There were at least three great things that Reggie left us (in chronological order) as his thinking evolved: 1. The idea of prevention 2. The idea of maintenance 3. The idea of improvement of innate intelligence expression as an end to itself. 4. Spinology. Perhaps the greatest is still in the future and involves number four, that is, providing a mechanism for the survival of the chiropractic principle (not necessarily under the name of spinology) as the profession allows itself to be absorbed by medicine.
Joe, great points about Reggie! It’s interesting how one can see approximately where Reggie had an influence on a number in the NTSC community by the way they practice, as some are still at number 1, some at number 2. It seems less and less chose to follow him into #3 and even less into #4.
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I agree that perhaps the greatest is still in the future and involves number four, that is, providing a mechanism for the survival of the chiropractic principle as the profession allows itself to be absorbed by medicine.
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It most certainly will NOT be under the banner of spinology as the vast majority of those still practicing under that name are not even practicing good chiropractic, but rather a medical objective of getting sick people well model, with some even introducing modalities into practice. Needless to say they are not in this country as all it would take is a quick call to the local chiropractic board to have them cease and desist, as a few have already found out, causing them to flee to countries without chiropractic legislation.
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But what Reggie and spinology did do was to lay out the blueprint for those who do wish to practice by extreme self imposed limitations, to be able to practice in the totally non therapeutic (ie. not being a dr, or in the health field, and having no access to 3rd party pay) model and do it here in the states legally.
2 questions for you Tom,
1. Why do you think so many spinologists are practicing as you say, a medical objective something, Reggie was adamantly opposed to? I can see why TSCors are doing it . The Palmers gave us a mixed message.
and
2. If OSC some day resurfaced as a spinology type profession, how would/should it differ from Reggie’s model (so that it would not suffer the same fate as spinology? Reggie surely tried in every way to made it unlike TSC.
1. The vast majority of students were referred into spinology by chiropractors who were not practicing an OSC objective, but rather a TSC one. Many, I believe, simply began the program with an ulterior motive in mind, seeing spinology as a backdoor into practicing as a chiropractor without having to go through all that it took to be a chiropractor, despite Reggie’s attempts to differentiate the differences between spinology and chiropractic.
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There were daily battles in class with people wanting to add what they wanted to their practice (reminded me of our days at Penn Straight!) as a spinologist when they graduated. For those that didn’t just up and quit the program, which a number did, others quickly learned to just…what’s the saying….tolerate, graduate, retaliate. A number in the program, particularly the European “spinologists” thought (and many still do) they knew how run spinology better than Reggie. HA! Imagine that!. They basically went back home and proceeded to do just that, practice as they wanted to under the banner of spinology and knew that Reggie, for the most part, could not do anything to them.
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2. Reggie’s model was fine. He simply abandoned spinology and spinologists and chose to return to chiropractic. Prerequisites for the program were a high school diploma and proficiency in the English language, neither of which he enforced. One of my roommates was a fellow from France who barely spoke a word of English and who while attending the spinology program was taking English classes at night in addition to what I could help him with. Needless to say, while he became very good with his hands, the rest of the program was basically a wash for him, as evidenced by the 100’s of letters I received from him over the years with philosophical and practical questions. So while I’m not big on demanding a 4 year or masters degree for the program, there has to be some level of minimal entrance requirements that are enforced.
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I still think the copyright/ trademark is good. I’m not sure too many people would be stupid enough to attempt to practice in this manner without the legal know how of how to do it legally and successfully. A number of chiros who Reggie basically gave a spino certificate to because they gave lip service to being in agreement with the philosophical position of spinology, VERY quickly found out that there was MUCH more to spinology than they thought, and were taken to task by the local chiro board. Very few today have that knowledge of how to do that.
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As I said above, Reggie gave us, I believe, the perfect blueprint. I believe the course content could be enhanced. The Pivot Review had not even started when spinology did and all that you have written since Joe would be of massive value to a person taking the program. Even still with all that Reggie gave us, we now stand on Reggie’s shoulders and have access to more info than ever to be able to impart to people taking such a program that would give them the greatest opportunity to understand, integrate and practice successfully in a truly non therapeutic approach.
Wonderful dialogue Joe and Tom. Best explanation of why SPINOLOGY ended up the way it has.
Spinology did not suffer any “fate,” because of it’s intent, way of practice, or attacks from the outside. It suffered the “fate,” of being abandoned by it’s creator. However, Reggie should not take the full blame for the outcome. It was our graduates who set the ball rolling to take down SPINOLOGY.
As you read this, think about how you would feel, if your dream was brought to fruition, and the very people you counted on and trusted, set out to destroy what you finally developed, after you let them graduate?
My heart is sinking in my chest as I read these posts and type my own.
Spinology was and still IS the end zone in the game plan of my life. To finally get there and have the “touchdown” ruled “invalid by our own team from within, is sooo, soooo heartbreaking!
Thank you Tom and Joe, for showing me again, where we went wrong, and the possibilities that still exist.
There are only two actual “certified” SPINOLOGISTS left in this world, and they are right here in THE U.S.A.
Tom, no matter what profession you practice in, you will always be one of us! BAND of BROTHERS! OOHRAH!!!!