OST with children...

[Julie Smith]

Hi Winston,

I'm not sure how you define "children."   I've been playing in open
space with middle school and high school students for almost six months
now, and having a great time.  I also have one experience with a group
of 5th graders.  Here's a snippet of what I wrote shortly after that
experience:

The third event was held at University Park Elementary School.  By this
time I was emotionally exhausted and starving..... having neglected to
eat all day.  The class is full of very assertive and vocal kids who
were able to stay on our abstract theme for only a short time.  The
theme was "Thoughts and Feelings about September 11."  It was chaotic
and confused.  I think a better theme would have been something less
abstract and more connected to their daily lives (perhaps a theme around
bullying).  The best part for me was the opportunity to connect with a
group of boys who were disconnected from the process.  We ended up
creating a new "Z" space where the topic was Whatever You Want to Talk
About.  Part of that conversation was about how much fun they were
having doing back flips off the swings at recess.  (I told them about a
young man I knew who had done a back flip off a ramp on a snow board
without a helmet, and had ended up dying.  I told them I couldn't tell
them what to do or not do, but I was concerned about their safety.  I
think that made a difference to at least one of the boys.)  Later, one
of the boys (the one who was choosing to stand on the counter next to
the sink) said he really liked Freedom.  So we talked about that for
awhile.  The boy lying face-down on the floor reading a book said he
didn't mind that people were milling about all around him, and every
once in awhile he popped up and said something that helped the
conversation along.  (As you can tell, I didn't take the silent
facilitator role in this one.  The kids seemed to really crave
interaction, and that's what felt right to me, so whatever happens.....)


Julie

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Chris
Corrigan
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 3:51 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: OST with children...

Hi Winston, et al.:

I did write about how quickly my (then) three year old daughter took to
OST in a story which you can read at
http://www.chriscorrigan.com/openspace/story_bcaafc.html

Chris

---
CHRIS CORRIGAN
Consultation - Facilitation
Open Space Technology

Bowen Island, BC, Canada
http://www.chriscorrigan.com
chris at chriscorrigan.com
-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Winston Kinch
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 4:26 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: OST with children...

I would appreciate to be reminded (senior moments increase in frequency)
of Open Space events involving children.  I recall (I think) Soweto, and
I am (kinda) sure Chris has mentioned one or  more....
Winston

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