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05/05/2020
2020 AGM Motion 7: Clarify and Update Language in the Teacher Certification Requirements
(Member Resolution - Requires simple majority of those voting to pass)
Moved by Karen DeWig, Barbara Kent, Lyn Charlsen Klein and Kathy Miranda, Subcommittee members of the Training Directors Committee
Whereas, in 2018, the Training Standards and Certification Requirements Committee (TSCRC) recommended that the Training Directors Committee (TDC) undertake a general review of the May 1988 membership-approved Teacher Certification Requirements (TCR), including grammar corrections, and therefore, establish the TCR as a basis for trainee assessment and as the core of course curriculum;
Whereas, in 2018, the Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) asked the TDC to review the nine teacher certification requirements and determine if the importance of hands-on skills is sufficiently described;
Whereas, a subcommittee of three training directors and one former training director who were appointed to carry out this review found other relevant concerns to review and consider, such as:
- The need for gender-neutral language;
- The need to be sensitive to language that would be a concern to governmental relations (i.e., hands-on, touch, etc.); and
- The need to remove the term “monkey” from public documents;
Whereas, the phrase “positions of mechanical advantage” is inclusive of monkey and lunge, and all mechanically advantageous positions;"
Whereas, a commitment to pursue post-graduate study and continuing education is a requirement for AmSAT Voting Members, not AmSAT certification;
Whereas, this subcommittee completed the review with input from all of the Training Directors, Ruth Rootberg and Phyllis Richmond for editorial expertise, Rajal Cohen on scientific terminology, the Acting Chair of the Government Relations Committee, the Definitions Committee, the PCC, the Training Approval Committee, and an outside editor; and
Whereas, the subcommittee’s recommendations address the original concerns and have incorporated many of the suggestions received from various perspectives;
Resolved, That the Teacher Certification Requirements be amended as below:
[Note: text to be deleted from current version is shown with strikethrough (text) and text to be inserted is shown with underline (text).]
TEACHER CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be eligible for Certification by the American Society for the Alexander Technique (AmSAT), an individual must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in each of the following areas:
1. An practical understanding of F. M. Alexander’s basic concepts principles: use of the self, inhibition, direction, inhibition, primary control, end-gaining and the means-whereby, force of habit, doing and non-doing, faulty sensory appreciation, and conscious control.
2. An ability to maintain a high standard of use of the self while teaching the Alexander Technique.
An ability to maintain Maintaining a high standard of use of the self as defined in F. M. Alexander’s four books and other writings while teaching the Alexander Technique and throughout one’s daily during activities of daily living.
3. Familiarity with the purpose of — Proficiency in Performing and teaching Alexander’s basic procedures: individual lessons, positions of mechanical advantage, chair work, table work, monkey, “whispered “ah,” putting and hands-on-the-back-of-the-chair and lunge.
4. An ability to convey to the student, Teaching the basic concepts of the Technique to a student through manual skills in combination with verbal explanation and instruction in one’s own words, as well as through the use of one’s hands, the basic concepts of the Technique.
5. An ability to apply the principles of the Technique while observing and assisting the student in the performance of specialized skills, and an ability to aid the student in applying this knowledge to him/herself. Applying the principles of the Technique using manual and verbal instruction while assisting a student in the performance of specialized activities.
6. Aiding the student in applying principles of the Technique independent of the teacher.
In addition to a high level of proficiency in the above teaching skills, a person eligible for certification demonstrates:
7. A thorough knowledge of F. M. Alexander’s writings, his life, and the history of the Technique; and as well as a familiarity with the other literature pertaining to the Technique.
8. A practical basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology as it applies to the principles of the Technique.
9. An ongoing commitment to pursue post-graduate study in the Alexander Technique in order to develop and improve one’s use of the self and teaching skills.
8 Comments
Ruth Rootberg on Friday 06/12/2020 at 12:17 PM
If this motion passes, please allow for a clerical change in
3.
...chair work, table work, monkey, “whispered “ah,”
Since the other procedures do not have quotes around them, the " preceding whispered should be omitted so that the quotes are only around the sound we whispered, that is, the "ah."
so ...monkey, whispered "ah,"
At the end of that same sentence, a space mark will have to be removed.
7. A thorough knowledge of F. M. Alexander’s writings, his life, and the history of the Technique; and
as well as a familiarity with the other literature pertaining to the Technique.
Semi-colon should be struck - it's confusing leaving it in.
Kathryn M. Miranda on Sunday 06/14/2020 at 02:54 PM
Thank you Ruth. the BRC has noted.
Ruth Rootberg on Sunday 06/21/2020 at 01:29 PM
In speaking with someone for whom I will hold a proxy, I wonder whether it is a mistake to change "concepts" to "principles" in number 1. the list states terms - i.e., concepts. For example, "force of habit" is not a principle in itself, but "recognition of the force of habit" is.
May we consider adding "associated with the" so that the line reads:
...basic principles associated with the use of the self, inhibition, direction....
If such an amendment were accepted, I believe the other places where "principles" appears can remain as is.
Carol Boggs, M.AmSAT on Monday 06/22/2020 at 06:29 PM
1. agree with Ruth re recognition of force of habit
2. should read: throughout one's activities of daily living
3. monkey it to be eliminated? Ruth mentions it in her comment
6. Not clear what is deleted and what is added
Karen DeWig on Wednesday 06/24/2020 at 05:09 PM
Thank you for the suggestion, Ruth. This is helpful.
Karen DeWig on Wednesday 06/24/2020 at 05:15 PM
Thank you, Carol - The forum copy is a bit mis-formatted. It should read "while teaching the Alexander Technique and during activities of daily living".
And yes, the term "monkey" is being changed due to its impact on people of color. We will be proposing "positions of mechanical advantage" instead, as shown in #3.
You can read the correctly formatted proposal in the AGM Materials and Agenda.
All the best,
Karen
Kim Jessor on Saturday 06/27/2020 at 10:00 AM
I would like to suggest an alternative to "positions of mechanical advantage."
What about 'movements of mechanical advantage"?
I find in my teaching that the word "position' connotes something static and held, and I don't consider either "monkey" or lunge as we use them to be static.
Monika Gross M.AmSAT, M.ATI, RSME on Saturday 06/27/2020 at 10:52 AM
Comments:
Regarding #2)
"Maintaining a high standard of use of the self as defined in F.M. Alexander's four books and other writings while teaching the Alexander Technique and during activities of daily living."
• "as defined by F.M. Alexander's four books and other writings"
Voicing a concern that since the publication of Alexander's books, there have been many changes and updates to our understanding of the principles that make some of his definitions and explanations no longer accurate.
• "activities of daily living"
Just a note to say that to health professionals, "activities of daily living" is a very specific term of reference ("ADLs"), and is used when assessing someone for nursing home care, for instance: Activities of daily living (ADLs) - Activities that are necessary for fundamental functioning, generally that people tend to do without needing assistance when they get up in the morning and get ready to go out of the house. There are six basic ADLs: eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking) and continence
Regarding #3)
"positions of mechanical advantage"
• A suggestion to replace "positions of mechanical advantage" with "relationships of mechanical advantage".
Regarding #4) "Teaching the basic concepts of the Technique to a student through manual skills in combination with verbal explanation and instruction." and #5) "Applying the principles of the Technique using manual and verbal instruction while assisting a student in the performance of specialized activities."
• Suggestion to replace "manual skills" with "manual guidance".
• "to a student" seems implied, and so perhaps unnecessary to include.
• Suggestion to have #4 and #5 use the same language:
o #4) "Teaching the principles of the Technique using manual guidance and verbal instruction."
o #5) "Teaching the application of the principles of the Technique in the performance of specialized activities using manual guidance and verbal instruction."
Regarding #6)
"Aiding the student in applying the principles of the Technique independent of the teacher."
• Again, as in #4 and #5, "to a student" seems implied, and so perhaps unnecessary to include.
• Suggestion to add "emphasizing" and "the importance of": "Emphasizing, and offering guidance in, the importance of applying the principles of the Technique independent of the teacher."
Regarding #7)
"as well as a familiarity with the other literature pertaining to the Technique."
• "the other literature pertaining to the Technique" seems perhaps too unspecific. A suggestion: "as well as staying current with any new literature pertaining to the Technique."
