THE PROFESSOR CONFIDENCE CORNER

by Dave Finnigan Education Director

Workshops-- Fourteen workshops were held at the Amherst convention. Thanks to the cooperation of numerous "resource persons," and the participation of eager students, these sessions were well attended and a great sharing experience. We'll do it again in Fargo. So if you want to gain or impart a skill, or if you have a special topic you would like aired, let me know as soon as possible, and we can set up a session. Workshops were loosely structured and open for input by all in attendance. Many thanks to all those who helped make this experimental exercise in controlled anarchy a success.

China Trip-- Several issues ago I proposed a China visit to learn from Chinese acrobats and jugglers. Both the US State De­partment and the Chinese Embassy responded. Although neither was favorable for a trip in the near future, both left the door open for another try as relations between the US and China improve. Anyone with ideas on this topic or high level connec­tions, please speak up. Meanwhile, those who wrote wanting to go, don't start packing yet.

Teaching Tip-- Mark Sutherland, a physical education teacher from Carmichael, California, teaches five to eight-year-olds to juggle. Sounds impossible until you hear that Mark does it with scarves. Mark has found that scarves slow gravity by about half, and that makes the difference. They are very forgiving since you can grab an edge and still make the catch, and can throw just about anywhere and not break your pattern.

Of course when you juggle with scarves you release them up high with your palm forward, and claw downward to catch. Even though there is a lot more arm motion to scarf juggling than to ball juggling, the skill is transferable since the patterns and ry­thms are basically the same. Scarves are fun to juggle and visual­ly appealing. Parents and teachers like them because they are less hazardous than heavier objects. Also, scarves are inexpensive, and the cheapest are usually the flimsiest, and therefore the best to use. Check your local Five and Dime for the 59 cent variety.

One of the nicest scarf tricks I've seen was performed by "Spiderman" from Boston. He pirouetted slowly, tossing scarves in five directions, and kept all five going as he continued to turn. White and day-glo scarves are particularly beautiful under black light.

Opportunities in Education-- During the past year I've made solid contact with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). This is the PE teachers' professional association, and it has chapters and annual conventions in every state. This group is very open to using jug­gling as a means of teaching motor skills and movement to young people. If you want to become a professional juggling in­structor, going from school to school in your own state, get in touch with your local chapter and let them know you're available. For more information, please write me at my address below.

Dave Finnigan, Edmonds, WA

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