Kenneth,
When I first spoke to my administrator, I introduced EFT as a tool that I have been using to relieve the stresses in my life.I mentioned this several times, showed her the videos, and even took personal time to attend an EFT training with Gary Craig. She was able to see that my interest in EFT was not just a passing fancy and she often heard how it was beneficial for me. This ground work was very helpful.
After allowing my personal interest in EFT and the benefits that I have received to make an impact, I went on to let her know some of the problems that my students have chosen to share with me concerning educational issues in their lives. Many of these issues center around testing. Others center on teacher remarks, parental remarks, and peer remarks that have caused them to loose faith in their ability to handle certain subjects and difficulties in education. Most of my students have math phobias as well as testing phobias and find it easier to give up than to struggle with their personal frailities. Many have developed a "hatred" for the educational setting and never felt they they fit into the mold expected of them... or so they believe. I pointed out to my administrator that their feelings about education were impacting their ability to benefit from their education and impacting their test scores. This is a definate problem in a country where educational ability boils down to the ability to pass tests. Since funding is impacted by student test results, my administrator could see the benefits of allowing EFT in the classroom.
I made sure tha she was aware of what EFT is and is not. Once she was armed with this knowledge, she was prepared to handle parental concerns. We discussed options for students if they chose to not be a part of the EFT experience or if their parents opted out for them. Guidance counselors were also made aware of the EFT training in the event that a student had a severe reaction to the experience. Sometimes facing "dragons" can be a terifying experience and counseling needs to be ready to handle such extreme reactions. Luckily, I never had any strong reactions in my classroom and my students enjoyed learning a technique that brought them freedom from emotional baggage.
I have also talked to my administrator about sharing EFT with the teaching staff. Teachers face the same frustrations about testing that the students face. We are "graded" based upon how well they succeed. This frustration can cause teachers to be overly critical or overly negative about students' abilities. A"dumb" student can spoil it for the class and for the teacher. This kind of thinking and reacting brings on more trauma in the classroom. Teachers who tap are able to get over their own frustrations and be a student advocate. In my book, Tap for Better Teaching , I discuss many of the issues that teachers face in the classroom, the halls of academia, as well as in their own personal life and show them how to relieve these issues in their own lives, thus allowing them personal experience with EFT before they then share it with their students. As Gary often says, EFT is a tool that can be used without mastery, but it is much more effective when it is mastered and we are able to get out of the way and allow it to work.
I would never recommend just starting to tap with students. An administrator, facing an angry or confused parent, that does not have knowledge about a technique being used in his or her school quickly becomes an enemy instead of an advocate. Always make sure that your administrator has knowledge and even be prepared for the administrator to check out and get permission from his/her superiors. Luckily my administrator was able to make the determination within the school. However, her superiors have heard me speak at seminars and conferences about the advantages of utilizing EFT in the classroom.
You might want to make up a brochure or flyer for students to take home to their parents explaining EFT in very simple language. The flyer could have information about the advantages of whatever you are going to use EFT for as well as information about opting out if they are not interested in having their child participate. Copies of submissions to the EFT website about EFT sucesses in the classroom could be sent home touting the advantages.
Best of luck! I love using EFT in my classroom!