Diversity, Dialogue and Institutional Change Responding to the Changing Face of the Urban High School 9/19/2018

Presenters: Terry Carson -- Department of Secondary Education, University of Alberta Lucy DeFabrizio -- Department of Secondary Education, University of Alberta Maureen Yates-Millions -- Assistant Principal, Ross Sheppard High School, Edmonton 9/19/2018

Negotiating Institutional Change in Ethno-culturally Diverse Urban High Schools Introduction A Profile of Ross Sheppard High School Action Research: Reconnaissance and Data Gathering Future Plans 9/19/2018

Democracy and Education The purpose of the public school is not to educate for democracy. Rather, it is to create a public for a democratic society. -- John Dewey (1916) Institutional change for what? In considering how the high school is responding to cultural diversity (the inside question), we were forced to also consider what is the role of the high school in Canadian society (the outside question). 9/19/2018

Research Questions What is it like now to be “creating a public” for Canadian society. At this time? In this community? In this school? With these expectations? Citizenship in a diverse urban community. 9/19/2018

The Time of Citizenship Global Economies Proliferating Diasporas Officially Multicultural Complex/Diverse Identifications Increasingly Mobile Increasingly Urban A complex picture. 9/19/2018

The Place of Citizenship: Edmonton Edmonton immigrant population: 135,770 Unable to speak English or French:30,000 Aboriginal ancestry: 40,215 Aboriginal population increase: 45% by 2017 9/19/2018

The Place of Citizenship Formation: Ross Sheppard High School Open boundaries. What is the composition of the school? How is diversity accepted within the school community? What is the quality of citizenship in the school? The focus of our action research. 9/19/2018

ROSS SHEPPARD HIGH SCHOOL 13546 – 111 Avenue Edmonton, AB Pride Tradition Excellence 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School 2091 Students Male – 1034 Female –1057 Over 35 Junior High Feeder Schools 60% of students reside outside of boundary Socioeconomically and culturally diverse 150 students have Individualized Program Plans (IPP’s) 36 students are coded ESL 34 International Students Self-identified Aboriginal population-65 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School Interactions – Autistic site (9 students) CLS –Community Life Skills–(19 students) 155 staff including teachers, custodial and support 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School District Site for: International Baccalaureate French Immersion Mandarin Chinese Specialized Programming: Elite Athletes Golf and Hockey Skills Academies Athletic Injuries Clinic and Fitness Centre 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School Five International Languages: French, German, Spanish, ASL, Mandarin Chinese Incredible Fine and Performing Arts CTS: Foods, Fashion, Computers-Web design, communication media studies, computer applications and programming, etc. 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School ATHLETICS Over 800 athletes participating on 40+ teams Proud tradition of excellence in capturing many City and Provincial Championships 1/3 of Athletes achieve an honours standing 9/19/2018

Ross Sheppard High School Student Involvement / Leadership Project RED Youth Coalition for Peace and Social Justice SAGA-Straight and Gay Alliance Interact Junior Centennial Rotary Club Impact Christian Club Lunch and Learn – Jewish group ….and many other clubs 9/19/2018

Identities and Discrimination Survey of school staff and students to find out: What is the ethno-racial composition of the school? (as defined by staff and students) Do students experience negative discrimination. 9/19/2018

Discrimination Issues academic ability cultural background disability gender lack of money/social class not belonging to a sports team physical attributes race religion sexual orientation 9/19/2018

Identities and Discrimination Survey N = 1355 students 80 teachers Born outside Canada? S = 17%, T= 11% Parents born outside Canada? Students’ mothers=40%, fathers = 41%, Teachers’ mothers = 28%, fathers = 30% 9/19/2018

Discrimination Issues Teachers Sexual Orientation (43%) Race (39%) Culture (39%) Physical Attributes (38%) Students Physical Attributes (50%) Sexual Orientation (46%) Race (45%) Culture (44%) 9/19/2018

What to address Teachers Students Race 60% Race 63% Culture 60% Culture 51% Social Class 55% Physical Attributes 47% Sexual Orientation 54% Sexual Orientation 47% 9/19/2018

Future Plans March 17 School PD Day (our survey, EPSB Diversity focus, Alberta curriculum) March 21 Anti-Racism Day Hosting Student Conference (Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation) Community/Parent outreach Guidance focus (new student integration) Project RED (organizational focus) 9/19/2018