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Diversity, Dialogue and Institutional Change

Explore the challenges and opportunities of creating an inclusive and diverse learning environment in an urban high school. Presenters share their research on citizenship formation, discrimination issues, and future plans for institutional change.

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Diversity, Dialogue and Institutional Change

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  1. Diversity, Dialogue and Institutional Change Responding to the Changing Face of the Urban High School

  2. Presenters: • Terry Carson -- Department of Secondary Education, University of Alberta • Lucy DeFabrizio -- Department of Secondary Education, University of Alberta • Maureen Yates-Millions -- Assistant Principal, Ross Sheppard High School, Edmonton

  3. Negotiating Institutional Change in Ethno-culturally Diverse Urban High Schools • Introduction • A Profile of Ross Sheppard High School • Action Research: Reconnaissance and Data Gathering • Future Plans

  4. Democracy and Education The purpose of the public school is not to educate for democracy. Rather, it is to create a public for a democratic society. -- John Dewey (1916)

  5. Research Questions What is it like now to be “creating a public” for Canadian society. • At this time? • In this community? • In this school? • With these expectations?

  6. The Time of Citizenship • Global Economies • Proliferating Diasporas • Officially Multicultural • Complex/Diverse Identifications • Increasingly Mobile • Increasingly Urban

  7. The Place of Citizenship: Edmonton • Edmonton immigrant population: 135,770 • Unable to speak English or French:30,000 • Aboriginal ancestry: 40,215 • Aboriginal population increase: 45% by 2017

  8. The Place of Citizenship Formation:Ross Sheppard High School • Open boundaries. • What is the composition of the school? • How is diversity accepted within the school community? • What is the quality of citizenship in the school?

  9. ROSS SHEPPARD HIGH SCHOOL 13546 – 111 Avenue Edmonton, AB Pride Tradition Excellence

  10. Ross Sheppard High School • 2091 Students • Male – 1034 • Female –1057 • Over 35 Junior High Feeder Schools • 60% of students reside outside of boundary • Socioeconomically and culturally diverse • 150 students have Individualized Program Plans (IPP’s) • 36 students are coded ESL • 34 International Students • Self-identified Aboriginal population-65

  11. Ross Sheppard High School • Interactions – Autistic site (9 students) • CLS –Community Life Skills–(19 students) • 155 staff including teachers, custodial and support

  12. Ross Sheppard High School District Site for: • International Baccalaureate • French Immersion • Mandarin Chinese Specialized Programming: • Elite Athletes • Golf and Hockey Skills Academies • Athletic Injuries Clinic and Fitness Centre

  13. Ross Sheppard High School • Five International Languages: French, German, Spanish, ASL, Mandarin Chinese • Incredible Fine and Performing Arts • CTS: Foods, Fashion, Computers-Web design, communication media studies, computer applications and programming, etc.

  14. Ross Sheppard High School ATHLETICS • Over 800 athletes participating on 40+ teams • Proud tradition of excellence in capturing many City and Provincial Championships • 1/3 of Athletes achieve an honours standing

  15. Ross Sheppard High School Student Involvement / Leadership • Project RED • Youth Coalition for Peace and Social Justice • SAGA-Straight and Gay Alliance • Interact Junior Centennial Rotary Club • Impact Christian Club • Lunch and Learn – Jewish group ….and many other clubs

  16. Identities and Discrimination • Survey of school staff and students to find out: • What is the ethno-racial composition of the school? (as defined by staff and students) • Do students experience negative discrimination.

  17. academic ability cultural background disability gender lack of money/social class not belonging to a sports team physical attributes race religion sexual orientation DiscriminationIssues

  18. Identities and Discrimination Survey • N = 1355 students 80 teachers • Born outside Canada? S = 17%, T= 11% • Parents born outside Canada? • Students’ mothers=40%, fathers = 41%, • Teachers’ mothers = 28%, fathers = 30%

  19. Teachers Sexual Orientation (43%) Race (39%) Culture (39%) Physical Attributes (38%) Students Physical Attributes (50%) Sexual Orientation (46%) Race (45%) Culture (44%) Discrimination Issues

  20. What to address TeachersStudents Race 60% Race 63% Culture 60% Culture 51% Social Class 55% Physical Attributes 47% Sexual Orientation 54% Sexual Orientation 47%

  21. Future Plans • March 17 School PD Day (our survey, EPSB Diversity focus, Alberta curriculum) • March 21 Anti-Racism Day • Hosting Student Conference (Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation) • Community/Parent outreach • Guidance focus (new student integration) • Project RED (organizational focus)

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