How much of your classroom learning encourages critical thinking? Memorization?

A student poll in response to Dr. Joel Westheimer's plenary speech:

• In English I am able to Psychoanalyze Macbeth and look at parts of his mind, rather than memorize passages.

• TOK ; encourages critical thinking, and makes you question what you know

• Collective voice (social justice program offered at bowman in grade 9)

• Getting to do a presentation on “positive” Asian stereotypes and the model minority myth as an English final

• In English class when learning about future careers and the paths we can take, our English teacher asked us (in reference to the UN sustainability goals): “when considering what you want to do in the future, do not only focus on a career, instead as what world problem can you help solve?” 

• Getting to write a piece on the implementation of a sex ed curriculum that isn't heteronormative and abstinence focused (in English)

• In History, we have to understand the context the event is taking place in and create conclusions from that instead of mindlessly memorizing dates and exactly what happened during that time (ex: WWI: Inquiry Question: What factors allowed WWI to take place?  How can we prevent the same factors from recurring?)

• At conferences like this! (Which we were given the opportunity through school)

Interview with Panelists

Interview with Brenda Green
Conducted by Emma and Emilia

Interview with Heather Fenyes
Conducted by Yekta and Kimia

Interview with Dr. Fern Stockdale Winder

Conducted by Frank and Aleena

Interview with Dr. Joel Westheimer

Conducted by Kimia

Videos We Recorded to Share with the Conference

This is a candid question reel we prepared, where students answer questions from the heart.

And this is the video we shared with the conference, our own thoughts about citizenship:

Power Quotes from our Panelists

Doug Cuthand, Journalist:

• “There is definitely change coming. And it is coming right now.”
• “You have to look back generations, and look forward generations.” 
• “Have a province that values multiculturalism.”
• "Indigenous peoples’ pipeline protests remind us that land is spiritual, not just commercial; First Nations have a deep connection to their land as a source of cultural identity and play an important role as environmentalists." (paraphrase)

Rob Currie, Ministry of Education:

• “We need them to be global thinkers. We need them to think outside the borders of SK. We need them to be problem solvers.”
• “Given our world, and given our past…. We have to be inclusive thinkers… be welcoming to thoughts different from ours”
• “We must have the will to resist the status quo and an ever changing world to realize change”
• “Regardless of the path you choose you will be required to be a problem solver, so think critically, analyze, and ask questions”
• “We need to have a curriculum that responds to changes”

Heather Fenyes, Co-Founder of Think Good, Do Good:

• “Our province experienced a staggering shift in demographics . We haven’t scaffolded the ability to truly understand “the other.”
• “We can’t let Canadian political correctness mask racism.”
• “Citizenship education is the key to structural integrity.”
• “Watching social media i am afraid….. Only education has the ability to change it”
• “We all require cultural sensitivity to understand racism”
• “Only education has the power to change racist, misogynistic lexicon”

Gordon Martel, Educator:

• “How do we address, not only apology, but redemption? … Fix what’s broken together… start to undo the tangled web of bias and racism”
• “We need to pay attention to social and economic egalitarianism.” 
• “We need a more deliberate education mandate and a greater articulation of the proposition for interracial harmony.”

Chief Clive Weighill, Saskatoon Police Service:

• “We have to admit that there is racism and issues in our society"
• “Sometimes change doesn't come fast. But we have to keep speaking about it”
• “(Aboriginal girls/ women are) accepting, maybe subconsciously, that it’s okay to be victimized… this is how insidious marginalization is.”
• “The anonymity of social media is killing us”

Brenda Green, Educator:

• “When we think about that future space… we have to understand that everyone is coded.”
• ”I think we do have the opportunity to have it right”
• “Education was and still can be, a tool of assimilation.”
• “What I would like as an indigenous person is equity- in the sense of access, to do what one wants to do without barriers”

Dr. Fern Stockdale Winder, Clinical Psychologist:

• “We really need to get to know each other better.Through relationships we can understand each other better”
• “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way and on a quiet day I can hear her breathing”
• “‘You are so lucky to be a white girl.’ I didn’t understand that as a little girl”
• “That color of my skin should not leave me lucky or unlucky, but with equal opportunities”
• “Recognizing co healing is already present”

Corey O'Soup, Advocate for Children and Youth:

• “Our children will be the ones teaching us in the future how should we live together”
• “We all know that education is truly the key”
• “I envision a future where a First Nation or Metis Prime Minister is leading our country”
• “Someone has to educate our leaders, they have certain biases as well”
• “Talk to a young person and ask them about their future and the future of Saskatchewan.  They may some weird things, but don't disregard those. Listen to them and think about the context they are coming from.”

Round Tables and Our Thoughts

We all joined Round Table discussions to hear the thoughts of attendees at the Courageous Conversations Conference.

Listen to our thoughts here: https://clyp.it/k5oj5nkz

We also took plenty of pictures:

Opening Remarks @ Courageous Conversations Conference

Written by Aleena, Lorena

Edited by Vaidehee

Pictured: David Arnot

David Arnot, the Chief Commissioner of SHRC, came into the Courageous Conversations to talk about issues that limit Canada faces from from becoming a more welcoming country for everyone. He praised Canada as it has had the most success in developing multiculturalism but recognized, despite this lead, there are prevalent points that if aren’t immediately addressed, can drag our province, and overall, our country backwards. “Western states are worried. Make sure that multiculturalism stays alive,” stated David Arnot, emphasizing the importance of diverse ideology and how although, multiculturalism is embedded into our very own constitution, there is still danger in losing grip on our situation if action isn’t taken. He proposed the course of action was through education, “We must invest in our education to keep multiculturalism alive,“ He highlighted that in our education we must unite and acknowledge the 5 main issues: racism, gender discrimination, mental and health addiction, and disability issues before they get out of hand. Racism is currently the no.1 issue in Saskatchewan. And most of the stereotypes we hold are based on fear and ignorance, this is one of the strongest barriers that prevents us from from reaching harmony and unity for all peoples.

Pictured: Cathy Mills and Patricia Prowse

For so long, the sense of inclusion and exclusion have divided us as a nation. It is now time for a different kind of change. The recent election in “The Land of the Free” has proven their freedom is false, and that their country, like ours, needs to create a conversation. In conclusion, Justice David Arnot acknowledged in order to solve this crisis of the issues above, education is the key. Our education system has to be able to create citizens after graduating that are enlightened, ethical, empowered, empathic, and engaged. This can be the student citizenship we need and then students will lead the revolution that brings our nation to a better place. “The status quote for this province is not acceptable nor sustainable.” We as Saskatchewan citizens have the power to counter racism against indigenous people and newcomers, only then can prosperity and equality in both Saskatchewan and Canada is possible.

Getting Things Started

In our little corner of the conference, the E-Journalism team gets technology and resources ready to roll for the Opening Remarks and Round Tables that will take up the morning.

Our table near the window (and the snacks!):

We got right to work setting up an action plan and getting everyone organized:

And we even have our own interview space tucked away!