Dealing with Scarce Resources
Thanks for writing about students connecting with the RC literature [see the articles “An Online Reading Program,” by P—, on page 59 of Present Time No. 207 and “Sharing a Link to Articles on the RC Website,” by Margot Brinn, on page 59 of Present Time No. 207]. Yes, although some people “devour” the literature, others won’t go anywhere near it. The hurts related to school, reading, homework, and so on, are large.
There is also the issue of resources. Here in Southern Africa (and probably on the continent in general), resources of all kinds are scarce. For example, in South Africa we do not have a functional postal service. So we don’t easily receive RC literature. Every time one of us goes to the United States for a workshop, or an Intensive at Re-evaluation Counseling Community Resources (RCCR), we bring back many copies of the Fundamentals Manual and The Human Side of Human Beings. Usually only at Regional workshops do we get a chance to disseminate written literature, and people are hungry for it.
I like the idea of using the list of articles by category on the RC website. However, most (or many) people here have only one device—a phone—for accessing workshops, Co-Counselling sessions, classes, and more. Trying to navigate the RC website on a phone is challenging. I have pointed my students toward the website, but not many of them have accessed it.
I have used the Fundamentals Teaching Guide and Class Outline—Part I in teaching my fundamentals classes. When we were meeting face-to-face, I would print from it the RC quote relevant to the teaching of the week and put it up in the room. I would also print copies of one of the “readings for students” and ask the class to read at least one sentence in their Co-Counselling sessions before the next class. Then at the next class I would ask for their questions and comments.
When teaching on Zoom, I send out the quote and reading on WhatsApp, a widely used medium for receiving documents that’s more accessible to phones. I remind people throughout the week about the reading, and several read at least one sentence.
I also do a class on early hurts related to school, reading, teachers, and homework.
South Africa
Reprinted from the e-mail discussion list for RC teachers
(Present Time 207, April 2022)