Sunday 31 July 2011

Archive collection - first major donation




Some time ago I posted an appeal for people to send me any material connected to Conductive Education that is no longer required. The first such personal archive has now been delivered to me with the help of my niece who works in the courier business. Thank you, Dee.

This week I received two large boxes weighing 24 kg each, full of the notes, papers and handouts from the Pető Institute ( in English and Hungarian) collected by Robert Sorenyi when he studied there during 1989-1993, and a number of books, journals, and photocopies also used in his studies. Also included were some videos relating to the filming of the BBC documentaries broadcast in the late 1980s, along with the results of Robert's personal research into the life of Pető. He had intended to write a full biography but he did not manage to find the time after he started working. Perhaps one day!

In the meantime Robert has given permission for a brief biographical sketch found in one of the boxes to be included in a book that Conductive Education Press is currently putting together.

This is a wonderful collection of material highlighting a period in Conductive Education's history, documenting what was taught to trainee conductors and what was known at the time that had been published.

It will kept safe whilst being accessible, as requested by Robert.

If anyone else wishes personal archives preserved in the same way, please do get in touch with me.

Monday 25 July 2011

Getting a job in Conductive Education

This week I had an email from a conductor asking for my help in contacting someone about a job. Apparently she had written six times and had no response.

I did pass her message on to the organisation concerned and discovered that the conductor was not replying to an advert for a specified post but had been writing in the hope that there was a job, just waiting for her,  in the country she wanted to work in.

This made me realise that there could be different ways of approaching employment according to the seeker's nationality, experience - and of course, hope. The usual way for most people is to reply to an advert or find out via the grapevine that there is a job vacancy.

Anyone wishing to find a job of any kind  in Conductive Education  or publish a vacancy, should look at

Informal approaches may not always be replied to if there is no vacant post available, but most people would respond to any approach about employment if it is possible, if they are not snowed under with other things, and if it is written in an appropriate way, including relevant information about qualifications, experience etc.  Other factors may also affect availability and responses, for example, ease of obtaining a work visa for a conductor may not be easy in these hard financial times, especially if a husband/wife is involved.  

Informal approaches may not always be replied to if there is no vacant post available, but I imagine it is still worth a try!

Monday 18 July 2011

More on Masterates

A little while ago I posted a blog on masterates in Conductive Education after finding a request for information about such a course on the Internet.

http://www.gillian-maguire.info/2011/07/masters-degree-in-conductive-education.html

http://www.gillian-maguire.info/2011/07/more-information-about-masters-degree.html

Today Susie Mallett has posted on her blog about Masterates and why she wouldn't want one. It makes very interesting reading and I will keep an eye for any comments made.

http://www.susie-mallett.org/2011/07/masterates.html

Saturday 16 July 2011

Conductive Education in China

A few days ago an article appeared in the Chinese press about the spread of CE all over China including an interview with Cao Limin.

http://www.f-paper.com/?i546685-%22Conductive-Education%22-will-be-everywhere?
 
 
In Hong Kong at the World Congress last December a presentation was made by Cao Limin and Clare Cheng about the developments in China. This is now available in the Depository of the Conduction website for all those who would like to know more. The file is quite a large one of 9mb and takes a little longer to open. If anyone has any problems with it, please do let me now.

http://www.e-conduction.org/depository/LiminandCheng2.pdf

Thursday 14 July 2011

Information on Conductive Education research initiative now on the Internet

A paper titled A new research agenda for Conductive Education is now available on the Internet.

http://www.phoenix-kf.de/pdf/foerderzentrum/final_ce_research_article.pdf

The summary states:

The aim of this project was to create a research agenda, by identifying the priority topics for research in Conductive Education. The research agenda is being developed to give guidance to researchers, funding bodies and practitioners on the most important priorities for research studies. It identifies the uncertainties and unknowns that stop us providing the very best service that is possible.
A variety of possible research topics were put forward and are listed in this paper.

Appendices include a list of participants at the Newcastle Workshop at the Percy Hedley Foundation in June 2010 where the suggestion of a research agenda was initially discussed,  plus the members of the International Research Group, which met at the World Congress in Hong Kong, December 2010.

The Percy Hedley Foundation has agreed to co-ordinate and disseminate information  as the project moves forward so I assume there will more information later after some of the ideas have been put into operation.

An entry to this paper has also been made in the Virtual Library on the Conduction website  at
  http://www.e-conduction.org/view_item.php?id=38  or just go to http://www.e-conduction.org/, select 'virtual library', then select 'search option' and enter 'Best' as the author and research into keyword box.
.

Sunday 10 July 2011

More information about a Masters degree in Conductive Education - of a sort

Since last week I have been checking frequently to see if there were any responses to the original request for information about a possible Masters degree in Conductive Education on Yahoo and this blog.

First, a reply was put up on Yahoo from Mel Brown about the possiblity of such a course which is still in the discussion stages. This can be found at

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110704153849AAP06ns


Secondly, Andrew Sutton left a comment on this blog referring to other Masters courses in special education and included a link to   http://www.mastersinspecialeducation.org/

A conductor has told me today that she had thought there was a Masters available from the Peto Institute but this had turned out not to be the case.

The minimum qualifications necessary to teach at a university is having a Masters degree - how many conductors have this? Who else could do the teaching?

I suppose that such a course will not become available until there is a big enough demand. Doing a higher degree is very expensive these days and you would need to be very sure it was useful (as well as interesting and informative) before investing a lot of time and money in it.

It will be interesting to see what the future brings.

Tuesday 5 July 2011

Masters degree in Conductive Education?

The  Google Alert facility has just thrown up a request for information on obtaining a masters' degree.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110704153849AAP06ns

As far as I know there is no opportunity to study for a masters in CE anywhere at all.  If anyone does know of a course, please do let me know.

Opportunities to study for a qualification or  degree  at any level in Conductive Education are very limited. The Peto Institute is still training conductors, the University of Wolverhampton course in conjunction with the Foundation for Conductive Education will enrol its final intake in September, and training is still available at  Aquinas College in North America, I believe. Other than a theoretical  certificated course for health professionals at  Governors University, Chicago, I am not aware of any other on-going course.





Again, please let me know if I have not included any others. 

Sunday 3 July 2011

Internet News June 2011

Afrer several weeks of the usual reports of fundraising and trips to Hungary, this month ended with two dramatic stories. The first involved funding for services in South Australia being withdrawn after a report was presented to the Government. The press then revealed that the report had been 'doctored'. 

The second story concerned the walkout of five conductors employed in Auckland, New Zealand in an employment dispute. No doubt there will be more about this in the weeks to come.

All items found during June are listed below:


http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Disabled-children-s-school-told-leave-home-10/story-12717901-detail/story.html
Rutland House School for Parents has to find new premises

http://www.exceptionalfamilytv.com/blogs/families/janet/conductive-education
Blog posting by parent after 4 week period at CLC.

http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-sport/2011/06/09/golf-pryors-hayes-gold-club-raise-more-than-20-000-for-children-s-charity-thanks-to-star-studded-event-59067-28845511/
Golf Club raises £20,000 for CE Centre, Stick'n'Step

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/06/09/open-day-at-cannon-hill-house-97319-28846361/
Open day at Cannon Hill House for adults services' 21st anniversary.


http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/9078392.Project_launched_after_Big_Lottery_win/
Big Lottery grant for Megan Baker House, UK.


http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=56015
An Algerian child who came to UK for CE is not allowed to stay longer and must now return home.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9642440/parents-of-disabled-take-on-minister/

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/parents-children-appeal-to-education-minister-for-their-funding-back-20110614-1g1df.html
Parents protest at withdrawal of funds for school in Australia


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/14/3243748.htm
Education Minister to review withdrawal of funds in Australia



http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/education-minister-under-investigation-over-doctored-report-20110622-1gf45.html
Minister is accused of doctoring report on CE in Australia



http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/special-features/disabled-childrens-program-to-continue-despite-alleged-doctored-report/story-e6frg19l-1226080815087
Minister announces that funding will now continue for Carson Street in Australia


http://www.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Stoush-over-school-report/7594876/
More on doctoring of Australian report.


http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/disabled-funding-cut-as-report-doctored/story-fn59niix-1226080888634
'Doctoring' of report may be investigated.


http://www.rainbowcentre.org/2011/06/08/rainbow-centre-charity-golf-day/
Report of charity golf day for the Rainbow Centre, UK


http://www.alachuatoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1616:jordan-klausner-foundation-kicks-off-camp-for-kids-with-cerebral-palsy-&catid=124:healthy-living&Itemid=400

http://www.pr.com/press-release/332616
Launch of summer camp by Jordan Klausner Foundation in Florida


http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/tn2-saturday/a-weekend-with/it_gave_me_a_passion_for_families_1_2787305
Conductor Magdi Kovacs, tells of her road to Conductive Education


http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Hampshire/Portsmouth/PO6/News/Local-News/199173-Call-for-Walkers-who-are-%E2%80%98Hungary%E2%80%99-for-Adventure
Call for walkers to trek Bukk Mountains, Hungary in aid of Rainbow Centre, UK


http://www.royalcityrecord.com/health/Building+with+purpose/4999522/story.html
Report of new conductive school in British Columbia


http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=33497
Fundraiser for attendance at Colorado CE centre.


https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:V3-S6PJP020J:www.mfw.co.uk/download.php%3Ffile%3D55_pdf_MFW-Spring-Thumb.pdf+%22Smiley+Steps+Conductive+Education+Centre%22&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjkclijfN58E6fR_UmpAyXndYVFgnWuJj0DsMX9kWdIpcCgN4VIn9ppbQ2rCobOJzhJyP3rcIOrbvxMj7V87VLEvHxajgnKh9qdlczNDjm4LOkc_6HmKNCRjvlwrN-EjE9TBexw&sig=AHIEtbTxxocwmVXCVHr2vKx6PkKzd271CA
Newsletter with report of visit to CE centre in Rochester, Kent, UK by business supporter


http://www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk/news/local-headlines/you_re_the_best_1_1704688
Boy will go to Peto Institute from Cumbernauld in Scotland


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=10735819
Walkout by conductors in New Zealand


http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2011/07/01/maureen-messent-what-would-the-50-year-old-princess-diana-be-like-97319-28974146/
Report about the 50th birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales that has a slideshow of photographs which includes some taken when she visited the Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham