Ed Ford (940925.7:50)
As a member of the CSG and a part-time participant of the CSG-L, I've been
wondering what has happened to the net as it used to be. And, better yet,
what it could be.
In the first place, it seems we have lost an awful lot of participants whose
knowledge and experiences served to keep us informed as to what the body of
the CSG group was thinking and doing. We covered lots of topics and talked
about lots of things, most of which were highly relevant to PCT. Where have
all these people gone, and, better yet, what are they doing? Is our
particular csg-l to be dominiated by a very focused discussion, with so few
participants. Is this what we were all controlling for when this type of
human interaction was initiated? And I am not being critical of those
presently participating on the net nor the discussions. There have been
some fascinating discussions. I'm just concerned about what isn't being
discussed or the lack of interest in initiating and participating in such
discussions.
Over the past months, when I've told the net what I've been doing, and how
my application of PCT in the schools was not only taking root, but getting
some very exciting results, I heard no replies. Nothing! And my remarks
concerned a real live human PCT model in an educational setting, with some
fascinating results. Here is a model established in a very tough, inner
city school, with poverty, 50% turn over a year in children, 1/3 turn over a
year in teachers, gangs, drugs, the works. The change in the school from
last February to today is remarkable. Children (fourth to sixth grade)
taking responsibility for the actions, making plans, doing their homework.
The assistant principal whose job it is to deal with disruptive children and
who, prior to the program spent his ENTIRE day dealing with disruptive
children, now spends 90% of his time doing student class discussions,
working with teachers on new projects, etc. And all this within the
confines of a PCT model in a real live setting with real people interacting.
And no one has shown any interest on the net to explore this highly
fascinating phenomenon.
And that's OK. I'm not insulted or hurt, I'm having a great time watching
this whole process unfold. I'm just disappointed that those whom I thought
would show the greatest interest have shown none. Oh, yes, I got a few
private posts which were much appreciated. I've just published a book using
PCT in schools, again, no reaction. I've just attended a great CSG
conference, along with three associates who have taken on the mantle of PCT
and are using it well. I learned a lot at the conference. There hasn't
been one word about the conference. It's as if it never happened and those
who didn't attend weren't really interested. Because of sickness last
spring plus some personal demands, Greg has been unable to get out Closed
Loop. Not one word of concern about the magazine on the net or a
willingness to take on the responsibility for writing this most informative
journal.
Personally, I'd love to hear about what others are doing, what they are
writing about and how they are applying PCT in there various fields. I had
a great visit with Dave Goldstein for a few days last summer, did a
workshop, and renewed our friendship. Without that visit, I would have
learned nothing about what he was trying to do. Where are all the
sociologists and what are they talking about, writing about? What are
Wayne, Dick, and so many others thinking about? The close, family-like
intereactions we had, especially at the past ten conferences and during the
early days of this net seems to be gone.
My fear in all this is that the close ties that bound us all together and
allowed us to share our thoughts and dreams, and what we were doing are
going away. The CSG conference last summer had 22 participants, and what
was noticeable was the absence of so many _old timers_. When the CSG was
formed some 10 years ago, the warmth, patience, and generosity of the group
created such a great atmosphere, one in which our common desire to further
the ideas of PCT could grow and become strong. When the CSG-L net was
formed several years ago, it seemed at first that openning ourselves to the
world would further expose us to what we were. My question is, are we
loosing what we once had and, more importantly, what we once were? Will
next summer's conference having fewer people? Will Closed Loop cease? I
think these are questions we all have to face if PCT is to grow and prosper.
Maybe I am overstating what's happening. Maybe not?
Ed........