FW: IDE Conference News

[Sean Obrien <sobrien@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>]

?
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit



----------
From: "Jaylynne N. Hutchinson" <hutchinj@ohiou.edu>
Organization: Ohio University College of Education
Reply-To: hutchinj@ohiou.edu
Date: Sun, 02 Sep 2001 19:28:24 -0400
To: ide@ouvaxa.cats.ohiou.edu
Subject: IDE Conference News

Dear IDE members...

Welcome to Fall!  Some of you are already back at school and others are
a day or two away!  But Fall also means it is close to time for the IDE
conference.  As a reminder, this year the IDE conference is October
11-13, 2001 with the theme, "In Our Own Voices: Reclaiming our
Classrooms, Schools, Democracy."  You either should have received or
will shortly be receiving an informational flyer on the conference and a
registration form.  These will also appear again in the upcoming
journal.

I hope I can share my enthusiasm for the conference this year.  We have
some wonderful events planned for all of you and your friends!  As noted
in prior postings, our two keynote speakers are Ruth Yellow Hawk
(representing several organizations), but here from the National and
Indigenous Issues Forums.  Her keynote address is titled, "Our Literacy
is like a River."  She will also present a full-day Thursday conference
prelude on the process of Deliberative Democracy, and on Saturday, a
workshop on Exploring our Culture Through Literacy and talk about a very
special project in which they are engaged.

Linda Christensen, teaching high school in Portland, OR, and who has
worked with Rethinking Schools, will keynote on Saturday and will speak
about the ideas in her newest book, "Reading, Writing, and Rising-Up:
Teaching About Social Justice and the Power of the Written Word."  We
have made arrangements for the first 100 registrants to receive a free
copy of her book!  Thanks to Rethinking Schools.

Nancy Nagel, also from Portland, OR and working in the Graduate School
of Education at Lewis and Clark College is an invited guest to share her
wonderful expertise on what has many names, be it, service-learning,
expeditionary learning, community-based learning or place-based
learning!  She has an article in the upcoming IDE journal and brings a
wealth of experience with her.  She will present a half-day Thursday
workshop, as well as a regular conference workshop.  Not to be missed!

We are also happy to have an invited guest, Patrick Finn from Buffalo,
NY, who has most recently written a very powerful book entitled,
"Literacy with an Attitude: Educating Working Class Children in their
own Self-Interest."  His publisher, SUNY Press, has graciously donated a
number of his books that will be given away during a general session
drawing!  He will be speaking of his important work during a conference
workshop.

Also invited is a wonderful new face to IDE, Christopher Drajem, who has
developed his dissertation research into a one-man play entitled,
"Cracks in the Silence" about the challenges that face GLBT folks in the
schools.  His play comes from actual interviews and discussions with
folks.  That will be presented Friday evening.

Thursday evening, after a wonderful day of "conference preludes," we
will be treated to a viewing of a powerful new film from Big Noise Films
entitled, "thisiswhatdemocracylookslike" and demonstrates student
activism.  After the viewing,we will be treated to a panel and circle
discussion by some local student activists.  I wonder what they'll
say...did they gain the commitment to activism in school? or because of
school?  or in spite of school?

Of course, we have wonderful presenters for the rest of the
conference...a couple powerful sessions regarding the impact of high
stakes testing, sessions about special education and inclusion of
children with special needs, and more. There will be a couple sessions
focusing on international issues...with another live hook-up to Cape
Town, South Africa!  There will be art and music, and teachers sharing
their ideas of how they teach well.  We have a workshop on "Making
December Democratic"...a topic many teachers don't even consider...yet
this fairly new teacher has implemented some great ideas she will share
with you!  You will see from the informational flyer even more of the
topics.

Please register early.  Conference Preludes should be pre-registered so
we can plan on arrangements for those...

You will be able to buy and reserve a box lunch and join a small table
conversation on several topics.  We already have one theme going, i.e.,
how do new progressive or democratic teachers do it???  especially when
faced with challenges of poverty in the schools, pressure to test, and
more.  Any other lunch topics are welcome.

We will also consider a plan of action in each workshop session...we can
make a difference and we have folks at the conference who have done so.

In addition, we will have at least one break out session where we will
all have the opportunity to work in smaller groups with a facilitator
and just talk about the ideas we have been considering and learning
about.

We are planning for beautiful autumn weather in southeast Ohio...please
make plans now while airfares are low and if you need any additional
information, please email us.  Also share the information with friends
and have them contact us for pre-registration materials as well.

best to all of you at this busy time of year as school begins yet
again...in solidarity and with a democratic voice for all...

Jaylynne
email:  hutchinj@ohiou.edu or democracy@ohiou.edu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the ARN-L list, send command SIGNOFF ARN-L
to LISTSERV@LISTS.CUA.EDU.