600 educators and teacher candidates to promote educating for peace and justice in schools this weekend

September 22, 2010
by: Janice Spencer

Leading academics and education experts will seek to enable participants to share, learn, and test ideas, strategies, and best practices related to actively building safe and equitable classrooms, schools and communities during a full-day conference at OISE on Saturday, September 25.

The Educating for Peace and Justice: Action for Safe and Equitable Classrooms, Schools and Communities conference takes a new approach unlike any other ‘safe schools’ initiative. Kathy Bickmore, Associate Professor and Conference Co-Chair, says they have taken “a pro-active, human-rights focused approach to building safer and more equitable school environments, focused on building the capacities of teachers in training.”

A sampling of workshop presenters include Lance McCready (Assistant Professor, OISE), John-Paul Restoule (Assistant Professor, OISE), Ruth Stirtzinger (Assistant Professor, U of T), Kathy Bickmore (Associate Professor, OISE), Tara Goldstein (Professor, OISE), community activists, educators from school boards and educational organizations across the province including Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Safe Schools, Peacebuilders International, Community Builders, UNICEF, and Mixed Company Theatre.

A lunch-time resource fair will showcase information from social justice, anti-violence and peacemaking organizations.

The conference will conclude with a keynote address from human rights advocate and chair of the independent inquiry into the safety of students in the TDSB, Mr. Julian Falconer, LLB.

The conference is open to the public and free to attend.

For more information please visit www.oise.utoronto.ca/studentservices/conferences