pflaump@cfl.rr.com

TO: Stephens

RE: Character, virtue and TQM in Schools;

There have been two recent public T.V. programs on Mind-Body
connections. One by Bill Moyers explored the health implications
of non-western medical practices and Norman Cousin's Healing
describes his experience with a terrible sickness. Zen, yoga,
some forms of marshall arts, visualizations in sports psychology,
TM, bioenergetics, (Alexander Lowen, M.D.)and other forms of mind
body integration reduce stress (Benson at Harvard) and increase
health. This much should be clear. This is not a religious issue
and the practice is not a religion. The basic is physical not
metaphysical.

To understand the idea of quality some form of "higher" awareness
or what is called a paradigm shift is necessary. Quality flows
from the process and can not be imposed on it by top down
methods, tests, inspections, slogans, and blame. Demning main
point is that we need to understand "system" functions and
particular attributes. What variance is cause by the system and
what is random noise and what is a personal problem?  When a
teacher gets unprocessed students who have been passed along for
rework they have more uncertainty in the system than the methods
available can handle. It is as in physical production the
materials are not standard, the machines are out of tune, the
working conditions awful and the worker is blamed for poor
quality.

Covey wrote about Character, how until 1920' character was a
major part of schooling, then it became personality. Bennett has
a new best seller on Virtue - he says it is not a special
religion or national idea but universal attributes supported in
all cultures at all times; such as family, loyalty, work,
honesty, sincerity, kindness and concern for others, respect,
discipline, and orderly mind and a healthy body.  Theses virtues
are clearly related to quality. The first step is body awareness.
The next the control of attention. Then increased awareness of
the full dimensions of reality and a comfort in new ideas.
Security is the first need (Maslow) then moving up to higher
levels of motivation. Maslow's Further Reaches of Human Behavior
explores these area as a form of virtue beyond the self. In Covey
it is explicit that only "higher" values can be the basis of
stable, centered, principled action. These could be stoic,
platonic, or religious, that is not the issue. Principles arise
out of a quality situation not to be imposed on anyone by anyone.
Leadership is by example. Do as I do, be what I am. (B values)
It's a heavy responsibility.
************************************************************
Peter E. Pflaum Ph.D.         GLOBAL_VILLAGE_SCHOOLHOUSE
225 Robinson Road, New Smyrna Beach    * IN THE WORLD - 
FL 32169-2176 (904) 428-9609      * BUT NOT OF THE WORLD
pepflaum@bellsouth.net                * ACTIVE - COOPERATIVE -
pflaump@cfl.rr.com             * SMALL SCHOOLS JOURNALS
pflaump@cfl.rr.com, pflaump@cfl.rr.com,
ZEN IS THE ART OF GETTING YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
************************************************************