By
In early June, I
facilitated an Open Space for 320 participants from across
There
has been a poisoned, confrontational climate among the stakeholders. In early focus groups, OTF saw that teachers
were usually liked by parents, but federations were not. Many had real concerns about the quality and
effectiveness of public education for their children in addition to concerns for
the costs. To begin to address this, the
Ontario Teachers Federation initiated a series of 2.5 hour community forums in
1999. I was asked to design them and to
train teacher-facilitators to use a process of small group discussions where
teachers listened. The 38 communities
that have held the forums across the province recruited a diversity of
participants to the dialogue – and dialogue was the focus. Those local forums have generated
conversations and networking in those communities that have led to both new
learning and new initiatives. To find out more about those Community Forums go
to www.talkschools.on.ca .
The
Provincial Forum was seen as a way to take the community dialogues to
provincial level. The participants were
from across
The
sponsors believed that some high profile presenters would give the event more
political credibility and stir the pot for the following discussions in Open
Space. A former Premier, an academic and
the Minister of Education all gave short presentations that first morning. The last presenter was a clergyman who had attended
the first Community Forum and extolled its impact and the virtues of engaging
the diversity of the community in the conversation on public education.
I
usually recommend against “experts” presenting right before Opening the
Space. Lunch in
between helps. In this case, the
desire of participants to move forward on Public Education issues was still
strong at the Opening. Even though we
had some sound problems in the room, participants jumped up to be sure their
topics were on the agenda.
At
the end of the first afternoon in Open Space, we held “Evening News”. People were already enthusiastic about what
they had experienced and learned. I
asked for both what was working and then what people wished for given that we
had a day left. I find those “appreciative”
questions a marvelous way to surface stories and to engage people in thinking
about what topics they might want to pursue the next day. I asked people to pay attention to their
dreams.
At
Morning News, there were some dreams to be shared. One about saving a baby became a topic “Oh
Baby” about the loss of student enthusiasm for education. Many other topics were posted that took the
discussions to some clearer, deeper and more strategic levels. The day concluded with another Evening News
to mark the transition to convergence with again many energized and excited
statements about the learning and about Open Space. There was also a speaker at dinner, which was
of some concern to me, but many believed she made a positive contribution. (She had originally been scheduled for the
first morning.)
The
convergence process in the morning was twofold.
The 69 reports had been printed overnight and people were given copies
with convergence instructions as they arrived for breakfast at
Individuals
then used a guide to identify their personal goals and next steps. They were encouraged to network with those at
the event with whom they might work with to accomplish their goals. Personal networking, truly chaotic with no
posting of topics and I think it worked well.
A couple of folks used the mike to say that a parents group would meet
in one part of the room or that a community would be meeting in another. Press releases were requested from the OTF
and they were distributed to those who wanted them. In the closing, a number talked about the
concrete next steps that they had planned.
There
was some attrition by the closing on Saturday morning, as expected, but those
who stayed told of life affirming and changing experiences: healing
conversations between parents and teachers, between those working from
different perspectives, between local union leaders and business people. One woman was moved by her Community Forum a
couple of years ago to run for trustee, and won. She described how she was moved by the Open
Space to stand up for her community in ways she could not have imagined. Students loved it.
For
most it was their first experience of Open Space. I do believe that the participatory approach
used in the Community Forums did help to establish the value and develop some
skills for real dialogue. A recent
change in Provincial leadership that gives more hope for positive developments
in education was also a factor in the high energy and openness.
More
community forums are planned in areas that have not held them or to take the
conversations to a new level where they have been held. The next Provincial Forum in Open Space will
be held in a year with a hope to double the size and it will be right before
Provincial Elections.
Associates in Transformation
416.653.4829