Dear Friends,
Here's an update and reminder on working sessions of the Rouge Forum and
Whole Schooling Consortium. On February 5 we will meet from 10:00 - 3:00 at
the Student Center Grand Ballroom on the second floor, Wayne State
University. These will be working sessions aimed to organized around the
following themes. We will gather as a large group and then break up into
working groups to get things done, coming back together a time or two as we
feel the need. There will be plenty of food. No charge for anything.
1. RESISTING STANDARDIZED TESTING: the MEAP and more (our partners across
states). People will discuss issues and strategies for working dealing with
standardized testing and its negative impact on the learning of children and
its social impact on communities.
2. BUILDING INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND STRUGGLING AGAINST EXCLUSION. Those ofus spending our time in promoting inclusive education for students with
special needs through proactive work in schools and political advocacy will
explore strategies. For teachers in the Eastside Detroit Whole Schooling
Cluster, this is a time when we may start planning ways to work in our
buildings. For all interested we can join together and see how to strengthen
these efforts in our own buildings and support one another across schools.
3. EDUCATION SUMMIT PLANNING COMMITTEE. All those involve in planning for
the Education Summit June 26-28, 2000 will meet to work on the program,
recruiting participants, etc.
4. ROUGE FORUM NEWSPAPER. This will be a working session for this quarterly
publication of the Rouge Forum.
5. Rouge Book Clubs. We would like to have a form that people could use to
set up monthly meetings around a given text, to socialize and discuss their
readings. Ideas?
Whether you have been involved before or not, we invite your participation.
The Whole Schooling Consortium is a grassroots network of individual
teachers, parents, and faculty members, schools, and universities who are
committed to building proactive, child, family, and community-centered
schooling practices.
The Rouge Forum is devoted to enabling democracy in education and society
and engages people in dialogue, critical analysis and political and social
action.
We look forward to seeing you there. Please feel free to contact me if you
have questions.
Michael
Michael Peterson
Wayne State University
217 Education
Detroit, Michigan 48202