Monday, 13 July 2009

Organising your Conductive Education material

The hunt for a quotation and its origins as mentioned in a previous posting has led to a discussion about materials on Conductive Education held by individuals.


http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/07/mystery-of-peto-proverbs.html


It is great to hear that some conductors have their own little 'libraries' which may include items not in the National Library of Conductive Education or the Peto Institute collections, but most probably they are already held. Judit suggested compiling some of these for publication, or sorting into a 'library'.


A lot of material in Conductive Education is unpublished and tends to be fairly short papers or reports. Still interesting and useful, nonetheless. Sorting these and preparing them for publication would be quite an arduous task, as I remember well from producing Maria Hari on conductive pedagogy. You would need to decide whether the material warrants such efforts, who would help edit, publish, establish copyright etc. If you do have any you think would fit into this category, please let me know.


Establishing a library also is hard work. The material needs organising, classifying, cataloguing etc and can take a long time. It took eighteen years to build the National Library of Conductive Education in this way, combined with finding and adding new material.


But personal collections can be organised to make indvidual items readily available without sorting through large piles or boxes. This can be done by simple means, such as putting them in order by author, or filing under broad subject headings such as history, philosophy, practice, country, to name a few, and listing them. Duplicates could be offered to the National Library of Conductive Education, the Peto Institute, or even me!


If anyone would like to contact me for further basic information on how to do this, I will be happy to help.

Wednesday, 8 July 2009

Internet News July 2009

Below is a listing of items I have found on the Internet over the past month that are about, or relevant to Conductive Education. At the beginning of June there was a large number of items about the death of Rita Szarvas which were referred to in earlier postings, 3-9 June, and therefore they not included here.

Each link has a brief explanantion of its content.


Conductive Education


http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Honour-for-founder-of-Rainbow.5363276.jp
Founder of Rainbow Conductive Education centre receives awarded MBE in Queen’s birthday honours.
http://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4430056.Was_little_Andras_lost_on_doomed_flight_447_/
More about Rita Szarvas and her son on the Air France plane
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/national-news/2510497/Cash-pledge-on-disabled-unit
Naene Unit in New Zealand assured that Education Ministry will not let it close.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/2518930/114-000-cut-from-budget/
Addington School, Christchurch, New Zealand will lose government funding for its CE Unit.
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/4447677.Wirral_children_s_charity_Stick____n____Step_scoops_two_top_awards/
Stick ‘n’ Step centre wins two awards
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09175/979348-114.stm?cmpid=healthscience.xml
Conductive Education mentioned in article about pediatric stroke recovery research at Children’s hospital in Pittsburgh
http://www.melkshamnews.com/blog/?p=148
One of first British children to go to Budapest is doing a skydive for charity
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090629/LOVELAND01/90629005
http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=118562
Reports of new centre in Loveland, Colorado
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090629/LOVELAND01/90629005
Charity bike ride in aid of Foundation for Conductive Education
http://www.windsorstar.com/Health/Archive+Hannah+Story+McCanns+have+learned+live+moment/1762420/story.html
Fundraising to go to Ability Camp, Canada
http://www.cyprus-forum.com/cyprus21637.html
EU support for Conductive Education in Cyprus.


Parkinson’s disease


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090630163148.htm
A new neuropsychological memory test is helping to uncover how Parkinson's disease can alter people's ability to learn about the consequences of the choices they make.
http://www.barchester.com/Healthcare-News/Parkinson
The Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) has announced that it is to relaunch its Mali Jenkins Help Fund to provide one-off grants to people suffering from Parkinson's disease.
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=98382
Two new books promote Parkinson’s awareness
http://www.examiner.com/x-1242-Science-News-Examiner~y2009m6d12-Wiihab-boosts-Parkinsons-treatments
Nintendo Wii can help those with Parkinson’s.


Multiple sclerosis


http://www.hhmi.org/news/20090701.html
A new theory of why repair of the brain’s wiring fails.
http://www.barchester.com/Healthcare-News/Multiple-sclerosis-drug-
A drug that could control the number of relapses which a multiple sclerosis sufferer has, has been rolled out with its first patient trial, it has been announced.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155003.php
Police are investigating the suicide of an academic who pioneered treatment for multiple sclerosis but could no longer live with the disease herself.
http://www.barchester.com/Healthcare-News/MP-to-step-down-over-personal-health-concerns/376/2826
Alan Milburn, who served as health secretary, revealed all to his party partners after he asserted that his battle against multiple sclerosis is causing him to struggle in his capacity as an MP serving the people to the best of his abilities.


Stroke


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1191658/Bionic-knee-help-stroke-victims-walk.html
A bionic leg brace that can track the movement of the body is being used to help stroke victims become mobile again.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/5603200/Music-could-be-used-to-treat-heart-attack-and-stroke-victims-claim-scientists.html
Music could be used to help stroke victims after scientists discover it can lower blood pressure
http://inventorspot.com/articles/locust_experiments_may_lead_new_treatments_strokes_migraines_epi_29801
Locust Experiments may lead to new treatments for strokes, migraines, and epilepsy
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/a-stroke-patients-long-road-from-healed-to-healer/article1204727/
A stroke patient's long road from healed to healer .
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health-news/2009/06/29/bioness-l300-gets-chepstow-stroke-victim-walking-again-91466-24007165/
New device gets stroke victim walking again.

Monday, 6 July 2009

Who said what? One thing leads to another

A few days ago I had a request asking:

I am looking for a quote that I thought was attributed to Peto, but now I can't find the source that I thought it came from. The quote was something like...'Do not ask me what I can do for a child. Ask the child what he can do for himself.'

Since then there has been some blogging about this as others have made suggestions, but unfortunately it has not been possible for any of us to confirm the source either way. I feel it originated from Maria Hari but am not in a position to check this.

It led me to look at Maria Hari on conductive pedagogy in the hope I would find it there, but all I found was a substantial number of statements that are very similar:

eg. 'The work of the conductor is simply to motivate the child to do well'. p71.


'The child learns that he can change position. The conductor must prove it to him. The conductor gives him the chance to interact with the environment and to overcome difficulties' p72.


every child must know that he is absolutely free to do what he wants and that he is the most essential, his skills are appreciated, his life has meaning' p109.

Not quite as snappy as the quote asked about, but just as good, I think.This made me realise what a goldmine the book is, it can help with explaining the philosophy and pedagogy behind Conductive Education. It does this clearly and succinctly, and all those wishing to know more should get hold of a copy.

There are copies in the National Library of Conductive Education and also copies for sale from

the National Institute of Conductive Education library@conductive-education.org.uk

At one point Andrew talked about compiling a little book of quotes from the writings of Hari which, perhaps could be looked at with Peto's proverbs, ( as mentioned on Susie's blog) if the source can ever be confirmed.

http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/07/do-not-ask-me-what-i-can-do-for-child.html and

http://www.susie-mallett.org/2009/07/mystery-of-peto-proverbs.html

Perhaps a collection of such fully referenced quotes would be useful, though of course, it must always be remembered that statements can be distorted when used out of context.

Maguire, G. and Sutton, A. ed. (2004) Maria Hari on conductive pedagogy. Birmingham: Foundation for Conductive Education.

Friday, 3 July 2009

All change!

For some time I have been concerned about the name of this blog. Things have changed since its set-up and the name 'Library' is no longer appropriate.

A library is a collection of organised, accessible, catalogued material and other information. While I was the Librarian and had access to Conductive Education material in the National Library of Conductive Education, and its catalogue at the National Institute of Conductive Education, ‘library’ seemed a logical name for a blog intended to promote this collection.

That situation no longer applies.

The post of Librarian was made redundant. I left taking with me what only I had learnt (in my head), my 'knowledge' of the literature, the history, the people etc, and now rely on this, my memory and the Internet when posting information.

I am continuing my blog on a voluntary and independent basis because I believe in the cause, I know that this cause desperately requires a service of this kind, and anyway I enjoy it.


This blog has had no connection with the Foundation for Conductive Education since March. Nor, as far as I know, does the Foundation desire such contact.

This blog is a private venture. Therefore I have decided to re-name it, Conductive Education Information, to reflect its purpose more accurately.

There will also be a change in URL, but there is no need for regular readers to change their bookmark or alert settings, as Blogger will automatically make redirection to the new Internet address.

The National Library of Conductive Education is still there, so if you have any requirements for bibliographic or other information please contact either

library@conductive-education.org.uk

or myself gmaguire1@yahoo.co.uk

Monday, 29 June 2009

Conductive Education in the New Forest








































Over the weekend I was visiting family in the New Forest, Hampshire, a lovely part of southern England. The first picture here is the view from their back door. As usual, I called in to the Conductive Education Support Centre. This centre is only a mile or two down the road from my family, situated in Brockenhurst, a beautiful part of the forest which is a National Park and conservation area. The building offers easy access with a garden, used in the practice, and car parking spaces.


Twenty one years ago Conductive Education Support Services was established by Judit Szathmary and the 'practical side' of the support services moved to its current premises eleven years ago. Amanda Elliott, one of the first to complete the Conductive Education degree course and receive qualified conductor status, joined Judit in 2000, and has helped develop services at Brockenhurst and abroad.

The centre offers Conductive Education to children and adults seven days a week, all the year round, with regular weekend workshops, a variety of training programmes, consultancy work and holds occasional conferences.

I arrived at 10.30 as the six children were having their snack break. All were very jolly and happy to talk to me before they went back to ‘work’ ten minutes later. On Saturdays there are two group sessions of three hours each run by Mandy, and the children come from all over the country, not just locally. Most are regular attenders and have got to know each other very well.

The centre has never had to advertise its services, as satisfied parents and adults have spread the word for them. More information about the services can be found at

http://www.conductive-educationsupport.com/index.php

Mandy has designed two sets of Challenge Me! cards. The first was produced to help improve mobility and independence skills in children between 3 and 12 with a motor disorder and the second set was produced to aid speech and communication. An information leaflet produced for the second set, published 2009, states the cards aim 'to encourage children with speech and language difficulties to develop communication skills, breathing techniques, tongue control, vocalisation, lip closure…’

These cards and instruction booklets are the first such practical publications to be published by a conductor.

Further information can be obtained from

http://www.challengemecards.com/index.html

or the centre’s website.





Thursday, 25 June 2009

New feature!

There is now a new feature in the left hand column, labelled Directories.

I hope to produce lists of pertinent information to those involved in Conductive Education and will start with CE centres operating around the world. The first of these is a list of centres and schools in the UK employing conductors. This information was compiled mainly from the the Internet and personal knowledge. The term ‘conductors’ is used here to include conductors, conductor-teachers and teacher-conductors. Inclusion in the list is entirely down to 'employing conductors' and is no indication of the nature of the services offered.

If any of the information is incorrect, any centre now closed, or any centre not included, I would be grateful if you would let me know. This way I will be able to keep it current and therefore useful.

Any comments will be much appreciated

Tuesday, 23 June 2009

More awards for Conductive Education

More recognition of Conductive Education has been recorded as a UK centre receives two awards.

To quote from the Wirral Globe:


Wirral charity Stick ‘n’ Step - which helps children with cerebral palsy - has won two awards for its work.
The Birkenhead-based group, which provides conductive therapy that helps the youngsters walk and communicate, picked up the Spirit of Merseyside Children and young people’s award and the Project of the year award.

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/4447677.Wirral_children_s_charity_Stick____n____Step_scoops_two_top_awards/


It is nice to be able to report some good news.

I hope to maintain a list of such events which I will post on this blog.

Sunday, 21 June 2009

Conductive Education Classics no.6


Standing up for Joe and other British broadcasts

Joe, a British little boy with cerebral palsy, was taken to Hungary by his parents in 1985. They had endeavoured to find suitable education/treatment for him at home in England, but felt that what was on offer was not adequate for his needs. When the Peto Institute agreed to see if they could help him, the family travelled to Budapest. This film told their story.

Its record of his parents' fight for appropriate services, their stay in Budapest, and the system Conductive Education, practised at the Institute, made fascinating, riveting viewing. It was first broadcast by the BBC on 1 April 1986, and British newspapers the following day carried a positive, enthusiastic review of the programme. It became the catalyst for the huge surge of interest in Conductive Education across the Western world.

The effects were enormous.

Within a few days of the broadcast, parents had formed an action group, Rapid Action for Conductive Education, that went on to lobby Parliament, twice. The Foundation for Conductive Education was established by Andrew Sutton in November 1986 with the intention of bringing Conductive Education to Britain, ‘to promote and advance the knowledge and skills thereof’ , and train conductors.

A follow up film, To Hungary with love, broadcast by the BBC a year later, showed the experiences of parents from the US and the UK who had made the journey to the Institute despite the Cold War, with their cerebral-palsied children, inspired by what they had seen in Standing up for Joe. Parents wanted Conductive Education for their children and wanted to know why they had not been able to access it back home.

A debate was held in a British television studio, broadcast on Kilroy, a programme presented by Robert Kilroy-Silk and participants included Andrew Sutton, Janet Read, Freddie Green, Director of Education of the the Spastics Society, (now Scope) Ester Cotton and some of her followers, plus a number of parents. Nothing much has changed since, as you can see from a You and Yours Radio 4 programme in March 2004.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/yy_20040312.shtml

Huge media interest continued for some time after 1986 and the National Library of Conductive Education holds many, many files of press cuttings generated all over the world.

Even after watching Standing up for Joe many times, I am still held spell-bound whenever I see it and its influence still rumbles on. It's the one thing about Conductive Education that most people have heard of, or seen, worldwide.

I used to get frequent requests for copies, which of course, I was unable to provide for copyright reasons.

The BBC no longer sell copies.

Saturday, 20 June 2009

Celebrations

Yesterday I attended the Annual Awards Ceremony at the National Institute of Conductive Education. It was strange to go back after recent events, but great to be able to congratulate the 'new conductors', who I had helped in their research for essays and dissertations .

The programme of the day included several awards, celebrating a variety of achievements:

Qualified Conductor Status on the final year student conductors. There were four this year and they all have jobs to go to in North America and Germany. One was unable to attend, as he had already started work.

The Founder's Award is given by Andrew Sutton in recognition of vital help and support given to the Foundation for Conductive Education, (especially in its early years) in particular, and Conductive Education in general. Three people who had to be annoymous for a variety of reasons, were remembered this year and Andrew intimated that these may be the last from the past.

Volunteer's Award is given to an individual who has worked tirelessly for the organisation helping with fundraising, marketing and administration. This year it went to Pauline Hartley who has given her time freely in such ways for seven years.

Long Service Awards are given to staff who have worked for five, ten and fifteen years. Three people had a five year award this year - a conductor, a conductive assistant, and the current Chief Executive.

Speeches were made, photos taken, bucks fizz drunk, and a good time had by all.

Monday, 15 June 2009

Visits are on the up

I always check the number of visits to this blog on a Monday morning and have been very pleased today to see that there has been an increase over the past week. The average number has been 100 up until now, and this week it was 207.

Terrific!

I will do my best to continue to post items of interest, so keep visiting - and let me know what you think.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

Birthday honour for founder of Conductive Education Centre

This year I share my birthday with Queen Elizabeth II (her official birthday, not her real one, which is in April) and though I have not received an award in her birthday honours list released today, I discover that Conductive Education has.

Founder of the Rainbow Centre, Helen Somerset-Howe has been awarded an MBE for 'her amazing work with the Rainbow Centre in Fareham', nominated by chairwoman of the centre's trustees.

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Honour-for-founder-of-Rainbow.5363276.jp


A few years ago a lady involved with the PACES centre in Sheffield received a similar award, but I believe this is a first for a founder of a centre.


Congratulations, Helen.

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

One year old today


It is exactly a year since I posted my first blog on 10 June 2008. Since then there have been enormous changes, financially and politically worldwide, and big changes for me and the Library. None of which could have been anticipated last June.

In starting this blog I hoped to publicise the National Library and its services easily and quickly, and encourage people to ask questions, request information and let me know of new documents, papers, websites , conferences etc. Since then there have been 4226 visits , now averaging about 100 per week and 99 postings - this is the hundredth - on a variety of topics. Not too bad for a blog in such a specialised field, and a ‘library’ to boot!

There have been a number of enquiries ( some in the past three months) all answered satisfactorily, and some interesting encouraging comments both on the blog and emailed privately.

What has changed?

The most important change for me personally has been my redundancy. The decision of the Foundation for Conductive Education to make the post of Librarian redundant three months ago ( yes, it is three months now!) which led to me leaving, resulted in a large number of emails and phone calls from old students, professionals, parents and conductors. They made me realise how important it was for people to know the Library and its services were there, even if they did not use them very often.

I always understood that the Library was not just for current users, not just there for students and clients at NICE, but was there as a foundation, a source of knowledge for the future, when Conductive Education would become of more interest academically worldwide. I still think that to achieve this it needs a professional to run it and increase its prestige internationally as well as that of the Foundation. I am sure that those who are manning the fort at the moment are doing the best they can, but their valuable time would be better spent doing what they know best, Conductive Education.

What next?

Well, I hope to continue disseminating information with news items, conference details, newsletters, more Conductive Education Classics, and items of relevance to those with interest in Conductive Education. Also I have registered to become part of Twitter. More of this later. I will do other things too and am looking at a couple of options.

As to the current meltdown in the financial and political world, all I can do is hope that Conductive Education and its supporters can survive and adapt to the new circumstances. For this people will need to work hard, be prepared for radical change, prepared to fight their corner and be prepared to stand up for the profession, verbally and in print.

In the meantime, please keep reading this and please, please, let me know what you think, send me your enquiries and be in touch. While its good to know that people are reading my postings, it will be even better to have more contact with you all.

Here’s to the next twelve months, and thanks for being there with me - Cheers!

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

Further details...

There have been quite a few more reports in the Hungarian press about Rita Szarvas the past few days and I understand that the Peto Institute has suggested an International Conductors Association be formed in her name. A wonderful tribute to someone who has touched so many. When I know more I will let you know, but in the meantime take a look at

http://www.hirkereso.hu/search?q=Peto%20Intezet

There does not appear to be any more in the English language media other than passenger lists and reports of finding some bodies.

Thursday, 4 June 2009

More news on the missing plane

Over the past few days there have been even more reports on the lost plane and Rita. Many are repeats of each other or listings of the passengers, but here are a few which offer a bit more information.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/missing-plane-was-flying-too-slow-to-avoid-atlantic-storm-1697331.html?action=Popup

http://www.caboodle.hu/index.php?id=12&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=11&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6633

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-brazil-plane-mich,0,7558657.story

http://nol.hu/mozaik/megtalaltak_a_roncsokat__nincs_tulelo

http://hvg.hu/itthon/20090602_legikatasztrofa_peto_intezet.aspx?s=24h

http://www.freep.com/article/20090603/NEWS07/90603047/Expert++Air+France+black+boxes+may+never+be+found


To do your own search just go into Google news and put in Rita's name or Air France missing plane.