RTP AND THE BIBLE

 

It is the opinion of this author that the Responsible Thinking Process (RTP), founded by Mr. Ed Ford, is as biblically based and divinely decreed as is PCT.  Mr. Ford stated the following in an e-mail to this author:  “RTP, using PCT as a basis, is a method of teaching others how to look within themselves, decide the way they want to be, and how to restructure their own lives so they can get what they want while respecting the rights of others.”  The following statement appears in Mr. Ford’s Book, DISCIPLINE for Home and School Fundamentals, p. 1:  “Perceptual control theory (PCT), the theoretical framework that supports RTP, . . .”  If, then, RTP is based upon PCT, and PCT is biblically based and divinely decreed, then RTP is as biblically based and decreed of God as is PCT.  As a child bears the nature of its parent, so RTP bears the nature of its foundation, PCT.  And why should it not?  Both operate on the principle of freedom and when and where freedom is denied, both concepts are destroyed.

 

One remaining question might be this:  If PCT and RTP are biblically based and divinely decreed, are there any stated principles associated with either PCT and RTP that can be found contrary to any decree?  At this time the answer is no.  Suppose for a moment that some principle associated with either PCT or RTP should be found to violate any rightly interpreted, divinely decreed principle.  Would this necessarily endanger the respective concept, PCT or RTP, from which it was derived.  The answer would still be no because the basis for both derive from the principle of freedom decreed by God as the environment in which the angelic conflict will be resolved, and only the errant principle would have to be restated or dismissed.

 

 

Consider the following principles associated with RTP in the home environment, none of which transgress any Church Age principle, promise, doctrine, technique, or rule for living the Christian way of life.

 

1.   RTP is a discipline process that teaches a child to take responsibility for himself by learning to think on his

      own, respect the rights of others, make effective plans, and build self-confidence.

 

2.   RTP is based on the perceptual control theory (PCT).

 

3.  This unique discipline process is both non-manipulative and non-punitive.

 

4.  It creates mutual respect between parent and child by teaching the child how to think through what he is doing in relation to the procedures and rules in the home or in whatever environment he is functioning.

 

5.  A child behaves for the purpose of controlling his perceptions.

 

6.  A child is often unaware of his actions and the consequence of his actions upon other people.

 

7.  RTP gives a chiild personal accountability for his actions.

 

8.  The key component of RTP is its focus on how a child can achieve his own goals without getting in the way of others who are trying to achieve their own goals.

 

 9.  In short, the RTP teaches a child how to respect others.

 

10.  The purpose of the RTP is not to control the behavior of any child.

 

11.  RTP is designed to create an atmosphere of respect.

 

12.  Thus, everyone in the home or any given environment must be part of this respectful climate.

 

13.  Within a respectful climate, disruptions are reduced, and the integrity of the environment is protected.

 

14.  When a child resolves his problem in such a way that it doesn't disturb others, he is showing respect.

 

15.  RTP teaches a child how to resolve his problems without intentionally or unintentionally disturbing others.

 

16.  Thus, there will be an ongoing need to use RTP to help a child experience and apply what he learns from these

       experiences.

 

17.  It is a worthy goal in the home or any environment to create a community where everyone in that environment shows

       respect for the rights of others, thus allowing others to satisfy their own personal goals while in that environment.

 

18.  RTP helps build that community.

 

19.  RTP is a continuous process and parents have the responsibility of teaching a their children how to

       think for themselves and how to deal effectively with their problems through creative and effective plan making.

 

20.  Teaching a child how to think for himself is not accomplished by lecturing or threatening him, but by asking

       specific key questions.

 

21.  Most management programs place the burden on the parent or staff to deal with a child's disruption by asking the staff

       to "do" something to the child or to "satisfy the child's need."

 

22.  RTP, instead, gives a disrupting child the choice of either following the rules and staying in the environment in

       which the disruption occurred or going to the Responsible Thinking Classroom (RTC).

 

23.  The disruptive child will stay in the RTC until he decides that he wants to return to wherever he was disrupting and

       follow the rules in that area from which he went to RTC.

 

24.  This preserves the integrity of the environment that the child chose to leave.

 

25.  In a home, it is a basic policy that a parent has a right to teach and a child has a right to learn.

 

26.  RTP is applied from the time a child disrupts, through his stay in the RTC where he is taught effective plan-

       making.  (Effective plan making will not be taught until the child has committed himself to follow the rules in the

       environment he chose to leave.)  RTP continues until the child returns to the environment and negotiates his return

       with the parent who has authority over the environment in which the disruption occurred.

 

27.  Questions for your consideration:  When you tell a child what he is doing or you warn him, who is doing the thinking?

       When you ask a child what he is doing , who is doing the thinking?

 

28.  The key to teaching a child to take responsibility for his actions is to ask questions that will teach him to think.

 

 

     There is no reason to believe that any of the principles just stated would do anything but enhance the home environment while training a child to respect the rights of others no matter what environment in which he found himself.  RTP, however, requires the development of parenting skills, and when parenting skills are applied in the home, it is time consuming.  Yes, it is time consuming; and most parents do not want to take the time.  It is much easier and less time consuming for parents to threaten a child with punishment, the severity level such that compliance is certain in younger children, but this parent will rue the days of punishment by the time the child reaches puberty--and perhaps even before.  Dear parent, listen to what I am saying, and decide today to seek an understanding of RTP based upon PCT, both of which are founded in the divine decrees of God.  It is never to late to reorganize your own thinking on the subject of punishment vs. discipline.