com. You can also email me directly at suerken@cox.net to receive either.

I so much look forward to welcoming you to Florida and where the saga of TOCFE began but which now only continues because of YOU.

READERS’ FEEDBACK

Re: TACTics Journal, March 21, 2003, “Annotated Reading List for the Evaporating Cloud”

(2) Thanks, this annotated reading list is very helpful and I plan to use it with several workshops I'm planning.

Joyce Beasley

Detroit, Michigan, USA

(3) Thank you, Cheryl, for reminding us of all the stories and the clouds inherent in them. I'm keeping them for future reference. These kinds of resources are of real use to us.

Denise Meyer

Los Angeles, California, USA.EDITORS’ NOTES

(4) Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

It’s great to hear from you, Joyce and Denise! And to our entire TOCFE family—what’s on your mind? Share it with us! Send your responses, applications of the thinking processes, lessons, announcements, and etc. 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 also view TACTics in its intended formatting, by visiting our web

site at www.tocforeducation.com. Click on “What’s New.”