EDITORIAL                                                                             See also: International CYCW Week

Left-Over Notes to Self

So, end of the year, here in the northern part of North America. We make the circle once again, coming back, different, to the same place we started a year ago. Like a short walk around the universe. Time to sit back, relax a moment (but only a moment because the universe isn’t in the habit of waiting) and start up again. (Note to self: Re-read Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy).

I don’t know why we mark this event – any more than I know why we mark others. Or why we keep time, count days, strike off the months. It all flows together so well on its own (not knowing or caring, I suspect, that we are counting) that it sometimes seems so artificial, the way we have it all divided up. I guess it seems that way because it is; artificial, I mean. Arbitrary. (Note to self: Re-read Still Life with Woodpecker)

I have friends who live in different countries . . . they have their time off on different days of the week, celebrate the beginning of the new year at a different time of the year. It’s just as arbitrary. (Note to self: Re-read Deaf to the City)

Anyway, every year I come to this same place and have a similar feeling – like I should be counting up goals attained, things accumulated, progress (however it is measured) made. But what symbols would I use to mark the progress? Certainly not the marker of time. Time and age both count, of course, but they are attained without effort. And goals, accomplishments, are supposed to be measured in terms of something that required effort on my part – so I can’t take credit for the fact that another year passed, can I? (Note to self: Re-read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance)

So, here, at the end of yet another period of marked time, are some questions I still have:

• How come ‘made it through another year’ isn’t a valid goal? (I did, and I am happy about it, so shouldn’t it count?)

• How come the lane I am in always moves the slowest? (How did I get so skilled in this area of lane-choosing?)

• How come kids in care need measurable goals? (Who’s that for anyway?)

• Why is it that even when my clock stops, time still goes on? (What is the point in measuring something that happens anyway?)

• How come thousands of people use CYC-Net, but only dozens support it? (What’s that say about its ‘real’ value?)

• Why do I save books I have already read?

Oh, I know there are more important things to worry about. Or, at least, so they (who are ‘they’ anyway?) say.

I prefer to measure progress in terms of the questions I still have. I figure if I every run out of questions, time will look after the rest. (Note to self: Throw out those books and get new ones.)

So, happy or not, here we are – at least some of us – others have been here before, or will be arriving later.

But we all get here on time.

Thom
Rosemere, December 31, 2005.

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International Child & Youth Care
Workers’ Week 2006

We read on the web site of the Ontario Association (www.oacyc.org) this notice:

Thanks for reminding us all, Ontario colleagues. Child and youth care people around the world will be wanting to start now to organize for this occasion. At the very least we would expect a celebratory event within your program, your city or your region – even if it is just a cup of tea and a chaste biscuit to remember amongst yourselves that you are part of a world-wide community of special people who are committed to competent work with children, youth and families – in whatever setting.

Child and youth care people are usually more inventive than that, and might like to organize an occasion with a little more oomph! It could form part of a one-day school or a longer conference, or perhaps a smarter affair with an invited guest; even more, an approach to your local mayor with the suggestion that your city might like to acknowledge and thank child and youth care people at a civic function! (We dare you!)

Whatever you think of, do keep us informed at cyc-net@icon.co.za so that we can circulate your plans and your news to your colleagues everywhere, who may be inspired to copy (or improve on) your ideas.

Few enough people stop to acknowledge and celebrate child and youth care workers. We give you permission to promote the field in your community, to publicize your work in local magazines and newspapers, to make posters for your nearby library or shopping mall, to get interviewed on radio ... and if you can't get media to invite you, then call in to phone-in programs, write letters to the press ... tell ’em!

And if you are, alas, reduced to tea and a biscuit, please know that your celebration will be a joyous occasion of far wider significance than it seems, and will be echoed and respected by your colleagues across the continents.