THE VOICE OF THE CHILDREN, INC. [1969-1970]

Dear Visitors and Adult Friends of the Children:

This is a children’s workshop, striving to serve the growing interests and abilities of the children, exclusively. Our weekly effort on behalf of the children is severely limited by time, space, staff, money, and material. Therefore, it is necessary to scrupulously concentrate upon serving the children, during the little while available to us.

It is no accident that our workshop is called: The Voice of the Children.

To preserve our focus and group integrity, we must, therefore, ask you to observe these courtesies:

Please limit adult-to-adult conversation, to an absolute minimum.

Please join in the workshop, by conversing with children, reading books, or writing.

Creative writing by guest adults, during the workshop, is welcome.

Please do not, in the presence of the children, discuss the children, or their work. That serves to introduce a competitive spirit that is antithetical to group harmony. Inquiries into techniques of promoting creativity or group cohesion or purpose should be reserved for some separate, adult-to-adult occasion that can be arranged, briefly, at the end of a session.

Criticism of the children’s writings should not be offered, unless prior discussion, with at least one of the directors, has taken place.

please note: It is the workshop policy that children’s writings are not subject to adult “correction.” On the other hand, excessive praise can discomfort children and impede their willing exploration of potentiality.

Please do not attempt to “look over the shoulder” of children while they are writing; creative expression of oneself requires a modicum of privacy.

Thank you for coming, and for your cooperation.

Sincerely, [signature] June Jordan