from Ed Ford Dec. 17, 95
Several items. First, I'll be changing my address. I'll be part of the
Maricopa County (which takes in the entire Phoenix Metro area) Community
College network. My son-in-law, Eric, has obtained an address for me.
He has also created for me my own net which is open to those who are working
in schools where my program has been introduced, who are trying my ideas,
improving on them, working with children, trying to help their students make
their lives happier, more responsible, and helping them build the
self-confidence and self-discipline they need to create fulfilling lives.
As I travel around my own state, from the inner city here in Phoenix, to
rural areas, to the Indian reservations; and around the country (my program
is now being applied in at least eight states); and as my work is exposed
through Laidlaw (which has hired me to work create a training program for
their 33,000 bus drivers throughout the U.S. and Canada); and as my program
becomes better known (I'm already scheduled for the BIA (Bureau Of Indian
Affairs) conference and the National Assoc. of School Boards conference, it
seems to me the logical thing is to create a net where we can all share our
ideas.
I've also decided for many reasons, some of which will remain in my heart,
that I'll probably leave this net. For some time on this net, I've tried to
explain my ideas and how they interrelate with PCT. With the exception of
some private posts, I've received mostly critical reactions about what I'm
doing and that my application is not aligned with PCT. So be it. I've
given up trying to convince others that what I'm doing and thinking is
completely tied to my knowledge of PCT, and not to how I've raised my own
children, or what teachers and administrators are like, or whatever. All I
know is that, if done properly, this program has a powerfull effect not only
on students, but on an entire school system. It has also drawn a lot of
those who've tried these ideas to take an interest in PCT. But more than
that, it has had a powerfull effect on many of those who are using my
process, including administrators, teachers, school staffs, and, most
important, children. The following is just one of many examples.
Recently, at a public school on an Indian reservation south of Phoenix,
where my program is being used, a teacher came up to me and told the
following story on herself. She was standing outside her school building,
watching the children get on their buses. She yelled across at one child,
kidding him for something he had done earlier in the day. Immediately
after, one of her young students approached her and said, "Ms. Jones (not
her name), What were you doing?" She looked at the student, and replied,
"Yelling at John." "What's the rule about yelling at children?" asked the
yound child. The teacher, looking at her young charge, replied, "You're not
allowed to yell. And you're right, I shouldn't be yelling." She then went
over to the child, who's eyes were slightly watery, and said, "John, I'm
sorry I yelled at you." Then she gave him a hug.
Although my net has been create and my new address has been created, I
haven't been educated to access them nor has my computer. Eric informed me
he had created all this for me as I was taking him to the airport to fly to
a conference on World Wide net in Boston this past week. He plans to teach
me this next week or so how to access my net and hook me up. I will then
inform those who may be interested of my new address and net address.
Two and a half years ago, I saw my work life as beginning to get less and
less. I was facing an unwanted retirement in my late 60's. Then came the
interest of a few educators, especially George Venetis and LeEdna Custer,
and my life completely turned around. I'll be 70 next year and I'm meeting
more and more dedicated educators every day. And some of my ideas,
including PCT, are making schools a better and safer place to teach and
learn. What a wonderful blessing to reflect on during this holy season of
Christmas. Ed