Care and Feeding

[Christy Lee-Engel]

(Paul, I do remember "shazam" but not exactly where it's from --I must
be just a little bit old! ;-)

I would love to meet up with you and Joelle, please let me know when
you'll be in Seattle.)

It makes sense to me that suspension of the rules, willingness to try
something out of the ordinary, and freedom for people to choose their
teams & their projects themselves would allow for powerful results--and,
I'm still wondering how much the training/education in shared vocabulary
and tools, the introduction of radically different possibilities to the
whole group together, and so on, contributes to the conditions for
"ripening," for moving us closer to that "edge of chaos" from where the
next miracle takes birth.

One of the phrases from Harrison's The Practice of Peace book that has
stayed with me most is "The Practice of Peace is the intentional
creation of the requisite conditions under which Peace may occur." so, I
am always intrigued to learn more about the specific ways that people
create those conditions, how they tend to and cultivate the terrain
(that "care and feeding" piece).

Lately my friend Rowan and I have been experimenting with applying the
principles of Open Space to our teaching work (with great suggestions
from Michael H, thank you!). It has certainly been easier to bring those
principles/law into courses that are electives--we get to write a
passionate course description/invitation, and students then choose to
take the course if it stirs their own passion. The students in the
elective course we did last year took immediately to the dynamics of
passion and responsibility, and created several good projects and a deep
community which has had the interesting outcome of encouraging several
of the students to leave our school, to more truly follow their
passions. (uh-oh! Courses that open space for self-organization are what
we now call "the outlaw curriculum.") 
 
Where I have felt much more muddl-y is when I have experimented in
required courses--most of the students enjoy generating their own
discussion topics and projects, and they've done great work together;
and at the same time, some students have told me that they don't like
chaos, they want me just to tell them what to do, and one of them
definitely didn't want to sit in any circle! :-) 
I will let you know what happens next...
 
thank you!
Christy
 
 -----Original Message-----
From: EVERETT813 at aol.com [mailto:EVERETT813 at aol.com] 
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2004 12:41 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Care and Feeding


	
	
        Sorry, hit the wrong button---were major factors.  But, I'm
reluctant to say what was "the" major cause---I don't think one exists,
it was a confluence of influences and events and "shazam", a miracle.
(You have to be quite old to understand "Shazam", lol)
	
        Since Joelle and I come to Seattle frequently, maybe we could
meet up and talk sometime?
	
        sincerely,
	
        Paul Everett * *
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