…a continuation…
Cal State University Northridge
I joined the Educational Psychology Department of Cal State Northridge in the Summer of 2000 and felt I’d found a second home after leaving USC in 1991. But it wasn’t too long before I realized that while the clinical side of the department was preparing superior therapists – the educational side was lagging in its preparation of teachers: basically, the education professors were “drilling and killing.” My influence in this department has ranged from the demand of all papers being rendered in the APA format (for which my daughter-in-law thanks me not) to an experiential emphasis in teacher training. It was at Cal State Northridge that I finally met my favorite psychotherapist and theoretician, Dr. William Glasser – and actually made a training tape with him. I had been a Reality Therapy fan since my undergrad days but REALLY embrace his latest effort, Choice Theory. One of the reasons that Glasser impresses me is his continual refinement of his theory: he was never content to sit on his laurels – nor defend the indefensible – as so many of his predecessors and contemporaries did/do. He is truly a lifelong learner.
Juvenile Court Schools
Just because I’ve spent the last 20 years teaching in Los Angeles County Court Schools doesn’t mean that I have forgotten my 13-year public and private school teaching experience. Each educational context has certain nuances that the average educator usually doesn’t apprehend. A private school for wealthy white children with drug problems is a far cry from the disenfranchised, incarcerated youth of Los Angeles: Just as an all-boys’ school differs from an all girls’ or co-ed school: Just as a private school differs from a public school…I have experienced most every educational context that exists and feel capable of maximizing the educational experience for the student in each of them.
Hobbies and Interests
As you have probably noticed, I am a musician (remember readers; there is a recording accompanying this narrative): A classically trained pianist whose most famous teacher, Dr. Clive Brown, was a student of Edvard Elgar. You can tap into the Anachronism link – (Anachronism being my performing title) — to hear more of my music. I still record with Saturn Return; music with Solterre is out on You-Tube; and, The Original Balance is out there as well. In addition to being a “naturalized” Californian – I have lived in South Africa, Germany and England. As noted, I was once a competitive swimmer and achieved all-American honors in high school and all-league honors in university. As a swimming coach, I produced a number of State champions and all-Americans. These days my exercise consists of paddle boarding, surfing, knee-boarding and/or bicycling.
Why Australia?
So why do I want to finish off my education career (or is it vocation?) in Australia? Is it because of a fortuitous meeting with Peter Renshaw of Queensland University? Or, is it because Giti was already in love with Australia and I also fell in love with Australia on my recent visit there??
While in Australia, I was struck by the sense of FAMILY which pervaded my experience of the social fabric. Whether I detected this sense of family with school boys on a bus, or the family dinners and interactions witnessed in our friends – I was reminded of “family” as I recalled it in the U.S. in the 1960s and in South Africa in the 1970s. Sadly, the strong, blood-connected nuclear unit that I once knew is no longer operative in the United States – shattered by multiple forces. But I re-experienced this family dynamic in Australia, and, with the much smaller Australian population and progressive mentalities of the Australian government and Australian education – I believe that Australia is indeed (as it boasts) – the best place on the planet to live and work.
While I have not been known as much of a researcher (I have always been a practitioner and trainer of future practitioners) — I have been told that Australia has a high suicide rate among its youth. If this be fact, I would be mightily interested in researching this devastating social dynamic, utilizing my clinical and educational backgrounds.
I look forward to joining the Griffith University Gold Coast branch as an energetic and productive faculty member in whatever capacity is determined that I can best serve the university, the Brisbane community or the great country of Australia.
And now an add-on to explain why I have entitled this (and last week’s) piece, Dead Poets. Going over my past (hopefully for the last time) always awakens uncomfortable memories – some-of-which I have dealt with in The Doctor’s Inn. I was reminded that I once lived the life of a poet: selfishly and potentially injurious to others, ala’ Shelly and Byron. With this Griffith University application – I am starting all over and burying the past…