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Pooling Our Resources

by Robert Peck, IJA education director

I'm pleased to report that after my second attempt to elicit feedback through this column, I began to get some. Not much, but enough of you communicated with me that I'm encouraged to stick with it!

I'd like to particularly commend Jeff Miller for his recent efforts to "pool our resources" in Juggler's World. His recent article, "Good Advice for Passing It On to the Next Generation," showed the obvious sincere joy he derives from teaching young students and should be a big help to other juggling teachers.

Here are three things I'd like for us to consider now. First is workshops - both last year's in Rapid City or those upcoming at our big 50th in Pittsburgh. This is the time of year when I'm revising, reformulating and refining the workshops process, and your ideas can guide that process. I'd especially like feedback on one-hour vs. two-hour workshop length, the merits of offering the same workshop at two different times to give participants more flexibility in scheduling, and the value of multi-session workshops (such as Dick Franco's tips on routining, Sam Kilbourn's acrobatics and Stuart Celarier's daily beginning club passing).

Secondly I'd like to hear about the value of specifically designated "break-out" sessions. While I know the idea of "scheduled spontaneity" is pretty paradoxical, I'm not sure how else to foster a time and clear a space for like-minded devil-stickers, diabolists or others to congregate and collaborate.

Finally I'd like to hear ideas for new workshops, creative formats for panel discussions, brainstorming sessions, scheduling or spatial innovations, etc. I've taken the workshops about as far as I can on my own, and if things are going to progress further I need your ideas and enthusiasm. (And hopefully some moral support!)

As promised to those who were kind enough to call or write asking me to follow up on last issue's "Gold in 'Dem DARE Hills" story, here's the form letter I sent out out alerting parents about my DARE-sponsored after-school juggling club. Please feel free to copy, edit or adapt as you see fit.

Yours in the spirit of passing it on Rob Peck

Dear Parents: I'm pleased to announce that I'll be giving weekly after-school juggling lessons in the gym geared especially for students in grades 4-6. I'll supply equipment, instruction and lots of positive reinforcement the true antidote to clutziness! Here are some reasons why your child should participate:

Top 10 REASONS WHY YOUR CHILD SHOULD JOIN THE JUGGLING CLUB

10. Recreation/Concentration (gives both body and brain a good work-out)

9. Teaches three "T's for Success:" Teamwork, Tolerance and Tenacity

(triumph= try + umph!) .

8. Confidence Building & Character Boosting

(self-initiative + self-discipline = selfesteem)

7. It's FUN (and it's FREE!)

6. Hand-Eye Coordination (key to success in almost all sports, dance and musical instruments. )

5. Readin' (rapid eye movement / "tracking" enhances pupil's ability to scan printed page)

4. Writin' (ambidexterity improves fine motor skills for penmanship / typing on computer)

3. 'Rithmatic (sequencing, calculating trajectory, trial and error, creative problem

solving..)

2. Peer Coaching, (collaborating & caring - the "foolsproof" power of encouragement)

1. Goal Setting (step by step milestones & the secret of relaxed concentration)

0. Instructor is incredibly handsome and one totally awesome "gnarly" dude!)

Weak attempts at humor aside, I hope you'll do everything you can to get your son and/or daughter to give the club a whirl. Last but not least I'd be thankful (and tickled) if any parents who have the time would like to attend and or in any other way help make this pilot program fly!

P.S. Likewise if any of you are free this Friday at 1 p.m. please feel welcome to come and watch the "Foolsproof" assembly program which "kicks off" (and hopefully sparks interest in) the after school club.

P.S.S. Please note that both performance and workshops have been sponsored by Gary Sibilia, Northfield's Police Chief, in conjunction with a D.A.R.E. grant proposal.