FW: Acceptance & Understanding - development of curriculum materials

Wed Feb 11 05:41:34 PST 2009

I think one of the things I have learned is that so long as acceptance and
understanding are treated as "ethical oughts" they never really happen, or
only happen at a very superficial level. The situation changes radically
when acceptance and understanding become practical necessities. One of the
implications of this is that you cannot argue somebody into believing that
acceptance and understanding are useful - you really have to put people into
situations where both  (a/u) are operative and essential. At this point we
move from intellectual abstraction to existential experience - and it is the
latter from which real change and growth occurs. One might say - Don't talk
about it - Do it!  But how?

I think every time we open space we are "doing it." When people come
together in Open Space around a common issue of deep concern - particularly
a complex and conflicted one - acceptance and understanding are not just
nice, ethical things - they are the only way to go. Resolution simply cannot
happen until both (a/u) are present.  And somehow, when space is opened
acceptance and understanding show up, almost automatically. No need to plead
for their arrival, train for their presence, intellectualize their nature
and gifts. How or why all this takes place, I really don't know. I guess I
could say some words about the "search for fitness" as an essential
component of the self organizing process - but I am not sure those words
would help that much. Much better to just cut to the chase! Open Space and
watch acceptance and understanding show up. Seems to happen just about every
time. Not always, not everywhere, but often enough to be interesting. I
suspect everybody has their favorite story. Mine comes from that incredible
time in Rome with the 50 Palestinians and Israelis. Check out:

http://openspaceworld.com/opening_space_for_peace.htm 

Harrison

Harrison Owen

7808 River Falls Drive

Potomac, Maryland   20854

Phone 301-365-2093

Skype hhowen

Open Space Training  <http://www.openspaceworld.com/> www.openspaceworld.com

Open Space Institute  <http://www.openspaceworld.org/>
www.openspaceworld.org

Personal website  <http://www.ho-image.com/> www.ho-image.com 

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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of fergal
barr
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:05 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: [OSLIST] FW: Acceptance & Understanding - development of curriculum
materials

I'm currently doing a bit of work for the Curriculum Development Unit (in
Northern Ireland) to produce a guidance document on the core principle of
Acceptance and Understanding of Others (which is one of three core
principles of the 'Youth Work: A Model for Effective Practice', which is
effectively the underpinning approach to youth work in NI). 

"The promotion of acceptance and understanding of others  involves enabling
young people to respect and value themselves and others.  It seeks the
appreciation of the difference between and interdependence of people within
society, one's own youth group, close community and beyond.  It includes
seeing cultural diversity as a positive thing..recognising others as equal,
different yet related to us, is not easy.  It requires an understanding of
the meaning of equity and a commitment through youth work to oppose
sectarianism and any form of discrimination."

The guidance materials will focus on practice with 11-18 year olds but which
will be accessible to part-time staff and volunteers.  Part-time staff and
volunteers make up the majority of youth workers in Northern Ireland.  Most
of them are not professionally qualified, e.g., Degrees, Diplomas, etc
although significant numbers will have basic qualifications in youth work.
Many of them will have years of experience that is vital and essential to
the delivery of youth work in Northern Ireland.  Most Part-time workers and
volunteers would contribute between 8 and 12 hours per week and their work
would largely be at night and involve face-to-face work with young people.

As part of this process and in order to produce a document that meets this
aim I'm collating information re 'Acceptance and Understanding of others'.
This can mean any of the following:

*       methodologies

*       models of practice

*       theories

*       activities

*       your own thoughts on the matter

*       your own case studies 

*       useful web links 

*       essential reading

I also want to identify 6 groups that will act as Case Studies-it might be
useful to have an international case study so if you have one then this
would be useful.

The document produced will help inform part-time staff and volunteers as to
how to raise the issue of Acceptance and Understanding in practice with
young people.

The document will address a number of important issues including:

*       value base underpinning practice

*       context and rationale for being involved in work promoting
accpetance and understanding of others

*       the range of issues acceptance and understanding of others addresses

*       models of practice

*       how it can be embedded in practice

*       practical exercises that can be used

*       sources of information to support work

If you think you can help in any way please share whatever information you
can.

Thanking you in anticipation of your support and co-operation.  I look
forward to hearing from you.

Fergal

____________________________________________________________________________
________
My book:  The Things People Say: Political Quotations from the Northern
Ireland Peace Process

To buy it on-line: http://www.trafford.com/07-2815

To order it in a book shop: Give the nice man/woman this ISBN number :
1-4251-6179-0

Info about me:  <http://trainers.salto-youth.net/FergalBarr/>
http://trainers.salto-youth.net/FergalBarr/ 

Organisation I work for: www.claudyyouth.com <http://www.claudyyouth.com/>  

Organistion I used to work for: www.offthestreets.org
<http://www.offthestreets.org/> 

How I live my life: Humour is the shortest distance between people;Always
remember there is someone worse off than you; It's not a matter of if only a
matter of when

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