Theodore Christou

Assistant Professor, Graduate Faculty

Contact Information
Room: A209
Phone: 613-533-6000 x 74531
Email: theodore.christou@queensu.ca

Website: www.theodorechristou.ca

Research Interests:

• History of Education and Curriculum History
• Philosophy and History of Ideas
• Teaching History and Social Studies
• Historical Thinking and Philosophical Mindedness
• Teacher Education

Biography

Dr. Christou is an Assistant Professor in the Curriculum Studies field.  He began his professional teaching career as an elementary school teacher in Scarborough with the Toronto District School Board.  Following a circuitous path, which included doctoral studies, Dr. Christou commenced his academic course on the tenure track in Fredericton at the University of New Brunswick.  In July 2012, that course led westwards, back to Kingston, Ontario, and to Queen’s University. 

Dr. Christou's teaching in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s extends to several disciplines; in particular, he concentrates upon history of education, philosophy of education, social studies, and the theory and practice of history.  

His research, which involves two distinct projects, is funded primarily by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  The first project examines the history of progressive education in the Canadian context, particularly during the interwar period when progressivist educational ideas radically transformed the landscape of Canadian public education.  The second project examines a vaster context, Byzantium, and examines educational ideas from the context within a framework that seeks to integrate secular and religious pedagogical approaches.  Two questions seem to tie the various contexts, themes, and disciplines noted above:  What is an education for, and how do we imagine an educated individual?  

Dr. Christou is the founding editor of Antistasis: A New Brunswick Education Journal, a publication, which is rooted in the vision of education as a public good.  He continues to serve as an editor of the bi-annual journal, which is based out of the Faculty of Education at the University of New Brunswick. He has two book publications forthcoming.  The first is a book of verse titled the overbearing I (Hidden Brook Press); the second, titled Progressive Education (University of Toronto Press) is historical non-fiction.

Please consult Dr. Christou's professional website to view projects developed by teacher candidates in his social studies classes. The projects published on the website are peer reviewed.  They include:

• A History of Social Studies Education in New Brunswick (1900-2000)
• A History of Science Education in New Brunswick (1900-1990)
• A History of Byzantium
• A Podcast, Worldviews in Education (also available for free download on iTunes; enter 'Philosophical Mindedness' in the search criteria on the iTunes store)
• A call to take action in Social Studies featuring students active engagement with citizenship in their communities

Research Spotlight Who was Duncan McArthur?

Service

• Editor, Antistasis: A New Brunswick Education Journal
• Executive Member, Treasurer, Canadian Association of Foundations of Education (CAFE)
• Executive Member, Atlantic Canada, Canadian History of Education Association
• Participation in various committees at Queen's University and at the University of New Brunswick 

Courses Taught

• EDUC 852, Philosophy of Education
• CURR 335, History Education (Intermediate / Secondary)
• CURR 336, History Teaching in Theory and Practice (Intermediate / Secondary)
• CURR 355, Language and Literacy (Primary / Junior)
• PROF 150, Philosophy of Education (Primary / Junior)
• PROF 155, Philosophy of Education(Intermediate / Secondary)
• FOUN 403, History of Education (Primary / Junior /Intermediate / Secondary)