This is a flexible instruction package that ranges from a single classroom lecture and discussion to multiple and varied sessions. For those with few other rehabilitation or life skills programs, all 7 hours are recommended. For students that have addressed the concept of paradigms or belief systems in other classes, the 1 hour needed for the paradigms class could be omitted or truncated as a review. The Acceptance of Authority class requires some knowledge of paradigms and perception and attempting to sandwich in a few comments on the subject within the existing lesson plan presents too many concepts in a short period. The Grapes of Wrath facilitated discussion builds upon the Acceptance of Authority class, but has general utility for a broad range of other life skill classes. Acceptance of Authority (1 1/2 - 2 hours) The Grapes of Wrath (4 hours) The Power of a Paradigm (Optional 1 hour) This is a lesson plan designed for inmates, youth with discipline problems, and other groups that desire to return to living within the acceptable bounds of law and ethics. Purchase of a single book authorizes that user to reproduce student handouts for his/her use in class. Institutions should purchase one book per instructor.
About the Author: About the Author Tom Spence is a retired Marine Corps officer. He is an ordained minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is husband, father, and grandfather and returned to live in his native Oklahoma in 1999. As a Marine Tom served in the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Marine Divisions; as a student and instructor in profession level schools; as a series commander and staff officer at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina; as the Inspector-Instructor on Independent duty in Des Moines, Iowa; and as a Program Manager in Orlando, Florida. He also served a year with the United Nations as Patrol Base Commander, Sector Operations Officer, and Deputy Commander of the Southern Sector in Iraq and Kuwait (UNIKOM). He has degrees in political science, biblical studies, theology, and counseling. Beyond his Marine Corps experience, he has been an independent trainer, counselor, and newspaper manager. He is currently the Pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Burns Flat, Oklahoma. Tom's two most recent works ares The Profanity Problem: And what to do about it and Acceptance of Authority: Returning to the boundaries of law and ethics. The first is a lesson targeted at those whom cannot seem to get a grip on a temperate vocabulary. The second is for those who constantly find themselves opposition to the law and often incarcerated because of this. These lessons are especially targeted at inmate populations, students with disciplinary problems, and groups with a self improvement curriculum. His two most recent books are Christianity for Marines and ReBaselining America: Setting a foundation of liberty for the next 200 years. His other books include Sea Stories, Even the Elect, Tough Day at the Plate, The Best of Out of the Box, and First Steps Towards Eternity. Tom first began publishing in the late 1980's with a concise article called "MarineSpeak-the modern language of our Corps." That short article in the Marine Corps Gazette spoke to the unique language of those called Leatherneck. He later published articles in the U.S. Naval Proceedings. They were "Lighten the Load" and "Analog Grunt Confronts a Digital World." Tom publishes hundreds of articles online each year as a freelance author, including two blogs and the local paper. www.thebiasedobserver.com www.tentalentblogspot.com www.theburnsflatnews.com