Supporting Social Justice Education through TEACH
March 2020 Edition of Partnership News by the Peterborough Immigration Partnership
TEACH Outside the Box is a participatory educational model that supports educators to become agents for change in their schools and communities. TEACH hopes to firmly unite theory and practice, as well as foster a network of educators engaged in social justice. The program offers a unique opportunity for teacher candidates at Trent University and community educators to participate in a series of interactive workshops and optional community placements. It also provides participants with an opportunity to be part of a collaborative network of educators, learning alongside peers and community partners as they build their own social justice education “toolbox”. Highlights of the TEACH Outside the Box program include: exploring critical education theories from various perspectives (global, Indigenous, anti-oppression, popular education, and the arts); engaging with different ways to teach (inside and outside of the classroom); and putting theory into practice (particularly during the community placements).
TEACH participants participate in the Human Knot activity during a workshop.
Photo Credit: TEACH Outside the Box
The Peterborough Immigration Partnership (PIP), through New Canadians Centre (NCC) was privileged to be invited to be part of the program for the 2019-2020 cohort. In addition to being a committee member and a community partner, we helped facilitate the first workshop on Social Justice Education in Practice, alongside other community educators. The workshop focused on exploring principles, vehicles, and concrete approaches to social justice education in order to provide a basis for the rest of the workshops in the program. The second segment of the workshop featured a panel of social justice educators who were able to share their experiences and offer advice regarding social justice education.
Additionally, two program participants, Joanna Jasina and Haley Sheppard chose to complete their placements at the NCC. Their focus was to support us in providing newly-arrived government-assisted refugee (GAR) families with enriching programming while they look for and settle into their permanent homes.
For more information on the program, please visit the TEACH Outside the Box website. Thank you to the TEACH program coordinator, Erin Clancy and to all the committee members for another successful year.
Established in 2008, the Peterborough Immigration Partnership (PIP) is a community-based partnership of individuals & organisations (including the NCC) which envisions a community where the meaningful economic, social and cultural integration of newcomers ensures a prosperous and inclusive community for all.
Please contact us for more information and to become involved in this partnership.