1. sex
2. appropriateness of touch
3. physical violence
4. view of your own body
5. general relating to others
I'm back to combating the public school's w/no touch policies, and I want to be sure to give CI and the plus sides of good touch a good representation - so I'm gathering information. For now I'm only going to write solid articles for newspapers and magazines... please only respond if I can use your responses in my article. Please include anonymous if I can use them only as such.
2. appropriateness of touch
3. physical violence
4. view of your own body
5. general relating to others
I'm back to combating the public school's w/no touch policies, and I want to be sure to give CI and the plus sides of good touch a good representation - so I'm gathering information. For now I'm only going to write solid articles for newspapers and magazines... please only respond if I can use your responses in my article. Please include anonymous if I can use them only as such.
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Wisconsin
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Re: how has CI shaped your view of ...
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 7:57 AMHello Lynn,
First I wish to mention to you about your words " battling" the public schools.. if you can, please try to back from those words and use instead defining with the public schools how and what amount of touch is proper to include in school instruction.
I, also, am a public school teacher. I have taught dance in school. I would be very thoughtful before introducing CI in a curriculum. I KNOW it will benefit students BUT only with some very skilled facilitation and kids participating in teaching and sharing ground rules.
CI has benefitted me in every way in my life. I mam blessed to study and participate in it. I also acknowledge that at times people enter the realm and are not as skilled as I might like.. i. e. I get a body part pulled on or I wonder about a boundary. I am styill going to study more as I need to become mroe involved in it.
I hope this helps and that you understand my words at the beginning.. I am not trying to knit pick but rather I am using consciuous language.
Namaste
Cathy -
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Re: how has CI shaped your view of ...
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 7:59 AMCI has nto changed my typing skills.. however, I thought I had editted them all out! :) -
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Re: how has CI shaped your view of ...
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 9:46 AM(smile) Thanks Cathy. I am not attempting to either bring CI into schools (necessarily) nor am I "battling" (I used the word "combating"), and I'm hoping to find ways with the system to bring some light and change into what is happening. My initial approach (none yet except gathering and thinking on both sides) will perhaps be via words and communication as I attempt to find the best way to bring change to this topic which is as vital to me as my breath - be calmed that I am not a jump-to-the-punch protestor! The reason I want to bring CI in is merely because it is my reference point and part of how I come to the public education system in this - CI was my exposure to good touch and the healing power of letting go of fears and openness to each other.
But I also want to ensure that my experience and understanding of CI is not just mine - that the experiences I've had are similar to what others have got out of it before I share my story with those who do not know CI.
So know that this is the very raw beginning stages of HELPING our schools and our students (and, sure, myself) and I am merely gathering information on other people's experiences of CI... perhaps I need not have said why I was asking the question, but I believe in full honesty I guess.
Bless you, dear, for your work and your care!
with love,
Lynn -
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Re: how has CI shaped your view of ...
Mon, February 25, 2008 - 9:52 AMOh, and on language use - perhaps "combating" is still not an appopriate word to use - I don't see it as violent, but then, I'm not a violent person so others may interpret it as other. I chose that word because it was less violent than battle or fight, yet I still feel like I'm working to change something - which I apparently still see as a fight. I will consider my language as it may change my approach - I think part of me feels like I'm the only one willing (out of all the hundreds of people who have shared their opposition with me, I am continually looking for partners) to work to change this, and feel that the schools don't care (which isn't true) - thank you for bringing these feelings of mine to light :) letting them go will make me more productive in this.
As an insider (I understand why the schools have made their choices, but what I don't know much about is how the system works) I could use input on the system.
thanks again :)
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Re: how has CI shaped your view of ...
Tue, March 11, 2008 - 9:02 PMI'll try to actually answer your Qs
1. sex : stopped equating touch with sex - and allow me to get close with both women & men, perhaps in a sensual way (I joked after one beginner dance if we should now share a cigarette), but not particularly sexual. Even writing this I realize there are no hard boundaries. I think as humans we do crave some physical contact.
Short answer - close physical contact does not equate with sexual contact for me anymore.
2. appropriateness of touch: I still struggle with this one - I know any touch constitutes the legal definition of battery & this is reflected in society values. Yet we crave human contact. People tend to want touch, but some are touchy about it :) and a guy can get in real trouble even for "inappropriate" touching even if he thinks it appropriate.
3. physical violence: I wasn't one for physical violence before, but it's even more negative to me now as I am more in tune with the beauty of the human body.
4. view of your own body: I'm more aware & stronger than I realized (so is everyone else - I've seen small women lift big guys & big guys move delicately.
5. general relating to others: I think I relate better, more relaxed. People who have known me over the last 2 years have remarked at the change.
I do think the no touch / no hug policy in schools is ridiculous. Any touch then becomes sexualized.
