Pioneering programs in Jane/Finch and Regent Park communities touted as hallmarks of urban education
TORONTO, May 18, 2004 -- York University’s Faculty of Education is celebrating a milestone today – the 10 year anniversary of its Urban Diversity Initiative.
The Urban Diversity Initiative was developed in response to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s challenge to teacher education institutions to make teacher education more relevant and responsive to the province’s growing racial and ethnocultural populations they serve.
York’s Faculty of Education has played a pioneering role by providing the structure and support for the development of a unique teacher preparation program that integrates equity, diversity and social justice into its theory and practice. The Westview partnership in the Jane/Finch Community and the Regent Park Teacher Education program are widely considered to be hallmarks of York’s Urban Diversity Initiative.
To date, over 640 graduates have gone on to implement many of the philosophies they developed during their year of teacher preparation into their teaching practices.
“This program is a sterling example of the kind of community-based educational initiatives in which York is engaged, says Paul Axelrod, Dean of the Faculty of Education. “We think that it’s important for students to appreciate the diversity, complexity, and richness of the communities in which they will be teaching and residing.”
“We never anticipated the impact and success that this program would have when it began in 1994,” adds Prof. Patrick Solomon, who helped spearhead the initiative. “The development of partnerships among schools, community organizations, and York’s Faculty of Education has been key to this success.”
Program graduates, professors and many others who have been integral to the initiative will today celebrate 10 years of urban diversity work at York and the schools and communities it has benefited. The event, which will feature a special recognition ceremony and a variety of student displays, exhibits and presentations, takes place from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. in room 3072 of the TEL Building at York University.
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For more information, the media should contact:
Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
416-736-2100, ext. 22086
YU/074/04
