[From Rick Marken (2000.09.26.1320)]
Bill Curry (2000. 09.26.1132 EDT)
are you also inferring that the following statements are
identities in terms of PCT analysis?1) teachers control student behavior
2) teachers control aspects of student behavior
No. I think 2) is better. The model itself is better still.
My PCT-based concerns with 1) are its implied lack of respect
for the student's autonomous control processes, and the
excessive breadth of the phrase which subsumes _all_ of the
student's behavior. I characterize this form of usage
as the conventional vernacular use of the word "control"--
"my boss is a controller."
Ah. This helps a lot. I think I see the problem.
It has taken me some time as a PCTer to learn to distinguish
control -- even control of another person -- from disrespect.
I no longer automatically hear "control of behavior" as
synonymous with "disrespect". For example, when I yanked my
4 year old out of the street I was controlling her behavior
but I don't think I was being disrespectful. Indeed, I think
it would have been more disrespectful to let her run after
the ball as was her wont. I respected my child's life _by_
controlling her behavior.
I think people can control other people respectfully or
disrespectfully. It's easy to think of examples of
disrespectful control. I think it's a lot less easy to point
to examples of _respectful_ control because people are so
reluctant to admit that they are _ever_ controlling. The word
"control" has gotten a pretty bad rep. I think that's why I'm
getting onto so much trouble for even suggesting that the
teachers in the RTP program _might_ be controlling the students.
I think that the teachers in the RTP program are being taught
how to control student behavior with respect. That's why there
is so little conflict in RTP schools. But the RTP people seem
unwilling to say that they are teaching respectful control,
perhaps because their audience would consider this an oxymoron.
But I see nothing oxymoronic at all about the notion of
respectful control. PCT suggests many ways in which control
can be respectful. I mentioned one; controlling kids in
terms of perceptual variables that they cannot currently control.
My 4 year old could not perceive (and control) the world in
terms of cars coming out of nowhere; I could, and did it for her.
Now that she is old enough to control for cars coming out of
nowhere on her own, I don't try to control that for her; that
_would_ be disrespectful.
Another way respectful control fits into PCT is in terms of
the teachers own higher level concept of her job. She can
see her control of the class as something that fits into her
higher level control for respect for all of her students as
people who have the right to learn. When she does have to
deal with students who are disrupting, she can deal with these
students respectfully and honestly, for the good of the entire
class. The teacher still controls for keeping order in the
class, by removing students if necessary; but this controlling
is done gently, respectfully and tentatively in the context
of controlling for a respectful relationship with the students.
I do think there is much to be gained from an honest, detailed
application of PCT to RTP. I also think it would not be impossible
to sell RTP as a "respectful control" program.
What do you think?
Best
Rick
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Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313
MindReadings.com mailto: marken@mindreadings.com
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