Articles

Enhancing the Learning Environment with Touch:
"JUST TOUCH" IN THE SCHOOLS!
By: Jennifer Phelps, Vice President, IFBM

On August 11, IFBM offered its first half-day conference designed especially for educators, administrators, nurses and counselors of Tucson schools titled Enhancing the Learning Environment with Touch. Inspired in part by Tucson Unified School Districts' (TUSD) new Alternatives to Suspension plan and his own professional experience, the event was suggested by John Powers, Jr., Certified Practitioner and Assistant Principal of Santa Rita High School. He has long envisioned BMTH in the public school system as a vehicle for bringing appropriate and safe touch back into the schools and making true connections with students.

The purpose of the conference was to present the idea, introduce educators to BMTH as safe touch, and come away with some practical first steps toward bringing BMTH into schools.

In attendance were about 40 people, including several IFBM volunteers. Educators each paid $20 and received four professional credits approved by TUSD. All proceeds went to fund the school project as it develops

Simply put, it went fabulously! John Powers kicked off the day with some very personal statements concerning what he believes BMTH would do for students, teachers, and families (transcript on pages 4 & 5). John has been in education for over 25 years and encouraged teachers to get sessions for their own stress in a thankless and challenging job. Definitely a maverick in his field, he told the audience that he has observed children become more violent to themselves and others as we have become a more "touch-phobic" society. John believes that BMTH not only helps with stress but also helps to start the process of self-awareness and sharing of personal difficulties, both of which he feels are necessary for the health and well-being of young people, especially.

Next on the program were Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., Director of the Human Energy Systems Laboratory at the University of Arizona and Paul Bucky, President of IFBM. Gary presented data collected over the last two years on the effects of BMTH on stress, pain, and blood pressure. He even gave a sneak preview about the possible effects on brain waves of kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, something particularly interesting to educators these days. Gary stated that BMTH "is resurrecting the reputation of touch" and that it would be of great benefit to families. Paul shared the history of the technique, IFBM's services, and taught the audience some of the BMTH points that they could do at home right away. Yes, he got all those teachers up and touching.

While these three fellows were great presenters, we'd have to say, hands down, that Sarah Frazier, 15 year old BMTH Practitioner and in-coming sophomore at Santa Rita High School, stole the show. With grace and composure, she spoke in front of a room of strangers - teachers no less! - and touched all of our hearts with a wisdom beyond her years. Sometimes through tears, she told about her mom who has a serious form of cancer and the devastating effects of the chemotherapy. She expressed how the stress of concern for her mom is a heavy burden on top of school and life in general at age 15.

Since they took the certification class last year, Sarah and her younger sister Samantha have been working on their mom, which has created the space for them to speak with her about the illness. It has also opened the door for the two girls to share with each other their feelings and fears about it, something they had not been able to do before.

"When you're a kid, Sarah told the audience, "everyone tells you that you can't do anything until you're an adult. After hearing that about twenty million times, you begin to believe it." But BMTH gave her something she COULD do, right now, to actually help her mom feel better. And that, she said, "is the best feeling in the world!" Sarah said that she knows lots of other kids who have parents sicker than her mom who would be interested in BMTH. "Kids can touch," she said, "and they want to. They just don't know it's out there."

After the presentations, the teachers had group discussions. Of course, liability was the greatest fear of most teachers. Still, they came up with some great ideas, such as creating BMTH study groups for which educators would receive professional credits; having IFBM offer sessions before and after school for students and their families; and presenting to teachers at in-service meetings to educate them on BMTH. John said he would begin using BMTH in certain disciplinary situations where kids in trouble would have the option to participate in BMTH sessions and/or training.

One of the ideas that we brought to the conference was inviting students to become researchers for the U of A by learning BMTH points for headaches and then collecting data, much as we do in the Center. In the process of collecting data they would be touching and relating to their family which, of course, would be the ultimate benefit of any school-based project. Gary Schwartz suggested that we ask students like Sarah how THEY thought their peers would like to incorporate BMTH, making a group of student advisors for BMTH in schools.

To hear such thoughtful individuals speak about the impact of BMTH gave a very deep sense of gratitude and the knowledge that, with patience and perseverance, it CAN be done. It is revolutionary, yet so very needed!

An Educator's Perspective