People for Education Online Community

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Members

  • genevieve
  • Keeth Kumarasamy
  • Kasia Kalat
  • Sam
  • Richard Renneboog
  • Anthony Wright
  • Gay Stephenson
  • Mike Hunt
  • Charlene Lindsay
  • daniel schugurensky
  • Jacqui Strachan
  • Kevin Lester
  • Francine Mayer
  • L Steel
  • Margo Cowie
  • Monique St. Aude
  • Denise Kettle
  • Corinne Doyle
  • Jamul
  • mjsooman

Events

Jacqui's Conference Highlights

Yeah, yeah, the speakers were great and the workshops were informative, but the real highlights were behind the scenes…

Take One Parent, One Student, and One Teacher, and what do you get?
A trio of awesome volunteers! Anahit Harutyunyan (parent), Shamair Garib (student) and Jonathan Lau (teacher) worked tirelessly from the crack of dawn through to the very end of the conference, and met every challenge we gave them. Jonathan became the true hero of the day when he managed to hunt down someone to re-stock the toilet paper.

Knit One, Purl Two, Register a Participant.
I loved watching our conference registrar, Jan Sugerman, and Kathy Bradden, the Chair of People for Education’s board, madly knitting at the registration table while listening to speeches and answering questions. It was a perfect P4E moment. I better get a really nice pair of wool socks, though.

More Incredible Volunteers
Cathy Boote, Arlene Morell and Verna Ferencik, registration queens. Your warm welcome and jolly spirit made the registration process fun and easy.
Monique St. Aude, our student from last year, who came back again to help this year. It paid off big-time – her conversation with Dennis Shirley led him to encourage her to apply to do her Ph.D. with him. Go for it, Monique!
Greg Laws, who tirelessly moved tables and chairs, alphabetized name tags, then moved some more furniture.
Garret Titus, our student this year, who also happens to be a musician – he was our go-to guy for help with recording the speeches, and bravely took on moderating a workshop too.
All of our amazing speakers and moderators, who volunteered their time, expertise, and talent to make the day a huge success!

More Student Stories
At the end of a long day, after the dinner was over, there was still some food left. It made my day to be able to offer it up to the incredibly grateful ‘starving students’ who were hanging out in Stong College. They were utterly charming, and thrilled with all the food, especially the cookies. They even backed me up and vouched for my lack of craziness when some more students wandered in and I made them the same offer. There are seven very well-fed students wandering campus now!

It was a great day all round, and there are probably a million more stories to be told. Thanks to everyone who came, and I hope to see all of you out again next year.
 

Here you are in our online community... now what?

Take a peek at what's here. If you need help finding your way around, just click here for a list of frequently asked questions and additional help.

Transforming Schools for the 21st Century

Is it possible to collectively build a new vision for public education?


Schools haven't really changed since the industrial revolution. Public education has the potential to transform lives - but is it living up to that potential? Schools at the Centre is an innovative strategy to develop new education policy ideas from the ground up, and build public excitement about a forward-thinking vision for our schools.


We'd like to spark some new conversations!
Find out more.
Find out what people are telling us!

Watch this interview with Minister of Education at our conference!

TVO filmed some great interviews at our conference!

Listen to Dennis Shirley speak about "The Fourth Way"

Missed the keynote presentation at our conference?

Watch and listen to it now! (His slide presentation synced to the audio!)

Consider showing this presentation at your next school council meeting!

Discussions

People for Education

Online Discussion Netiquette 5 Replies

Once you've read these guidelines, you'll feel confident to begin sharing your ideas, views and information with others in our online community. Lurk for a While Hanging out and just reading the m...

Started by People for Education in Netiquette. Last reply by Sheila Stewart Sep 26.

Deborah Konecny

Let's talk more about what we think education is about 2 Replies

This morning I was working on a blog entry for the Toronto Development Community Institute. I got on Youtube to search for a piece on Paolo Freire on literacy and oppression. I ended up watching th...

Started by Deborah Konecny in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Anthony Wright 1 day ago.

Gord Wyse

Parent Councils- are they different between Elementary and Secondary School? 8 Replies

As PIC chair for our Board and Chair of our High School Parent council we have always had a lively discussion on the differences between Parent Council at the elementary level vs the High School le...

Started by Gord Wyse in General. Last reply by Cathy Nov 16.

Lisa Bradt

Cost Effective Communication with Parents...What's Your Style?? 23 Replies

Hello everyone, This is my first post, so I hope I am doing it right. I have been mulling over ideas about how our school could create a more cost effective and environmentally friendly communicat...

Started by Lisa Bradt in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Gay Stephenson Nov 4.

Gord Wyse

Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's? 58 Replies

Thanks People for Education for posting the ministries request for responce on draft Parent Engagement Policy. What I am upset over is why the PIC chairs weren't sent this info and invited to respo...

Started by Gord Wyse in General. Last reply by Jacqui Strachan 1 day ago.

Frank Loreto

Getting rid of EQAO 160 Replies

Any feelings about doing away with EQAO? This has become a monster tail wagging the dog of education. If the Ministry is looking to save money (given these lean days) then eliminating EQAO would be...

Started by Frank Loreto in General. Last reply by Cathy Nov 12.

Norah Fountain

Bill 177 enters second reading this week - what will it mean? 7 Replies

Hi, this piece from rabble.ca is right to the point of what Bill 177 could do. Democracy Deleated with Bill 177 October 5, 2009 - 2:22am This week Bill 177 entered it's second reading. For those w...

Started by Norah Fountain in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Norah Fountain Oct 14.

ZS Worotynec

Full day kindergarten in Ontario 16 Replies

Hello people. I'm hoping it's possible to have a discussion about the full day kindergarten program, as proposed by Charles Pascal. See the Ministry of Children and Youth Services website to read ...

Started by ZS Worotynec in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by ZS Worotynec Nov 2.

Fay

Where do kids have lunch? 5 Replies

It is the first year my son goes to school. It is a little upsetting learning that there is no cafeteria inside the school. The students have their lunch on the floor in the hallway. Is it the same...

Started by Fay in General. Last reply by Cathy Oct 9.

Blog Posts

Sam

Purpose of education: Revised

“Institutions become dysfunctional when they do not accomplish the purposes for which they were created. Schools were created to be places of true learning, places where the true natures of children would be allowed to grow and flourish. By this definition, there are too many students for whom school is not ‘working." (Reist, The Dysfunctional School,2007)

I believe we are grossly mistaken if we believe that "[s]chools were created to be places of true learning, places where the true natures of… Continue

Posted by Sam on November 17, 2009 at 9:30pm — 4 Comments

About us: What we do, why we do it!


Sometimes people wonder who and what People for Education is. They wonder if we have a hidden agenda, or if we are secretly in league with other organizations. Sometimes the questions about the organization just come up as a matter of course, other times they come up because people don’t agree with either our actions or our positions on issues.


It’s the beginning of a new school year, so it’s probably a good time for a quick update on what we do, why we do it, how we’re funded, and what our overall goal is.
Click here to read more.

Please give us feedback on this community space!



Do you have ideas, suggestions, questions or some constructive criticism to offer?

Please tell us what you think!



Just send Gay an email! gay@peopleforeducation.com

 
 

About

Video Interviews!

TVO recorded great interviews / discussions at our conference!

Watch them now, or share them at your next school council meeting!!!!

Interviews with:
Minister of Education
Annie Kidder
Charles Pascal (Early Learning)
Testing the Pros and the Cons (Panel Discussion)


Book Chat

Add your book chat here by emailing:
jan@peopleforeducation.com


October 4, 2009
Not so long ago I chanced upon a tv interview with Sarah Vowell. She was talking about her new book The Wordy Shipmates and she was funny and intriguing enough that I picked up the book. Not only has she written a number of books, she is also the voice of Violet in the animated film The Incredibles and contributes regularly to the This American Life on Chicago Public Radio
Although I was reading for amusement, information and stories, once again I bumped into education!
The Wordy Shipmates is about the Puritans in the 17 century and Sarah Vowell's childhood in the 20th century and life now in the 21st. The book is a delightful flow of ideas and customs that weave through the narrative of American life. Education was there at the beginning
...Continue....
Join the conversation at Book Chat

Latest Activity

52 minutes ago
Keeth Kumarasamy updated their profile photo
53 minutes ago
Gay, dear, I am not grumpy at all. I just "think for myself". Independent, creative, and fearless. And certainly hoping that we are teaching our young to do likewise, to speak our truth, and to ask questions when something doesn't seem "right". :)
1 hour ago
Hi Sam and all, I wanted to come back and read all the posts today, as I was struck by a poster in the subway (which Sheila mentioned was coming) from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. I really like your thesis, or whatever you would call it Sam...
3 hours ago
5 hours ago
5 hours ago
Thank you for your feedback and link with great info Annie! Our school board has already implemented many different clubs, including homework, cubs etc. into our schools in the hopes of having community hubs as it were. I believe this to be succe...
7 hours ago
Hi Kevin, This is a great question, and I look forward to hearing what other people have to say. Our research seems to indicate that it varies from school to school and board to board as to how fundraised money is handled. Since 2005, all fundrais...
8 hours ago
9 hours ago
A blog post by Sam was featured
“Institutions become dysfunctional when they do not accomplish the purposes for which they were created. Schools were created to be places of true learning, places where the true natures of children would be allowed to grow and flourish. By this d...
yesterday
I'm gonna jump in here with a bit more clarification, because the questions Kevin asked are ones that I get asked all the time as the Parent Support Coordinator here at People for Education. There are three main sources of funding for parent enga...
yesterday
Hi Deborah, I am new to this venue of discourse so forgive me if I am stating nothing new. My background is philosophy (ethics) and political theory. I am unfamiliar with Paolo Freire but now intend to read his book. The issue that stood out for ...
yesterday
My view as a PIC chair is there are 2 bread and butter funding sources for parent involvement at the school level. The $500 and the pro-grants. Different PIC's have different ways of communicating with Parents/school councils- some directly throug...
yesterday
Thanks for helping clear that up, Gord. Busy discussion here! Gord, you have touched on something that I have been concerned with, and might be more so ahead in time. Just as "school councils" sometimes get the blame for things--when it is said no...
yesterday
Hi Kevin All principals handle the money differently. So the first thing to do is go and ask what his/her policy has been. Some just dock photocopying costs off the amount throughout the year, others hand it over, others keep it in the school bank...
yesterday
Gord has it exactly right.
yesterday
Hi Gord, Thanks for the answer and clearing up my mis-understanding. So if our Parent Council would go to our Principal and request the $500, we would then be allocated the $500 for parent engagement? Our school does not have a PIC, nor do I think...
yesterday
Kevin I believe the blunt answer to your question is School council's receive $500 for parent engagement. Doesn't matter how many kids are in your school. You are confusing the money that is allocated at the Board level. The Board level money is u...
yesterday
Anthony Wright and Kevin Lester joined People for Education Online Community
yesterday
Kevin Lester added 2 discussions
yesterday

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