Dear Friends, Our colleague Michael Pannwitz in Germany has been trying to reach out to the list for a while, but his messages don't appear to be going through. Here are his messages. Would appreciate if someone could address his request. In addition to posting to the list, please also cc: his email address, just in case. Danke Schon! Murli
From: "Michael M Pannwitz" <mmpa...@snafu.de> Date: Fri, 04 Sep 1998 23:25:34 +0200 Subject: os in an elementary school =========================== Dear colleagues, 10 days ago I sent out a request via the oslist regarding including elementary school kids in an open space. There was no response yet, maybe because I mentioned that I went on a retreat. But now I am back in Berlin and met with the people of the school again and have some more information. Elementary schools in Berlin have grades one thru six. In this particular school there are two departments. One teaches in a traditional classroom setting...first grade, second grade, etc. The other department has grades 1, 2 and 3 bunched together and then again grades 4, 5 and 6. In this department the students have considerable experience in working with younger or with older students in one classroom setting which reportedly leads to a markedly more cooperative behaviour. It is clear that teachers, parents, school administration, technical staff and also parents that no longer have their kids in this school and those that will have their kids there in a year or two as well as former students (those that went to highschool a year or two ago) will be invited to the space which will run under the title "Future of our school in our neighborhood". So the question remains on whether students (which age ?) should be invited or not. We discussed this yesterday at a meeting of consultants working in schools and the general feeling was that it should be tried. All of these consultants had attended the open space on networking in and among schools last February that was attended by some 260 people.....we had 2 students there! If anyone of you have experience of working with schools let me know what your thoughts are on including students. The event will take place late in November. Expected are 40 to 60 participants (I think it will be many more). The invitation will go out in about a week (the word is out, though). It will take place in the schools gym from 10am to 2pm. Hope you all had wonderful spaces this last summer, see lots of you in Monterey! Love and space michael Pannwitz Draisweg 1 12209 Berlin Germany Tel.: 49 30 772 8000 Fax: 49 30 773 92 464 From: "Michael M Pannwitz" <mmpa...@snafu.de> Subject: elementary school students in open space Dear colleagues, just before leaving. A Berlin Elementary School is conducting an open space for teachers, parents, former students, neighborhood people etc. I asked them whether they want to include the kids that are in their school now. There was a discussion and since I have only once had two students in an open space last spring involving some 260 educators, I have no experience either with an open space for a school nor with including the students. I myself have a hard time imagening an open space in a school without having the students take part. Anyone out there with some experience? (this space will take in November after Monterey, where I am sure I will meet loads of you, in the gym of the school, the local parent initiative is sponsoring it with heavy support from the principal) Thanks, love michael