Sponsored by the Center for Professional Education of Teachers in partnership with the Arts & Humanities department of Teachers College
Organized by Dr. Adele Bruni Ashley & Dr. Erika Kitzmiller
"The paradox of education is precisely this-that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated. The purpose of education, finally, is to create in a person the ability to look at the world for itself, to make his own decisions, to say to himself this is black or this is white, to decide for himself whether there is a God in heaven or not. To ask questions of the universe, and then learn to live with those questions, is the way he achieves his own identity. But no society is really anxious to have that kind of person around. What societies really, ideally, want is a citizenry which will simply obey the rules of society. If a society succeeds in this, that society is about to perish. The obligation of anyone who thinks of himself as responsible is to examine society and try to change it and to fight it-at no matter what risk. This is the only hope society has. This is the only way societies change."
- James Baldwin
A Talk to Teachers
A Talk to Teachers
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The past few years have presented challenges and opportunities for educators who are committed to the civic and political education that Baldwin described over 50 years ago. Over the past year, we have witnessed a surge in homophobic, racist, misogynist, and xenophobic rhetoric in our society and our schools. At the same time, teachers in classrooms across this country have been engaged in the difficult work of challenging oppression and injustice in their schools, communities, and nation. These teachers know that the future of our democracy is at stake.
As we watch these challenges unfold, educators face a quandary: how do we respond to the political events in our classrooms? What does it mean to have our students examine the society which they will one day inherit? And how might we, as Baldwin urges, encourage our students “to examine society and try to change it and to fight it - at no matter what risk”? Teaching in Trying Times seeks to foster conversations around these pressing questions. This one-day conference will invite primary and secondary school educators from around the country to share both theoretical and practical approaches to political and civic education in these trying times. |
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Participants will attend a keynote session featuring Deborah Meier and Emily Gasoi, authors of These Schools Belong to You and Me: Why We Can’t Afford to Abandon Our Public Schools, along with workshop sessions focused on the following themes: The community: includes student, teacher, and administration, and community-led presentations & workshops that describe how civic discourse and political action is enacted beyond the school walls and through social networks The classroom: includes student, teacher, and administration-led presentations & workshops to understand the various classroom strategies and approaches that teachers use to engage their students The school: includes student, teacher, and administration-led presentations & workshops that examine the ways that schools cultivate this work The student: includes student-led presentations & workshops to examine how youth voices and civic participation are cultivated in schools |
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The regular cost of attendance during the registration period is $50 per person until 5pm EST on April 5th. Participants can pay by credit card, or by having their school obtain a purchase order for their attendance (PO option available through April 5th only).
If you received a promo code, your discount will be reflected when you purchase your ticket. |
Teachers College is a New York state-approved provider of Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) hours. Participants can earn 6 CTLE hours for this conference.
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The conference runs from 8:30am-3:15pm on April 12th.
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