Removing the Margins

by Dei, George J. Sefa; James, Irma Marcia; Karumanchery, Leeno Luke; James Wilson, Sonia; Zine, Jasmin

• ISBN13: 9781551301532
• ISBN10: 1551301539
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Canadian Scholars Pr

Summary

Removing the Margins works to identify and challenge many of the cultural and systematic paradigms that perpetuate racism and other forms of oppression in mainstream schooling. The authors pursue the ideal that education should not simply affirm the status quo but should produce knowledge for social action. This philosophical and theoretical resource also moves beyond the study of educational failure to explore the new and creative ways schooling barriers have been confronted. The focus is placed on the factors of representation, family and community, staff equity, language integration and spirituality as fundamental to school reform. Removing the Margins is the product of five years of research and writing in the search for best practices in inclusive education. The authors address the philosophical and theoretical bases for inclusivity in this book, while laying out the practical approach in the accompanying volume Inclusive Schooling: A Teacher's Guie to Removing the Margins .

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
About the Authors	xv
Rethinking Inclusive Schooling: Theoretical and Philosophical Foundations	1	(26)
Introduction
Review of Related Literature
General Context
Reading the Ontario Context
A Discursive [Theoretical] Framework: Towards an Integrative Inclusivity
Theorizing ``Inclusive Schooling''
Working Toward a Critical Integrative Framework
Towards New Research Framings for the Consideration of Inclusive Schooling
Notes
Research and Method: Exemplary Practices of Inclusive Schooling	27	(18)
Introduction
Aims and Objectives of the Study
Qualitative Methodology
Criteria for Measuring ``Best/Exemplary'' Practices of Inclusive Schooling
Research Activities and Methodological Foundations
Field Activities: 1995-99
Specific Areas of Data Collection
Phase I
Phase II
Phase III
Data Analysis
Notes
Schooling and Education in North America: Recenring Indigenous Knowledges	45	(22)
Introduction
Indigenous Knowledges: Conceptualizations and Operationalizations
The Challenge of Synthesizing Knowledges
Practising Indigenous Knowledges in Schools
Spirituality and Classroom Teaching
The New Pedagogy of Indigenous Knowledges
Spirituality in Education: A Critical Perspective	67	(28)
Introduction
Spirituality and Schooling: Towards a Working
Definition of ``Religion'' and ``Spirituality''
The Religion---Spirituality Dichotomy
Holistic Education
How Do Children Learn?
How Does Spirituality Enhance Learning?
Teachers as Facilitators of Spirituality in Education
Transformative Learning Theory
Best Practices for Incorporating Concepts of Spirituality
The Inclusive Learning Environment
The Incorporation of Diverse Knowledges
World Religions
Diverse Spiritualities
Traditional Religious Practices
Incorporating the Prophetic Voice
Fables, Folk Tales and Myths
Family and Community Involvement
Summary
Language Integration: Framing Issues of Language in Schooling	95	(46)
Introduction
Theoretical Perspectives on Language, Power and Education
Language, Identity and the Need for Integrative Practices in Shooling
First Language Integration
Examples of Best Practices of First Language Integration
Case Study: The Milliken Mills Saturday School
Case Study: The Ambassador Program
Case Study: MENTORS - The Muslim Education
Network, Training and Outreach Service
English Skills Development
Examples of Best Practices of English Skills Development
Parent and Community Partenerships
Examples of Best Practices of Parent and Community Involvement
Case Study: Pais e Filhos
Future Considerations
Notes
Achieving Success Through Inclusive Education: Fulfilling the Needs of all Students	141	(30)
Introduction
How Do We Achieve ``Success'' for Marginalized Students?
The Articulation of Power Privilege and Success
The Necessities for Change: An Anti-Racist Perspective on ``Success''
Composite Case Studies
Case 1: High Expectations/Empowerment/Accommodation Possible Solutions
Case 2: Multiple Intelligences/Validation/Safety Possible Solutions
Case 3: A Black/African Focused School for Youths at Risk
The Coalition
Struggling for Success
Connection with Community Outreach
Enhancing Educational Outcomes
Lessons for the Mainstream Educational System
Measuring Success
Visions for the Future of the Program
Summary
Representation in Education: Centring Silenced Voices, Bodies and Knowledges	171	(26)
Introduction
Education Without Margins: The Conceptual Challenge of Inclusive Education
Negotiating a Presence for Minoritized Students
Modes of Representation in Education
Conceptiual Framework
Visual Representation
Knowledge Representation
Staff Diversity
Case 1: Teacher Training Pilot Project for Teachers Trained in Somalia Making Connections to Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality and Religion
Summary
Notes
Integrative and Inclusive Approaches: Community Schooling	197	(38)
Introduction
Conceptual Framework
Unpacking Community Schooling
Local and Community Based Education
Attention to the Individual Learner
Empowerment Development Opportunities
Representative Teachers, Curriculum and Discipline
Linking Homes, Schools and Communities: Community Liaison Counsellors
Roles of Community Liaison Counsellors
Parents and the School System
Rights and Responsibilities in Education
Student Placement
Community Health, Nutrition and Education Issues
School-Community Partnerships in Education
Home-Based Learning Strategies: Homes as Local Sites of Learning
Formal and Informal Strategies
Discipline
Life Skills
Creating a Home Learning Environment
Parent Perspective on the Educational System
Governance, Collective Ownership and Power Sharing: Taking a Look at School Councils
Conclusion and Discussion
New Directions: Learning to Incorporate Social Change
Increasing Access
Participation and Power Sharing
Effective Participation - Parents
Effective Participation - Students
Resource Co-ordination
The Benefits of Trasformative Home-School Practices
Notes
Conclusion---Making Connections to Public Schooling: Multicentric Education	235	(40)
Recasting the Model
Interrogating the Politics of Knowledge Production
Building and Inclusive Paradigm for Teaching and Learning
Identity: Linking the Self to Schooling
Indigenous Knowledges and Inclusive Pedagogy
Implications for Teaching
Spirituality in Education
Implications for Pedagogy
Language Integration
Implications for Teaching
Educational Success
Implications for Pedagogy
Representation in Education
Implications for Teaching
Community Schooling
Implications for Pedagogy
Conclusion: Re-Thinking Schooling
References	275