The gap between a school’s vision and the implementation of that vision is the problem of practice being studied by our guest this week, Perry Smith, Director of Instruction for Curriculum at the Abbotsford School District. Our conversation is led by how to implement and embed indigenous worldview, content and competencies. Teacher practice is impeded by concerns about time needed to change, adequate resources, lack of knowledge, felt need to have indigenous persons lead class conversations and a fear of making a mistake and getting into trouble. We are reminded again this week that educators can make changes when things are done with a good mind, a good heart and common sense. Equity and inequity is structural and schools and student benefit when leaders look at even the most benign things like school calendars, bell schedules and school days. Asking who is served by the structure can lead to undoing and change that engages students. We had such a great conversation that we have to continue with Part 2 in next week’s podcast.

How deeper learning can Transform Schools a project with Harvard Graduate School of Education

Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

Visit CircleForum for more information about attending to student absenteeism.

Free practical tools and restorative resources for teachers on restorative.ca

Music by ZakharValaha from Pixabay