And then, Andy......??
On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 6:25 PM, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net
<mailto:ablunden@mira.net>> wrote:
I have found in my own work that having a "keeper of the dream" is
important for any project. If any specific thing is to be
achieved, there must be exactly one person in the institution who
"keeps the dream", whose life depends on the project and who
thinks of nothing else, who is able to revise the aims and rules
of the project, and modify the realisation of the dream as
required and *fight* for it. It is good to see that this key role
has been well filled. *Dream-keeper* plus *on-going reliable
source of funding* does the trick.
thanks Don.
Andy
Bremme Don wrote:
Andy,
Please don't worry about calling me "Bremme." As it turns
out, many of my students and colleagues call me that.
Longevity of the Fifth D:
Two key factors have been funding since 1994 from a local
foundation (the BCM Foundation, formerly known as the B. C.
McCabe Foundation) and my continuous involvement.
The money ($200k per year on average) goes mostly t pay th
members of our BCM Scholars team, who get $7k per year in
return for their contributions to our programs. But it also
enables purchase of software, hardware, expenses for field
trips, etc. One effect: I can demand a lot from them, and
they consistently deliver for the kids. In addition, the
funding means we bring a lot of resources to the Boys & Girls
Club that they would otherwise not have. (They are
perpetually short on money and staff.) On rare occasions
when we've experienced tensions with the club over schedules,
rules, and such, the resources have given us leverage to
persuade club administrators to accommodate our preferences.
My involvement has been important in keeping the project
going. Having someone to champion the program has been
important: to write the grants, broker with the college and
club,inspire and guide the students. I also think one of my
main roles hs been Keeper of the Dream. That means standing
up for the programs theoretically based design and operating
principles when occasionally, the club staff, college, or
sometimes even my students want to make choices that would
move us away from those.
Over the years, continuity in leadership has also built the
Foundation trustees' trust and confidence in me and (thus) in
the program. To a more limited extent, my personal longevity
has also won the confidence of some club staff.
This much is probably not surprising. But I think another
very important factors has been our adaptability over time.
We've kept the core principles of the Fifth Dimension as Mike
and colleagues designed it-- but we've evolved with changing
times and challenges in ways consistent with those principles.
This of course has included changing the technology and
activities, but it has also entailed fine tuning procedures
and organizational structures in light of local contextual
circumstances.
Finally, one of the things we've tried to do is build a strong
team culture for our undergrads, most of whom remain with the
program for several years. As new undergrads join us, the
more experienced undergrad team members enculturate them in
our collective values and practices, which has provided
quality and continuity in ways of working with kids and
working with peers on the team. It is the team of students
who have constructed most of the adaptations I mentioned
earlier. The team operates as a collective leadership group,
which seems to build their investment in and commitment to the
program and its underlying principles. There's more tat could
be added, but these seem to me the main factors.
Mike knows our site pretty well. He might have something to add.
But thanks for your interest, Andy!
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: Andy Blunden [mailto:ablunden@mira.net
<mailto:ablunden@mira.net>]
Sent: Sun 7/24/2011 7:41 PM
To: Bremme Don
Cc: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Subject: Re: [xmca] RE: The Social Creation of Inequality
We are all a big happy family here, Don.
Sorry about calling you "Bremme." You coming from the heart of
Southern California, I thought "Don" was your title. :)
What do you see as the key to the longevity of your 5thD project?
Andy
Bremme Don wrote:
Greetings to you, Andy, and thanks for your nice words
about 5thD organizers.
I feel as though I met you long ago. I've had the
advantage of reading with great interest, and learning a
great deal from, your xmca postings. And thank you very
much for those!
Don
-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu
<mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu> on behalf of Andy Blunden
Sent: Sun 7/24/2011 9:40 AM
To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Cc: Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition Internal
List; Bud Mehan
Subject: Re: [xmca] RE: The Social Creation of Inequality
Nice to meet you Bremme. I follow with great interest the
ingenuity of 5thD organisers in keeping their project
alive and sustainable. You story deserves a great deal of
reflection. Congratulations and no thanks to capitalism.
Andy
Bremme Don wrote:
Mike,
Your summary and critique of the situation (UC
classes, private tutoring job announcement) is right
on, but deeply saddening.
I wonder if events here at Whittier College might
demonstrate a variation on the same dynamics your
posting highlights? As you know, Whittier is a small
(1500 enrollment), private liberal arts college, one
with a small endowment, one challenged in the current
economic environment. I've run a Fifth Dimension site
here since 1993. Over the years, college personnel
have routinely spoken about what a great thing the
Fifth Dimension is: in line with Whittier's Quaker
heritage and secular Quaker values, providing a
valuable service to underserved kids in the community
and valued educational experience for Whittier
students. The President has cited it on numerous
public occasions as illustrating "the Whittier way",
e.g., in commencement addresses, convocations, and so
on. The Fifth Dimension, however, has been supported
solely through grants for a local foundation
throughout its 18 years, grants developed solely by
individual faculty and secured as a result of
individual faculty relationships with the small, local
foundation. Aside from minimal indirect costs (e.g.,
some small portion of my office phone bill), the
college has contributed not a dime, directly or
indirectly, to the program. In fact, the college
administration has several times, when asked, declined
to provide even very small amounts of support to help
sustain the Fifth Dimension.
Nevertheless, based upon the existence of the Fifth
Dimension and one other faculty project funded
exclusively by the same foundation, Whittier last year
formally established the "Center for Engagement with
Communities," advertising that it's purpose was to
bring under one organizational roof and faculty/course
outreach efforts and to promote the extension of such
efforts. While this might be taken as instantiating
institutional values, the center was created
explicitly as a vehicle for capturing additional
grants. The center exists only in name, on paper.
The college has invested literally nothing in it.
The local foundation's funding for Fifth Dimension
and one other faculty project are simply said to be
"under" the center. But the stated hope of college
administrators and the advancement office is that,
with money for service learning "out there," having
"a center" will increase Whittier's credibility as an
institution committed to community engagement and
(thus) its competitiveness for further extramural
grants. Thus, it seems that equality, social justice,
(as well as educational value for undergraduates) take
a back seat in a machine driven by dollars. Can it
ever be otherwise in a capitalist society?
Just some thoughts from a long-time Xmca lurker,
Don Bremme
Professor, Department of Education and Child Development
Whittier College
-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu
<mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu> on behalf of mike
cole
Sent: Fri 7/22/2011 10:45 AM
To: eXtended Mind, Culture,Activity
Cc: Laboratory of Comparative Human Cognition Internal
List; Bud Mehan
Subject: [xmca] RE: The Social Creation of Inequality
Dear Colleagues-
As you know, LCHC has a long time interest in the
study of diversity and
inequality.
Current events appear to be revealing a lot about how
inequalities are
created because the mechanisms lie on the surface in
understandable chunks.
The text below is an ad from a private tutoring
company aimed at UCSD
students. These students have faced terrible increases
in fees at our
once-public university. They really need money. And
they will be terrific if
they take these jobs. I know, because when they engage
in theory-practice
classes with me, they do a wonderful job
not only in being with the young people, but in
learning to think critically
about the conditions that create the need for such
tutoring in the first
place. For example, the areas of San Diego identified
to tutoring are in
areas where people who have the resources to
supplement local schooling on
their own live. They can pay for it. Not a matter for
civic society- its
business.
Meantime, the courses that I have taught for many
years are dying at UCSD.
They are inefficient by the business model that brings
in out of state
students at 35,000$ a year in place of local students
who pay 12K+ and are
up for scholarships because that is a hardship. They
are measurably
wonderful for a huge range of students. But except
where mandated (as in
teacher ed), they are an endangered species.
No need of weathermen here in beautiful san diego.
Mild blue skys and a
gentle sea breeze.
mike
Tutoring in Your Home, LLC began in Columbus, Ohio,
and is starting a branch
in San Diego. We are looking to hire qualified tutors
for the areas of
Pacific Beach, University City, and La Jolla. Results
in Ohio have shown
that motivated undergraduates have the best success
with their pupils,
especially in the mathematics. If you know of any
students at UCSD that
would be interested in picking up about 5-15 hours a
week to tutor grades
K-College, please pass this email along to them. We
aim to have at least six
tutors available to start the commencement of this
school year. (See
specifics below in the ads that will soon be placed on
Craigslist.)
If you or they have any questions, please feel free to
call me at
614-506-8825 (c) or 858-550-4060 (h). I worked for
Tutoring in Your Home
for a couple of years after completing my
undergraduate degree and before
moving to San Diego. I can speak to their great
reputation. I'm available
most days between 6:30 am and 9:30 pm. I'm also happy
to meet any
prospective tutors at coffee shops or the like in the
UTC / campus area.
Resumes and (2) letters of recommendation can be sent
to kerritiyh@gmail.com <mailto:kerritiyh@gmail.com>
.
Thank you,
-Kerri Fullam
Director, TIYH San Diego
Following positions available:
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC, is currently searching for
part-time tutors to
cover all subjects K-College in the La Jolla, Pacific
Beach, and University
City areas. Qualified candidates enjoy flexible
scheduling, excellent pay,
and work with a supportive staff. Bachelor's degree
preferred, though
outstanding undergraduate applicants will be
considered. For more
information visit our website at
www.tutoringinyourhome.com
<http://www.tutoringinyourhome.com> or call the area
director at 614-506-8825.
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC is currently looking for a
Special Education
Tutor near La Jolla, Pacific Beach, or University City
to fill an immediate
opening. Our tutors enjoy flexible scheduling, a
supportive staff and very
competitive compensation. Please call (614)506-8825 if
interested.
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC is currently looking for
elementary math and
reading tutors in the La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and
University City areas.
Ideal candidates will have a bachelor's or higher and
experience tutoring
math and/or reading. However, outstanding
undergraduate applicants will be
considered. The candidate will be able to commit up to
6 hrs a week and up
to one year of service. We offer flexible scheduling
and competitive pay.
Candidates may respond via email or by phone at (614)
506-8825.
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC is currently looking for an
elementary math and
reading for the La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and
University City areas. The
ideal candidate will have at least a BA in Elementary
Education, and
experience tutoring math and/or reading. The candidate
will be able to
commit to 7-10 hours per week over the course of at
least the upcoming
school year. Candidates may respond via email or by
phone at (614)506-8825.
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC, is currently searching for
part-time tutors for
all subjects K-College in La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and
University City.
Those interested in tutoring reading, math (K-12), and
science are
especially encouraged to apply. Qualified candidates
enjoy flexible
scheduling, excellent pay, and work with a supportive
staff. Bachelor's
degree preferred and outstanding undergraduate
applicants will be
considered. Tutoring experience preferred, though
interested professionals
outside the field of education are encouraged to
apply. For more information
visit our website at www.tutoringinyourhome.com
<http://www.tutoringinyourhome.com> or contact us at
(614)506-8825.
Tutoring In Your Home, LLC is looking for a math tutor
in La Jolla, Pacific
Beach, and University City. Our tutors work the hours
they have available
and are afforded excellent pay, flexible scheduling,
and a rewarding
part-time career. Call (614)506-8825 or email
kerritiyh@gmail.com <mailto:kerritiyh@gmail.com> for more
information.
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*Andy Blunden*
Joint Editor MCA:
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Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/ <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/>
Book: http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857
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MIA: http://www.marxists.org
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