I assume that everyone on this list practices in a participatory way with 
children and young people? Or at least, you engage in the discourses 
around this subject and can offer some insight based on the position you 
take? If so, I am setting a challenge!

After a recent steering group meeting regarding the 'purpose' of this 
email forum, I am going to stick my head above the parapet and hopefully 
begin a dialogue - a journey. I am inviting everyone to join me on this 
journey.

I am going to set a 'frame' for us all to hold a dialogue, and this frame 
will be in the fashion of a question or two. The questions, while open to 
the widest interpretation, will keep us relatively focused, and if 
possible, i will try at the end of this dialogue period to collate and 
summarise the discussion. Does this all make sense? No worries if it 
doesn't, participation rarely makes sense!

May I suggest that this round of E-dialogue ends on January 31st 2007.

In the meantime, I may add questions, or even withdraw some if they don't 
work.


OK, to kickstart this dialogue, here is a question:


Are there layers of 'consciousness' in the practices that we 
call 'participation'? That is, some people use participatory practices and 
tools, but when engaging with children and young people may ignore the 
part they play in this process. They don't recognise that they are a key 
part in individual or group work, let alone critically reflect on why they 
think what they think, or why they behave as they do. They are often 
critical of every other person, but not of themself. My opinion is that if 
we cannot evaluate, criticise, observe, respect and appreciate power 
fluctuations, or reflect in and on our practices, then we should not, in 
all honesty, practice at all.

If there are layers of conscioussness, what are they, or what could they 
be? Do they exist in a tangible, identifiable form? In other words, can we 
see them, touch them, feel them, smell them, breath them, hear them? Or 
are they a construct, useful only for exploring our position within a 
participatory activity and for further enquiry?

I would value your views, contributions, and even your criticisms. And if 
you have some 'stories' that could add an element of colour to this 
dialogue, even better.

Perhaps when this E-dialogue is finished it will be possible to create a 
paper?!

Phil