A Rabbit Does the Trick

 
left to right: Bob Mathias, Virginia Hunt Newman, Marisa Wayne, Ethan Wayne, John Wayne.

Virginia said that she can vouch for John Wayne being a terrific person.  When Virginia asked if Wayne could attend an award ceremony for his children's swimming, an aid to Wayne interjected that his schedule would not permit it.  Wayne over road  the appointment saying, "Oh that can wait till Saturday, we can do this for Ginny."  ('Ginny' rather than Virginia as she was and is know by friends from the past.) 

Virginia also taught a daughter of author Harold Robbins - Adriana    When they met Virginia a the door of their home on the first lesson day, Adriana said "I am not going to put my face in" to which Virginia responded "Well you don't have to do anything that you don't want to do."   In working with Adriana, Virginia put her own face in and glance around the pool, came up and remarked to Adriana, "Do you know you have gold fish in your pool?" 
"No we don't" said Adriana over and over again.
But shortly there after, Adrian put her face in and rose to remark, "We also have an octopus in our pool!"

Admitting that she didn't know who Harold Robbins was, Virginia laughs when she recalls a conversation with Robbins' wife.  "We talked about my book (published in 1967) and she said, 'You know, my husband is a writer too'.  I said "Oh really what does he write?".  "Novels", his wife said.

Virginia also taught the daughter of Sonny & Cher - Chastity.  According to Virginia there was little to teach Chastity since father - Sonny - had already done a good job of it.  

Virginia has been featured in the New York Times and interviewed by Barbara Walters on the NBC Today Show.  She'd also made a trip to Philadelphia with Katherine Crosby to appear on the Mike Douglas TV Show.  Picture

According to Virginia there was a chance meeting that would greatly shape her teaching style as recorded in her 1967  for the future.  Here husband was a producer and was filming a commercial for a bank wherein a rabbit had been trained to pick up a silver dollar and place it into a small bank.   Virginia was on the set when the commercial was being filmed and spoke with the person who'd trained the rabbit - a Dr. Shaw from the Univ. of Arkansas.  He said that in training the rabbit every time the animal would go near the bank, a bell would ring he'd be given food - positive reinforcement.   

That rabbit changed the face of infant swimming as Virginia went on to make applications to her teaching. She thought she'd try that with a friend's baby and was granted permission.  She knew also that babies like to please their parents.  Every time child did what Virginia wanted, she'd give praise.  Any action or response that was not desired would be largely ignored. 

In addition Virginia read about the work of scientists Pavlov and BF Skinner on positive reinforcement.  Later she gave students poker chips as reinforcement - the chips were kid-size, brightly colored and water proof.   

As a Side note - for her 80th birthday Virginia was given actual red, white, and blue poker chips with her contact information imprinted - serving as 'business cards'.    

The reinforcement of desired actions was used instead simply forcing the young students says Virginia.