Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Module 1 Reflection questions

3. What tensions are there between your beliefs and values and practice regarding your role in the relationship between home, school and community? How did this tension arise?
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  1. RobskcaJanuary 26, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    The greatest tension I feel with my beliefs and community education comes down to where I am teaching at the moment and the philosophy of a community school. The school where I teach serves a community that is primarily middle class to upper middle class and the population of the school has an international flavour.

    First Nations participation at my school is there but the number in its group is not known. Knowing the provincial trends in demographics for the increasing numbers of First Nations students, we are quite certain that in only a few years First Nations students comprise a much greater proportion of our schools’ populations (Sask. Trends, 2008). And yet this does not translate itself to my school. We feel that by understanding the numbers we might better meet the needs of the First Nations population in our school.

    As a member of the Leadership Team at our school, we have discussed the presentation of a survey asking all students to self-declare their heritage/ancestry. This was done so that all students would feel they were a part of this process. One of the primary purposes of the exercise was, however, to identify who (the size of the student body) our First Nations students were.

    Our school division has set about a renewal process that has built in a series of Goal-Setting paradigms. At the top of the goal-setting hieracrchy is the CIP or Continuous Improvement Plan. One of the four priority areas is Equitable Opportunities and Outcomes for All. In this area, “This includes support for Community Schools, First Nations and Métis education, and SchoolPLUS services and programs that enable all students an equal opportunity to learn and to succeed.” (Continuous Improvement Plan, 2008).

    As a former Vice Principal in two elementary schools and now as a Learning Leader in a high school, I’m very familiar with these goals and their intent. However, in my present position and in my present school, these goals seem so far removed. On the one hand I see why we must embrace them but on the other hand I see how nearly irrelevant they are in my present school.

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