Building Inclusive Schools

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Building Inclusive Schools

• Jacqueline Skytt
• Coordinator Professional Development, ATA

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Session Objectives

• Discuss the need to develop inclusive schools and
  peace education
• Provide an overview of the UNESCO ASPnet project
  and accreditation process
• Feature activities of two UNESCO ASPnet schools
• Provide information on resources and supports for
  ASPnet schools.

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Agenda

1. Why Inclusive Schools and Peace Education?

2. What is UNESCO ASPnet?
3. What are the benefits?
4. How can you get involved?
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ATA Diversity, Equity and Human Rights Committee

• Studies, advises and makes recommendations on
  issues of diversity, equity and human rights
  (DEHR)
• Facilitates action by Local related to DEHR
• Produces Just in Time electronic newsletter
• Provides print and web-based information and
  resources
• Supports the work of its sub-committees

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Sub-Committees
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2
3
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Aboriginal Education
Gender Equity
Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity
UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network
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Why inclusive schools and peace education?
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The Alberta Teachers Association believes that
every child has the right to be taught in an
inclusive environment that is safe and caring,
respects diversity and the rights of all
persons, and provides equitable opportunities for
success.
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Inclusive Learning Communities

• Respect diversity, equity and human rights
• Support the intellectual, social, physical,
  emotional and spiritual development of each child
• Respect for the values of cooperation, trust,
  caring, sharing, rights and responsibilities
• Commitment to racial harmony and gender equality

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Inclusive Learning Communities

• Support for First Nations, Métis and Inuit
  education
• Support for initiatives that address the effects
  of poverty on children
• Commit to peace, global education and violence
  prevention and,
• Promote sustainable school, family and community
  partnerships.

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Peace Educationteaching individuals the
information, attitudes, values and behavioural
competencies needed to resolve conflict without
violence and to build
mutually beneficial, harmonious relationships
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Major reasons for peace education

• To give students the competencies and values they
  need to build and maintain peace in their
• Families
• Peer group
• Community
• Workplace
• Country
• World
• And within themselves.

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Major reasons for peace education

• To constructively deal with the aftermath of war
  and the presence of violence in our daily lives
• Increased violence and aggression
• To ensure that previously warring groups live
  together in harmony
• Immigrant children from war-torn countries who
  have experienced are socialized into a peaceful,
  democratic society.

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Major reasons for peace education

• The social and environmental problems in the
  world now and in the future require all people to
  collaboratively work together to achieve the
  necessary solutions
• HIV and AIDs
• Global warming
• Pollution

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Peace Education
Cognitive
Behavioural
Affective
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7 Worlds of Moral Education

• Character Education
• Cultural Education
• Caring Community
• Peace Education

• Social Action
• Just Community
• Ethical Inquiry

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Moral Education

• The most popular form of moral education is
  character education
• Character education is however, the most limited
  vision of moral education
• The other six moral worlds hold more humane,
  imaginative, and profound visions of moral
  education.

P Joseph S Efron, 2005
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What is UNESCO ASPnet?
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UNESCO ASPnetUnited Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural OrganizationAssociated
Schools ProjectNetwork
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UNESCO ASPnet

• Established by UNESCO in 1953
• More than 7000 schools in 172 countries
• Canada joined UNESCO ASPnet in 2001
• The ATA is the coordinating body for ASPnet in
  Alberta
• The ATA has partnered with the Society for Safe
  and Caring Schools and Communities to implement
  ASPnet

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UNESCO ASPnet

• ASPnet school projects are designed to prepare
  students to address the challenges of an
  increasingly diverse, complex and interdependent
  world.

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UNESCO Four Pillars of Learning

• Learning to know
• Aware of world issues and their solutions
• Learning to do
• Active involvement in solution building
• Learning to be
• Development of attitudes and commitment to global
  citizenship
• Learning to live together
• Demonstrating respect for self and others

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UNESCO ASPnet

• ASPnet students and teachers work together to
  develop innovative educational projects at the
  school, community, provincial and global levels.

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APSnet Integrated Themes

• Human Rights, Democracy and Acceptance
• Intercultural Learning
• Environmental Concerns
• World Concerns and the Role of the United Nations

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Human Rights, Democracy and Acceptance

• Human Rights Day
• Diversity Day
• Photo Exhibit Celebrating Diversity
• Anti-racism Education

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Intercultural Learning

• International Student Club
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education
• New Student Welcome Buddies
• International School Partnerships

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Environmental Concerns

• Earth Day
• Community Clean-up
• Recycling Partners
• Wetlands Project
• Tree Planting

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World Concerns and the Role of the United Nations

• Terry Fox Run
• Community Hampers
• Students for Change Conference
• World Poverty Education
• Disaster Relief Projects

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What are the benefits?
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Why become an ASPnet school?

• Support student inquiry and social studies
  curriculum
• Practical application of provincial Character and
  Citizenship Education
• Active learning about world concerns

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Why become an ASPnet school?

• Making a difference locally and globally
• Development global citizens for the future
• Contributing to the development of a peaceful
  society

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UNESCO ASPnet

• Schools in ASPnet can work towards provincial,
  national and global accreditation levels

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Accreditation Process
Provincial Candidate
National
International
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Provincial Candidate Schools

• Build support and commitment among school
  community members
• Integrate UNESCO themes into school curricular
  and extra-curriculuar projects
• Build a school culture that reflects UNESCO
  ideals
• Build community partnerships
• Report annual to provincial coordinator

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National Accreditation

• Provide documentation of commitment from school
  community members
• 2 years of documented efforts to integrate UNESCO
  ideals
• 2 years of documented efforts to build school
  culture
• 2 years of documented community collaboration
• Minimum of 2 years as candidate school
• Submit 2 years of annual reports via provincial
  coordinators to national level

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International Accreditation

• Provide documentation of commitment from school
  community members
• 2 years of documented efforts to integrate UNESCO
  ideals
• 2 years of documented efforts to build school
  culture
• 2 years of documented community collaboration
• Minimum of 2 years at National level
• Submitted minimum of 2 annual reports via
  provincial and national coordinators to UNESCO
  Paris.

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Resources to Support ASPnet
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Alberta Education

• Character and Citizenship Education
• K-12 Social Students Program
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education

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John Humphrey Centre

• Youth Guide to Canadian Charter of Rights and
  Freedoms (bilingual)
• Rights Under the Sun student summer camp
• Building World Peace The Role of Religions and
  Human Rights International Conference, Edmonton,
  October 20-22, 06

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Canadian Commission for UNESCO

• Associated Schools website
• Directory of International ASPnet schools
• Global connections

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Society for Safe and Caring Schools and
Communities

• K-12 curriculum resources
• Diversity publications for teachers
• Becoming the Change We Want to See Conference for
  student leaders, teachers and community members,
  Edmonton, June 01-02, 06

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ATA

• DEHR website and ASPnet webpage
• Inclusive Learning Communities Grants up to 2000
• Education is Our Buffalo A First Nations, Métis
  and Inuit Resource for Teachers
• Professional development workshops for teachers

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How can your school become involved?

• List all the relevant school activities
• Develop a committee of interested teachers and
  students
• Complete the UNESCO ASPnet application form
• Obtain the necessary support from school
  community members
• Send application form to J Skytt, Provincial
  ASPnet Coordinator, ATA

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Questions?

• Call Jacqueline Skytt at 1-800-232-7208 or
  Edmonton area at 447-9400