Special Education
Discovery of Self has all the components of a curriculum which can really help strengthen responsibility, creativity and self-worth. Shifting the frame of reference away from power over others to power within the self is a critical distinction that has the potential to save these children and our society a lot of unnecessary suffering. I can't think of a more worthwhile project, personally. If we turn our backs on a whole generation of disenfranchised kids we're going to end up living Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange. If we turn and face these kids with caring and well-thought through structured programs like Discovery of Self, then the ripples of healing will spread throughout our society.
Joan Borysenko, Ph.D. - Tumor cell biologist, psychologist, author of the NY Times bestseller Minding the Body, Mending the Mind and co-founder of the Harvard Medical School Mind/Body Institute.
DoS is a cross-cultural, interdisciplinary curriculum providing:
A) A framework exploring how invisible, internal, subjective states influence visible, external objective conditions/events including physical health, relationships and life circumstances.. In other words, how the worlds of the un-measurable and the measurable interconnect.
B) Strategies designed to strengthen one's inner focus and access to personal resources as a means toward greater mental and physical performance, creativity and self control. By developing these internal resources and controls, performance measures such as concentration, comprehension, memory, test-taking skills and health behaviors are improved. Additionally, self-concept and a sense of personal empowerment are enhanced as individuals experience the capacity to influence physical and external conditions by first changing their internal states or environment. Participants learn to look inward rather than pointing a finger outward. Discovery of Self (DOS) delivers a curriculum that addresses the widespread sense of futility, helplessness and lack of self worth underlying all the many choices made by our youth.
The material is broken down and presented in a format accessible to participants of all ages and backgrounds. DOS has been taught in schools serving high risk youth, in prisons, and was recently taught in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The main goal of Discovery of Self is to develop students' work readiness skills and attitudes to maximize work and life opportunities. There are also many secondary positive gains relative to:
anger management
self esteem
resiliency
opportunity thinking
health behaviors
healthy relationships |
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In the last couple of years I've learned how to just drop stuff, how to deal with my anger, how to see others' points of view and how to approach others in a respectable way. What I learned helped me a lot. If it wasn't for Discovery of Self I'd still be the little kid in junior high with big problems. Careino Gurley, age 15
This class has taught me that things aren't always as bad as they seem. I used to just snap and not calmly think things through. Doing things this way used to get me in a lot of trouble. I learned imagery and how to use it in different situations.
Paul Hill - American Indian OIC, School To Work Program
DOS is a class that helps you get in with your inner self. It also helps you with your breathing and it deepens your concentration and thoughts. It's to help you control yourself. It helps you live a much more positive life and it can help you get the anger out of your body and put more positive feelings in your heart.
Keenan Christopher - Skills for Tomorrow High School
Those who have taken the Discovery of Self program not only were behaved and more eager to discuss it than other students, but their conversation came straight out of the curriculum: "You can change your world by changing yourself. "
Kay Miller - Star Tribune article, "Kids Other Schools Don't Want Find Help in Harrison Program"
I see students participating who wouldn't usually participate. A student who usually acts out until kicked out of class sits quietly - often afraid to talk or make eye contact - but listens ...Students have become vocal about their feelings about Discovery class: "Discovery is cool" "They talk about interesting stuff. I don't know what it is, but we want to talk in there." Chris Seilor - Special Ed Teacher, Capitol View
It was so good to hear about these things that make me believe in my dreams and my goals. It was important to learn the diaphragmatic breathing and how to stay focused and stay calm. This class was a wonderful experience for me. Marcello, age 15, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
"Can we do our breathing exercises today, Mrs. Krig?" "I practice breathing every day in the shower, " Ramon reports. "I think we should stop and do our breathing," suggested a young man atfer spending some time in a restless, disinterested English class a few weeks ago. "He's using mind over body, isn't he?" a perceptive student remarked as he paused to consider the actions of the main character in the novel being read in class. " I can will myself to do it if I choose to." "The mind is more powerful than we realize," observed another. These comments and similar observations have been common in my English classroom at Hennepin County Home School ever since Jane Barrash introduced us to the Discovery of Self program. I had first read about the program in a June 1992 issue of the Star Tribune and was fascinated.
Barbara Krip - Hennepin County Home School.