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May Issue Sneak Preview
Truth and Reconciliation in the Schools - How Can We Move Forward?
From provincial ministries to individual teachers, we all need to be thinking about how we can “Indigenize” education: incorporate respectful, accurate information and experiences about Indigenous histories, Worldviews, ways of teaching and learning, and contemporary issues into all levels of schooling. But how can teachers, who may know little themselves about Indigenous cultures and issues, teach this material authentically? And what should we do to ensure new curriculum is developed in accordance with the principles of T&R? In this issue, we invite explorations of good practice examples, researchers’ insights on how we can “scale up” Indigenized learning, and other articles aimed at helping schools move forward towards education for reconciliation.
NEW WEB EXCLUSIVE ARTICLES
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Education Research Highlights
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This Public Health Agency of Canada report provides data up to 2015 on the number of Canadian children and youth ages 5-17 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within six provinces and one territory. Among a data sample representing 40% of children and youth across the country, key statistical findings indicate that:
- 1 in 66 children and youth were considered as being on the autism spectrum in 2015.
- Males are diagnosed with ASD four times more frequently than females.
Three provinces were able to provide historical data to compare results with earlier years, which indicate an increase in the prevalence of ASD from 2003-2015:
- Newfoundland and Labrador (6.0 per 1,000 to 19.6 per 1,000);
- PEI (5.0 per 1,000 to 17.7 per 1,000); and
- Quebec (3.5 per 1,000 to 15.7 per 1,000).
An independent Commission on Inclusive Education in Nova Scotia, established in March 2017, has released a final report indicating that the program is under strain and requires increased funding to support students with learning challenges. This is the first time the program has been evaluated in 20 years, and the report furthermore estimates that approximately a third of the province’s 118,000 students require some form of support. Recommendations include accelerating student assessments, behaviour intervention, and more funding to hire 600 to 700 specialists including behaviour support teachers, school psychologists, and regional health nurses.
This report by Ontario-based parent advocacy group People for Education indicates that inequitable access to arts education continues to prevail across Ontario’s schools, based on a survey of over 1,200 elementary and secondary schools. Most significant is the finding that small and rural schools, schools with high levels of poverty, and schools with lower levels of parental education are less likely to have learning opportunities in the arts. Other key findings include:
- 46% of elementary schools report having a specialist music teacher, either full- or part-time, up from 41% last year.
- School budgets for the arts range from less than $500 to $100,000.
This report outlines the results of a year-long review led by Dr. Carol Campbell, with more than 5,000 people — including parents/guardians, educators, students, community members and a diverse range of stakeholders — having provided input as part of the engagement process. Key findings include:
- That assessment processes must give students and educators timely and relevant feedback on their progress, that stimulate growth in relation to their past performance and future goals.
- A strong consensus about the need for changes in EQAO assessments given commitments to student equity and minimizing undesirable indirect effects of assessments on students' learning and well-being.
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Announcing Canada’s Top 7 Innovative School Programs
From students managing farms and marketing organic products while re-engaging in a Worldview First Nation perspective, to tackling bee extinction, to leveraging art as a tool for activism and for portraying scientific concepts, to thriving inclusive and equitable classrooms, this year’s diverse group of winning programs all exemplify the value of learning through trial and error.
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The 2017-2018 Ken Spencer Awards showcase how teachers can provide students with the autonomy and flexibility to take their learning to the land; to use technology as a tool for equity; to explore Indigenous-centred perspectives and to blend art, science and social justice to focus on real-world problems.
Learn more about the seven Ken Spencer Award winners.
Check out our award-winning programs from 2017-2018
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APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING:
For the 10th annual Pat Clifford Award for Early Career Research
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Thursday, May 31, 2018, 5 pm PDT (Pacific daylight time)
SPACE IS LIMITED!
Invitation to Superintendents/Directors of Education
When: May 30th – June 1st, 2018
Where: Le Saint Sulpice Hôtel, Montréal
With relevant insiders’ discussions and case study presentations produced by District leaders for District leaders, this small private gathering will provide you with invaluable learning, networking and support on the challenges and opportunities that you and your peers are facing across the nation.
Only a few spaces left! Please contact Mia San Jose at events@edcan.ca to obtain registration information.
PROGRAM UPDATES:
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Meeting the challenge of embedding Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action in all our classrooms
Darren Googoo, Director of Education, Membertou Mi’kmaq First Nation
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Synergies and tensions between provincial and international testing
Dr. Louis Volante, Professor of Education at Brock University
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Unlocking the Closet Door in Rural Saskatchewan
Student sexual orientation support and good practices to reduce incidents of self-harm and suicide
Ben Grebinski, Director of Education/CEO, Prairie Valley School Division
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Plus our annual CEOs’ ‘Cross Country Checkup’ and more!
We hope to see you in Vieux Montréal!
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Featured Book
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Schools, in order to be nimble and stay relevant and impactful, need to abandon the rigid structures designed for less dynamic times. This modern resource expands cutting-edge organizational design and modern management techniques into an operating system for empowering schools with the agility and responsiveness so vital in the business world.
The NEW School Rules
6 Practices for Thriving, Responsive Schools |
To see the featured Corwin books we have selected which may be of interest to you, go to the ‘ Bookstore’ section of the EdCan/CEA website! Contact membership@edcan.ca for more details. |
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NEW! Latest Education Research from EdCan Network Member Faculties *
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via Society for Research in Child Development
- Marc Jambon, University of Toronto
- Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary
- André Plamondon, Université Laval
- Ella Daniel, Tel Aviv University
- Jennifer M. Jenkins, University of Toronto
via JAMA Network, American Medical Association
- Tracy Vaillancourt, University of Ottawa
- Kirsty S. Lee, University of Ottawa
via Journal of Preventive Medicine
- Adrian Ghenadenik, Université de Montréal
- Lisa Kakinami, Concordia University
- Andraea Van Hulst, McGill University
- Mélanie Henderson, Université de Montréal
- Tracie Ann Barnett, Université de Montréal
Are you a member Faculty of the EdCan Network? Find out if you’re a member and promote your work here! Contact André Rebeiz at arebeiz@edcan.ca with your request for promotion.
Your EdCan Network Faculty of Education Membership entitles all faculty staff and students to unlimited online access to our Education Canada Magazine archives, which are used frequently to stimulate dialogue in lecture halls.
*Note: university student or faculty login may be required
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Latest Education Research
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