The
International Center for Curriculum Studies initiated a series
of conferences on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life.
To date, there have been three separate conferences: 1997,
1999, and 2001.
There
is much talk these days about academics, particularly the
failure of so many youngsters to achieve the various state
standards in mathematics and reading. The results so far have
been less than promising, and they serve as a bellwether of
an era of more rigorous teaching, textbooks, and no-nonsense
essentialism. The International Center for Curriculum Studies
acknowledges the validity of this concern, but continues to
believe that there are other important things at stake as
well along the way to getting an education.
In
that spirit, ICCS initiated a series of conferences on the
Social and Moral Fabric of School Life to discuss not so much
the bricks, but perhaps the mortar of school life: its social
and moral dimensions. Numerous scholars were invited to submit
papers for presentation and discussion within the parameters
of the theme. These discussions have consistently been a time
of spirited debate in an atmosphere of civility.
The
first two conferences, held in 1997 and 1999, were hosted
by ICCS and held in Edmonds, WA. These two conferences included
speakers representing 15 different institutions from the United
States, Canada, England, Spain and Russia.
The
University of Hull, England, hosted the third conference that
was held in the autumn of 2001. Speakers represented SPU and
a large number British institutions.
Examples
of papers presented at these conferences:
- "Disentangling
Collaborative from Cooperative Learning: Vygotskian Perspectives,"
(Chris Sink and Sue McPeak, SPU)
- "The
Effects of Globalization on the Social and Moral Fabric
of School Life" (Mike Bottery, University of Hull,
England)
- "Standards:
Is That All There Is?"
(Allen Glenn, University of Washington)
- "Negotiating
School Discipline: an Ethical Bricolage."
(Bruce Kramer and Don LaMagdaleine, University of St. Thomas)
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