IYFD 520 Critical Issues in Helping – Fall 2010
Instructor: Nancy Seldin. EdD
Office - Schreiber 203
Phone: Home 543-4343. Cell 239-6546
Nancy.seldin@mso.umt.edu
Meeting Time: Monday 9:10 – 11 am. Location: IYFD office, 203 Schreiber
Course purpose: We will identify and examine some of the common “Critical Issues” as
well as psychological, political, spiritual, and practical dimensions that can & often do
arise when humans offer assistance of various forms to other humans. This is “think
about” issue focused class, not a “tool kit” class.
Course Objectives:
1. Discuss psychological, social/political and personal issues related to intercultural
work.
2. Engage in dialogue with others who have been, or are going on intercultural
internships.
3. Build a community of active & engaged citizen-learners that continues beyond 520.
4. Learn means for dealing with personally or interpersonally difficult situations.
4. Integrate helping issues as they relate to trans-cultural practices and concerns.
5. Polish writing skills as they relate to future work in this field.
Instructional Method: This course is a cooperative seminar. Everyone contributes
actively to the development of our learning community. There will be minimal lecture,
lots of discussion (often student led), presentations, role-plays, possible video viewing,
and guests. A student need not agree with the instructor, or his/her classmates on all
topics, but does need to be involved, respectful, fully present, doing the reading, and
actively engaged. The participation principle: Each person should take up 1/Nth of the
class “talk space”; if you tend to fill more, hold back a little; if you tend to be quiet,
push yourself a bit to take up a little more space. In grad. school we assume that you
are here because you want to learn! Thus, the readings assigned are starting points.
For example, when we are studying Freire, if he’s new to you, it would be a good thing
for you to find out more about him, so that when you come to class that week, you
have some idea of who he is, what he represents, etc. Same for the other authors and
topics covered. You will get a chance to REALLY do this when you are the
“Discussion Leader”.
Readings: I do not order books to be in stock at the university book store. You are
able to get better prices by ordering on line. I would suggest abebooks.com or
amazon.com an excellent resources for used books. (“The Spirit Catches You…” costs
$4 to $8 used instead of $14 new; “Writing to Change the World” is under $7 including
postage; “Call of Service” is under $4 including postage, etc @ abebooks.com) Some
materials are available on E-Reserve; these are listed as E-Res in the syllabus. Readings
with an * are ones you should buy, as we read them in entirety; the others are optional
purchases and will have the required chapters on E-reserve. We also have some of the
books in the IYFD library. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE ASSINGNED LIBRARY BOOKS
FROM THE OFFICE – READ THEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
* Bornstein, D., How to Change the World
* Fadiman, A., Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down
* Pipher, M., Writing to Change the World
Bush, M., & Dass, R., Compassion in Action – part II
Coles, R Call of Service
Freire, P., Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Norberg-Hodge, H., Ancient Futures
Rogat, P., Loeb, eds., The Impossible Will Take a Little While
Other readings - Available as handouts, on line, or E-Res
EXPLANATION OF ASSIGNMENTS:
Occasional Writings (OWs): These are to be based on readings from “Writing to Change
the World” by M. Pipher. Peace Corps and other NGO volunteers do a lot of writing:
letters, essays, blogs, etc. This writing represents PCV’s attempts to make sense of and
communicate their day-to-day experiences. For each assignment you will turn in a
minimum of 4 pages of thoughtful, well edited writing, using the form assigned, and
reflecting upon a question which has come up previously in class or in your reading. I
will read, comment upon, and return them promptly. The papers must be typed. 12 pt.
font. 1 inch margins. APA header format. This is a good time for me to get a sense of
your writing skills, therefore write personally, but use your best grammar, punctuation
and editing skills. If your writing shows evidence of needing technical help, you will be
asked to use the writing lab, rewrite and then resubmit your work.
Discussion Leaders (DL): You are to pick a topic from the syllabus, do the assigned
reading, PLUS 2-3 self-selected additional reading related to topic. Your job then is to
come prepared to be the “yeast” for the class: provocateur, jester, role-play producer,
etc. Prepare and distribute a 1-2 page summary of your independent readings, with
citations, for others’ use. You are also to find and bring a guest speaker, but speak
with me about it first.
Evaluation: To get an A in this class, complete the following 5 criteria well:
(1) Do the reading ahead of time, this means being familiar with the ideas, thoughts,
and being able to intelligently discuss same (I suggest reading over first lightly, then a
second time with highlighter); (2) Participate actively in the class; (3) Turn in
Occasional Writings on time, well edited, as assigned. Poorly edited or late papers will
have points deducted; (4) Be creative with your Discussion Leader assignment and
hand out for sharing; (5) Write well and thoughtfully on your Final Essay. You start
with 100 pts. Late or poorly edited papers, obvious lack of preparation, or unexcused
absences each lose 5 points. 90 points + = A.
Weekly Assignments: This outline will most likely change, as we schedule guest
speakers and/or as other things of interest or necessity present themselves. I welcome
your constructive thoughts on amendments to course readings.
TOPICS & READING – reading assignments are due for the week noted, and are
subject to change – it is your responsibility to keep current with the readings.
Aug. 30: What Are the “Critical Issues”?
Check in, discussion of Program Goals and the function of writing in our work.
Pipher, M., Writing to Change the World Intro and Chapter One (sent previously)
Handout: What Are the Critical Issues in Helping? (sent previously)
Sept 6: Labor Day – No Class - Read Pipher chapter 4, 6 & 7
Sept. 13: Education as Liberation and as culturally defined
Friere, P., Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 2. Buy the whole book used or:
www.webster.edu/~corbetre/philosophy/education/freire/freire-2.html
Debilzen, D., 2010 reflections on PC service in Philippines, p. 54-59 (sent ahead & e-res)
Sept. 20: What is “Sustainability”? What does it look like, and how do we think about it
locally and in our work? – Critical Issue #3
Kleymeyer, Cultural Energy & Grassroots Development, (e-res)
Norberg-Hodge, Ancient Futures, pgs 91-114 (e-res)
Turn in OW # 1: “This I Believe” (if you’ve never heard of this, Google it)
Sept. 27: How to be Culturally Sensitive? Competent? Humble? – Critical Issue #1
Nacirema (e-res)
Learning Cultural Sensitivity (online) pages 1 – 18 to be read and items filled out ahead
of time. Bring to class.
http://www.professionalchaplains.org/uploadedfiles/pdf/learning-culturalsensitivity.pdf
Oct. 4: Cultural Sensitivity & Cross Cultural Practice
Fadiman, A., “Spirit Catches You…” Chaps 1-7
Refugee Wellbeing (online)
http://www.refugeewellbeing.samhsa.gov/PDF/Toolkit/3_Part_Two.pdf (pages 120)
Oct 11: Cross Cultural Practice continued
Fadiman, “Spirit Catches You” Chaps 8 –14
Pipher, Chapters 8-11
Turn in OW #2 : Letters (using Pipher chap 11)
Oct 18: Cross-Cultural Practice continued
Finish: “Spirit Catches You…” Chaps 15 – 18
Kleinman’s 8 Questions (sent ahead)
Garfat, T., Dev. Stages of Child & Youth Care Workers (e-res)
Oct 25: What motivates us? How do we stay motivated over time? – Critical Issue #5
Bush, M., “Compassion in Action” – 2nd half of book – “First Steps” (e-res)
Nov. 1: What motivates us? continued
Coles, R., “The Call of Service” Chapters 2, 3, 4 (e-res)
Pipher, Chap. 12
OW #3 A Personal Essay
(DL:_______________&___________________)
Nov. 8: Spiritual Values – Critical Issue #6
Wallis, “Faith Works” (e-res)
Altruism & Spirituality (e-res)
(DL:__________________&_________________)
Nov. 15: Hope & Optimism – keeping on keeping on – Critical Issue #7
Zinn, H., “The Optimism of Uncertainty” In Loeb pages 63-73 (E-Res)
TBA (to be added)
(DL:__________________&_________________)
Nov. 22: Imagining Change : Social Entrepreneurs – Critical Issue #11
Bornstein – Chapters 1, 2, 4, 7-11
OW #4 – A Short Speech on a Topic of Importance
(DL:__________________&____________________)
Nov. 29: - Imagining Change : Social Entrepreneurs –
Bornstein – Chapters 12, 13, 15-16
Dec. 6: Social Entrepreneurs –
Bornstein – 17 to end
Dec 13: Finals Week –
OW #5: An essay exam to be given in class during normal class time.
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an
academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the
University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The
Code is available for review online at http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Whenever possible, and in accordance with civil rights laws, The University of
Montana will attempt to provide reasonable modifications to students with
disabilities who request and require them. Please feel free to setup a time with
me to discuss any modifications that may be necessary for this course. For more
information, visit the Disability Services for Students website at
http://life.umt.edu/dss.