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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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