Contents

• Delay in publication
• Visit by Jon Erwin
• The Next ACT 1
• The Wheel of Life

Delay in Publication

I assessed my willingness to say “Sorry!” and came up with a high level – so I’m sorry that it has been so long between issues of this Newsletter. This is the first one since Christmas last year. The main reason for the delay has been working out some way to send out the information without being caught up by the “spam” filters; I’m hoping that what we have worked out will allow this Perceptions to reach you.

Sally Berman’s visit postponed

As we had advertised that Sally Berman would be visiting us in May and here we are without her, it’s pretty obvious she isn’t coming. Unfortunately, Sally postponed her visit to Australia – she had a family health issue (care of a very elderly mother) that she wanted to see resolved before she made any plans to be out of the country for any significant amount of time. So we will be struggling on under our own steam for a while, hoping that she may be able to pick up the plans later, possibly next year.

Visit by Jon Erwin

Happily, educators will not be completely starved of good information this year – Judy Hatswell has sponsored a visit by Jon Erwin, with one- and two-day workshops entitled “Strategies Galore” in September. Jon started as a high school English teacher and has moved on to staff development, curriculum specialist and university presenter. His book “The Classroom of Choice – Giving Students What They Need and Getting What You Want” will be available for sale at his workshops.

Workshop content will be based on Glasser’s ideas, incorporating assessment of students’ instructional needs, multiple learning styles and multiple intelligences, and strategies based on utilising this information.

Jon will run workshops in Sydney, Gold Coast, Newcastle and Adelaide. Probably the most relevant dates for us are the Sydney ones:

• Sydney 2-day: Sept 20/21, West Ryde, cost $385; 1-day Sept 24, West Ryde, cost $185.
• Newcastle 2-day: Sept 18/19, 1-day Sept 17. Same prices.

For brochures or more information, contact Judy Hatswell on (02) 9872 4231.

The next ACT 1

Our training agenda has been limited this year, although we did hold a very successful ACT 2 in March, and will probably schedule another one towards the end of this year or early 2008. Please send Judy an expression of interest to help us estimate demand dietnomore@bigpond.com .

An ACT 1 will be presented by Jenny and Judy McFadden at Ryde-Eastwood Leagues Club, opposite West Ryde railway station, on Sat/Sun August 18/19 and Sat/Sun September 8/9, 2007. If you know of anyone who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in Control Theory, please tell them about the course, or send Judy their details and she will advise them.

The Three Umpires

Here’s a piece for thought. When I am working with a client, the aspect of their “problem” that always hits me forcibly is what a huge part their perspective plays in determining their level of control. Very important in relationships, self esteem, balance, you name it. Perspective is (happily) also the area of the problem over which they have most control…that’s what makes counselling such an interesting job, because there is always something that can change! So here’s a piece from Barnes Boffey’s book, “My Gift in Return”, that demonstrates the point (try and imagine the right drawly accents):

The Three Umpires

A world view is often best explained by a parable or story. Here is one of my favourites. It concerns three baseball umpires discussing how they do their job.

“Well,” says the first umpire, “It’s really pretty easy. I go to the ballpark; I get behind the plate; the pitcher winds up and throws the ball. The ball passes the batter. There are balls and there are strikes, and I calls ‘em as they is.”

“Perhaps,” chimes in the second umpire, “but I think it’s not that easy. I go to the ballpark; I get behind the plate; the pitcher winds up and throws the ball. The ball passes the batter. There are balls, and there are strikes, and I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em.”

“That’s a beginning,” says the third umpire, “but I think there’s even more. Sure, I get behind the plate. The pitcher winds up and throws the ball, and the ball passes the batter. And we know there are balls and there are strikes, but they ain’t nuthin’ till I calls ‘em.”