Theme set for 2009 MTS education conference

By Paul Olson
MTS Vice-President & Conference Chair

So … what do Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, and Adolf Hitler all have in common?

Well, they all spent a big chunk of their formative years in school.  And they all developed pretty clear ideas about citizenship and their role in their communities.  We remember each of them for precisely these reasons, in fact, though not with the same degree of admiration -- or abhorrence.

We teach individuals, we teach groups, and we teach how they might interact.  We use curriculum & resources, we do assessment, instruction, and planning, and so carry on the work of our profession.  Fine and well.

Ultimately, however, we have the pivotal role in creating an educated person.  Someone who is empowered with the knowledge and skills to flourish in their environment, as broadly defined.  Someone who lives with intellect, affect, and intention.  Someone who “gets” that the ubiquitous “IT’S ALL ABOUT ME” t-shirt is best read either as a joke, or a call to action.

The next MTS Growing Minds Conference is entitled Student, Citizen, Community -- Beyond the 3 Rs.  The planning committee asked itself what the Society might do to demonstrate educational leadership in focussing on the big picture purposes of what we do, and to bring together concrete, real world ideas and resources for our classrooms and our schools.  We believe that this Conference will deliver both.  Within our broad theme, we’ll have sessions that span the areas of Media/Technology (Cyberbullying, ICT, et al), Citizenship & Character Education, Accountability/Assessment, Social Justice & Equity, and Aboriginal Education.

Mark your calendars:  April 8 and 9, 2009, Victoria Inn and Conference Centre, Winnipeg.  You’ll be setting your divisional and school level calendars soon, and I truly believe that this Conference should figure significantly in your planning and in your PD allocations.  Avis Glaze and Michelle Dagnino will provide both keynote addresses and breakout sessions.  More information, including a blog for sharing ideas and suggestions, will be posted on mbteach.org  .

Over the next while we’ll be finalizing our program.  If you or a colleague might have something to offer this conference in resources, suggestions, or a session, I especially want to hear from you.  We’ll have registration information available for you soon.

Obviously, there are many powerful factors beyond the school experience that can and do shape a person.  Schools can’t be fully credited for great adults any more than they can be blamed for criminals or sociopaths.  Nonetheless, we spend our energy and our careers doing our best to make sure that insofar as we can have a positive impact, we do.

Samuel Johnson said, “The future is purchased by the present.”  It serves us all to come together as members of an educational community, and bring the best we are, know, and can offer, in that endeavour.  The “present” is ever changing.

I hope to see you there!