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Historically, many struggles for social justice have been carried out in the realm of schools and schooling. Schools are deeply connected to our communities, our lives as citizens, and our common future. This weekend, education activists and community organizers from a variety of communities and perspectives are gathering their forces in Regina, in an effort to expand networks and share experiences.
Jacqui Strachan of People for Education, an influential Ontario lobby group, will be there to help out. Strachan will lead a workshop titled ‘Advocating for Our Children, Our Schools and Our Communities’ on Sunday, March 14. The workshop will include roundtable discussions from Aboriginal, rural and urban perspectives.
The event sponsors and participating organizations represent a wide constellation of community organizations, research groups, unions, parents and educators.
Among the topics likely to be discussed are changes to special education, rural and inner city
school closures, and the increased emphasis on standardized literacy and numeracy evaluations, a trend widely criticized by education theorists. Roundtable presenters include Dr. Rick Sawa, teaching services consultant for Prince Albert Grand Council and editor of ‘Assessing Students’ Ways of Knowing,’ a book on
alternatives to standardized testing. Other presenters include Aboriginal educator Dr. Eber Hampton, education consultant Dr. Rick Hesch, as well as parent representatives from RealRenewal, the rural advocacy group SOS Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Association of School Councils.
The Sunday workshop runs from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre, 263 Lewvan Drive. Supervised childcare is provided.
In addition, Strachan, Sawa and Hesch will lead a public discussion the following evening on the topic of ‘Accountability and Standardized Assessment: Who Benefits?’ at 7 p.m. upstairs at La Bodega restaurant, Monday, March 15.
Both
events are free of charge, however participants are encouraged to register in
advance online at www.realrenewal.org. Event sponsors are the University of
Regina Faculty of Education, RealRenewal, the Regina Public Interest Research
Group, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, CUPE and RDLC.
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