The particaption of youth in Open Space

[Rhett Hudson/Chris Weaver]

On a tangent raised by Michael Pannwitz:

I too have done an OS for kids (10-12) in part to prepare them for
participation in a larger OS with their teachers and parents.  I agree that
the children take to the process so quickly that it seems they need no
preparation...but I think the kids' OS in advance helped them.  They noticed
that OS was introduced in the same way to adults as to themselves, which, I
believe, helped them feel comfortable in the big one.

Thanks, Michael, and good luck, Andrew!  -Chris
----------
>From: Michael M Pannwitz <mmpanne at snafu.de>
>To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>Subject: Re: The particaption of youth in Open Space
>Date: Tue, May 23, 2000, 1:48 PM
>

> Dear Andrew,
> I think I would encourage the sponsor to address his concern in his
> opening remarks rather than making sure myself as the facilitator
> "that the voice of the young are heard". (As if a facilitator could
> actually do that).
> It is perhaps a little late to ask the sponsor what he has done to
> invite more than just 2 or 3 young people. On the other hand my
> experience is that the number in itself does not really matter. A
> couple of years ago we had an open space with 260 people in Berlin
> (cooperation among everyone involved with school), lots of
> administrators, school principals, teachers, psychologists a few
> parents and 2 young people (12 and 16 years old). Those two posted an
> issue each and the 12 year old convened a group.
> Nobody had paid particular attention to them in the introduction.
> I also recall the wisdom that a sure fire way to blow open space is
> to attempt to control it.
> So go with your intention to open the space as you always do and wait
> to be surprised.
> With younger youths (elementary school age) I have done an open space
> just with them a few weeks before the space they were invited to
> where teachers, parents etc. attended. That was a lot of fun but
> afterwards I asked myself whether that really had to be. The grade
> school kids delved into open space as if this is what they always had
> operated in.
> Good luck
> michael
>
> On Tue, 23 May 2000 17:28:10 +1000, Andrew Donovan wrote:
>
>>Dear Friends
>>
>>I have a one day open space this Friday in Canberra (Australia's capital)
>>for our leading adult literacy organisation. The 50 or so people attending
>>are policy makers from various fields. The focus is on literacy and young
>>people. Several young people will be attending (say 2-3).
>>
>>A member of the leadership team hosting the open space is very concerned
>>that the process/the facilitator ensure that the voice of the young people
>>is heard. While perhaps making some welcoming comments in my introduction,
>>I don't intent to single them out or really do anything further than I
>>would normally in opening the space. But, I am open to the wisdom of the
>>list.  I think it's a relevant concern that a group of 40 powerful adults
>>could intimidate 3 young people (their small numbers  are a problem in
>>itself), even though that is not their intention.
>>
>>How would other people respond to these concerns, have you done anything
>>differently to include young people in a largely adult group? Many thanks
>>
>>warm wishes
>>
>>andrew
>>
>>
>>
>>Andrew Donovan
>>tel +61 3 9416 3021
>>fax +61 3 9416 2935
>>PO Box 1705
>>Collingwood  VIC  3066
>>Australia
>
>
>
>
>
> Michael M Pannwitz
> Draisweg 1
> 12209 Berlin, Germany
> FON +49 - 30-772 8000     FAX +49 - 30-773 92 464
> www.michaelMpannwitz.de
>
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