El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 78, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 21, 1983 Page: 2 of 62
sixty two pages : ill. ; page 23 x 16 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page2A El Campo leader-News, El Campo, TX, Wed., Dec. 21,1983
Technique Overcomes Learning Problems
By CYNTHIA L. MILLER
“We don’t believe in the per-
manency of learning disabilities ”
That one idea was foremost to a
recent free demonstration given
to about ISO local teachers by
Mary Jane Brownell, a former El
Campo graduate and former
student of some of the teachers
present.
Brownell, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles Heno of El Campo,
and her husband, Tom Brownell,
are pioneers in the field of neuro-
linguistic programming (NLP), a
new teaching technique which is
able to tear down many barriers
for the learning-disabled as well
as for children who are having
trouble in one area or another.
The Brownells conducted the
demonstration, an introduction to
the technique, Monday afternoon
in the El Campo High School
auditorium. The couple is
associated with New Learning
Pathways, a center in Denver
which “guarantees results” using
the new technique.
Though the demonstration
focused on spelling skills, Mrs.
Brownell pointed out that subjects
such as math, science and reading
can also be taught using NLP,
though the steps are more in-
volved. Mr. Brownell teaches
learning-disabled students
through NLP, and told local
educators that most students
simply learn differently
NLP uses physical indicators,
such as eye movement, breathing
shifts, facial coloration and voice
changes, to monitor a student's
thinking. “It doesn’t tell you what
a child is thinking, it tells you bow
he’s thinking,” Mrs Brownell
said
For example, most normally-
organized right-handed persons
look down and to the right when
carrying on an internal dialogue;
often a student who does this is
telling himself he cannot ac-
complish a task A student whose
head is down and looking at the
floor, Mrs. Brownell added, is
often “looping," or telling himself
over and over again that he
cannot do a particular task.
Virtually everyone visualizes
by looking up, the Brownells said.
Most right-handed persons look
up and to the right when
visualizing something that has not
occurred, and up and to the left
when remembering a visual
image. Left-handed or am-
bidextrous persons often have the
reverse orientation
When speaking of visual
images, people often gesture
above their heads and their voice
is at a high pitch.
Looking straight to the left
indicates auditory memory in
most right-handers; looking to the
right indicates auditory con-
struction Auditory gestures, such
as a snapping of fingers to in-
dicate an idea has just “clicked,"
are made at eye level. Again,
lefties and some others may be
reversed.
Looking down and to the right
indicates tactile (touch) sen-
sations and emotions; the senses
of smell and taste are also
oriented here. Looking down to
the left indicates a person is
carrying on an internal dialogue.
NLP is not entirely new to many
parents, Mrs. Brownell pointed
out. Often a child is amazed when
his parents know he is lying. Hie
parent is using physical clues to
see how the child is thinking.
Another example of the un
concious monitoring occurs in
couples married for many years,
or others who live or work closely
together. Often, a person will
assume the same position as
another if they are thinking the
same way.
Often misunderstandings occur,
Mr. Brownell said, when one
person is speaking in the upper
range, or visual, and another is
speaking in auditory or
kinesthetic (tactile, emotional)
terms
New Learning Pathways is
headquartered in Denver, with 12
centers throughout the United
States. Through these centers,
teachers are taught to use NLP in
teaching all types of skills.
The theory was developed by a
pair of reaearchers who were
exploring how people make
changes in behavior. The initial
purpose of the research was to
help persons, particularly
athletes, achieve excellence more
quickly.
One part of the program in-
volved researchers traveling
across the country to observe
excellent spellers. In almost
every case, a good speller
visualized the word by looking up
and to the left (or right).
Besides eye movements, NLP
uses breathing shifts, body
posture, skin coloration, voice
tonality and predicates (common
words or phrases) to monitor how
a child is thinking One element of
the technique is establishing a
rapport with the student by
“anchoring” — using a similar
word or phrase, or a gesture such
as a handshake.
After briefly explaining the
theory, a local seventh-grader,
Kelly Krutilek, volunteered to
learn new words from Mrs.
Brownell. Though he had trouble
with the word “yacht” at first,
Mrs. Brownell demonstrated how
to take the student back through
the positive imaging. Kelly
mastered the imaging so well
that, within a short time, he could
spell “spaghetti” backwards.
Fingerprinting Procedure
Approved By Louise ISD
The parents of children and
studsnts ages two-year-old
through the 12th grade in Louise
will have a chance to have their
children fingerprinted thanks to a
new program being offered to
local schools by the Wharton
County Sheriff’s Department.
The Louise Independent School
District Board of Trustees voted
unanimously Monday night to
approve the fingerprinting.
John Strnadel, Louise ISD
superintendent, said the printing
will take place on Jan. 25, and
urged the parents of all preschool
children in Louise ages 2 and
older to bring their children to
school on that day so that they can
be printed for their protection.
Under the program, a child is
printed by a deputy or someone
from the department, and the
prints are returned to the parents
in order to help identify the child
should he disappear or get kid-
napped.
Law enforcement agencies are
prohibited by law from keeping a
copy of the prints and do the
fingerprinting strictly as a ser
vice for the parents
“I’m not in the scare tactic
business,” Strnadel said after the
board approved the program
“It’s not something that most
people would use, but I think it’s a
good idea. All it takes is a little
time.”
In other action, the board
discussed, but took no action on a
proposed outdoor basketball
court.
Strnadel estimated that a six-
goal, fenced-in facility would cost
an estimated $25,000 to $90,000 to
build; however, he felt a new
library facility for the school was
more important. The Texas
Education Agency has recently
suggested that Louise build a
library for grades kindergarten
through sixth grade. After some
discussion, the board voted in
favor of Strnadel looking into the
costs of building a new library.
Strnadel suggested that if a new
library was to be built it should
accommodate all grades of the
school. Presently, grades six
through 12 have their own library.
Books for the lower grades are
distributed among the
classrooms. Hie board agreed
with Strnadel that if a new library
was to be built, it would be more
efficient to house all the books in
one library. “We really have a
unique situation in that most
facilities (schools) are split,” he
said.
The board also approved:
•placing Joe Garcia, part-time
custodian, on the payroll «s a full-
time employee;
•a formal 1983-1964 budget of
$1,251,792;
•and updates to Phase I and
Phase II of the school policy
manual (which contained no
major changes, according to
Strnadel >.
Eye Contact
L-N Pliol® by Cyalhia Miller
Kelly Krutilek, left, a local seventh-grader, learned to spell several dif-
ficult words using a new technique, demonstrated by former El Campoan
Mary Jane Brownell (right). Brownell carefully watches her student’s
eye movements, which indicate how he is thinking.
— Local Merchants Enjoy Brighter Holiday Season
(Continued From Page 1)
extra money this year.”
Food Items that sell especially
well include turkey, tamales, corn
shucks and hogs heads (for
making tamales).
Ben Franklin’s aim saw a run
on the notorious “Cabbage Patch
Kids,” and, like Smith, manager
Johnny Trochta la at a lam to
explain the doDs’ appeal. The 9$
he had in stock were sold within
10 days, Trochta said, long
before the national media blitz.
The only comparable “erase”
he has seen in the last few yean
was the Rubik's Cube several
years ago, though even thoee were
not as popular as the adoptable
dolls.
Glo-Worms and Care Bean, a
revival of the oid-fashionod teddy
bear, are also hot sellers, along
with traditionally strong Ben
Franklin items like crafts and
artificial flowers.
Overall sales are up about 11
percent, Trochta estimated,
partially because of the closing of
K man. The store is “cleaned
out” of tree lights, Christmas
cards and other seasonal Items.
“A lot of people are spending
more this year,” Trochta said.
“The economic outlook is better. ”
Knebel Pharmacy has had a run
on all holiday items, according to
Paul DeLomel, co-owner. “We’re
naming out of everything.” he
said, adding that sales are up at
least 10-15 percent from last year
Boxed cards sold out unusually
early at Knebel. and distributors,
also caught by surprise, are only
partially filling some orders, such
as cologne.
Holiday ornaments, decorations
and wrapping paper are going
rapidly, as are all gift items,
DeLomel said. Brass items have
been reduced and are selling well,
as are crystal items, watches and
wallets, all traditional gift items
which are enjoying a resurgence
in popularity.
One of the few local stores not
seeing an increase in business this
year is Parlour and Pantry
Owner Jane Weinheimer said
business is “not quite as good” as
last year, though many customers
are buying cookbooks, cookware
and utensils as presents, rather
than less “practical” glassware
Weinheimer feels the
“curiousity factor” — the fact
that the store had just opened for
Christmas last year — improved
last year’s sales. However, many
“last-minute” shoppers have
visited the store this week.
Ely Furniture has seen a
general upturn in business the last
three months, though the
Christmas season has been
“nothing spectacular,” according
to owner Walter Ely.
Items usually sold around
Christmas include recliners, sofa
beds, some dining room furniture,
and items from the gift gallery.
Ely said that furniture stores get
a lot of browsers, or people
coming in to get ideas.
Unfinished furniture items, sold
at the Patchwork Pig locally and
in stores in Bay City and
Angle ton, are selling briskly. Hte
• ' b» I imM* SHn
Bay City store is doing almost
twice as much busines as last
year, according to Vic Penuel,
owner.
Hie local store, however, is not
selling as fast as last Christmas,
mainly due to changes in per-
sonnel and location. However,
Penuel said. “There is no
reluctance to spend money. We
are writing smaller numbers of
tickets, but for more money,”
because people are willing to
invest a little more for durable
goods
Vicki Gold, new owner of Merle
Norman cosmetics and gifts, has
seen lots of business this season.
“People are buying a variety of
things,” she said, including
brass ware, jewelry and makeup.
Dawn Stofle, also new to
business, said that Dawn’s
Children’s Collections is doing
good business in both boys’ and
girls’ clothing, especially jogging
suits and pullover sweaters. Stofle
said she is pleased with the
Christmas business, though she
has “nothing to compare it to.”
Also selling well at Dawn’s are
novelty items like decorated tape,
stickers, notepads and placemats
which can be colored and wiped
off with special crayons.
Isaac8on-Carrico’s factory
outlet, however, is not seeing
brisk business this season, said
Joe Vitera, owner and manager.
Vitera attributes the sluggish
sales to more people buying at
discount stores and a new location
further from town, but he expects
business to pick up after Jan. 1.
El Campo Subdivisions
Considered By Council
Continued residential growth
will occupy all of El Campo City
Council's time at their second
monthly meeting on Thursday at
7 30 a m
First agenda item will be
consideration of the preliminary
and final plat approval of Vallejo
Second Subdivision on FM 1163
west of the Pan American
Ballroom
Council will then consider a
preliminary plat of Echo Brook.
Unit 2. on Hutchins Lane,
requested by Wayne Raker
A preliminary plat of Circle S
Mobile Home Park on Calhoun
just west of Blue Creek will also
be discussed
Council will discuss Regency
Town Houses, a proposed new
development at FM 2765 (West
loop) and Town and Country
Drive.
Final item will be approval of
an amendment to the zoning
ordinance to rezone Lots 9-10 in
Circle Lawn from R-l, single
residential, to R-1A. new
classification for town homes
Development is located on Ave C.
— Fires Claim Three
(('Mthawf From Page I)
by Murrile
Larry Adams, investigator for
the Sheriffs Department, said
Knapp was found on the Hoar near
a butane space heater that had
apparently ignited some debris,
adding that a large amount of
paper, rags and other flammable
material was scattered about the
house
• ghosdv fW, HrrttrnleH for (hrimtmnn.
Vaar Immu is MV lawn.
**’• keep It clean
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 99, No. 78, Ed. 1 Wednesday, December 21, 1983, newspaper, December 21, 1983; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1018348/m1/2/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Wharton County Library.