Pick of the Day: Talkin' About School & Society

You get two shots at checking out this discussion series hosted by the University of Regina's Faculty of Education. Today from 3:30-4:45 p.m. in the Education Auditorium, University of Ottawa Professor Joel Westheimer will speak on the subject No Child Left Thinking: Democracy at Risk in Canadian Schools. Then from 7-9 p.m. at LaBodega Restaurant (2228 Albert) Westheimer will reprise his afternoon presentation with additional input from U of R professor Jennifer Tupper. As always, people who attend, be they professional educators or just members of the general public, are encouraged to offer their own thoughts on the topics being touched on.

As we move increasingly to a knowledge-based economy, access to quality public education is hugely important for children, especially those from marginalized communities who typically don't have a lot of family resources to draw on. In Saskatchewan's First Nations and Metis community, for instance, education is regarded as "the new buffalo" that will help sustain and nourish Aboriginal youth as the herds of bison that used to roam the prairies once did. But plenty of factors are in play in our society, from spending restrictions imposed by conservative governments to the growth of privately-operated Christian schools, that are hindering society's ability to provide schools and teachers with the resources they need to meet the challenge of ensuring that children and families get the support they require to succeed.

Issues like these, plus much more, I'm sure, will be touched on in these provocative presentations. Check them out if you get the chance.

Addendum: According to organizers, both events are a go for today despite all the snow we received.