CONT805: Safe and Accepting Schools
This course critically explores various aspects of school safety and social acceptance by delving into some of the major themes that reflect school culture: bullying and victimization, cultural awareness, gender expression, and special needs issues and biases. You will be exploring these topics in a broader sense as they pertain to teaching and learning, and then looking at them in detail around issues of safety and acceptance for both students and staff. You will explore the educational practices, community partnerships, and school programs that inspire students and staff to build safe, inclusive, and accepting learning environments, while actively working toward greater student leadership and effective teacher mentoring. This course will provide a range of opportunities for you to professionally collaborate as you consider the issues around building safe and accepting schools.
Learning Outcomes
What You Will Learn and Do
In this course, you’ll have the opportunity to
- understand Ontario's legal and professional framework with respect to safe schools and learn how and why decisions are made at the school and board levels
- develop an understanding of how to engage learners, colleagues, families and the community to support the learning and well-being of the school community
- develop a better understanding of the intersection of equity with safe and accepting schools
- work with tools, resources, and research methods that will guide successful implementation of restorative practice, progressive discipline, and teacher mentorship
- explore the concepts of progressive discipline and restorative justice as approaches to support and promote a positive change in behaviour
- understand the factors that contribute to student involvement in violent behaviour
- develop an understanding of how to create and sustain ethical, positive, equitable, accepting, inclusive, safe and engaging learning environments for learners and families
- explore different measures to support safety and well-being in the school
Assessments
Module 1
Foundations and Frameworks
Module 2
Introduction to Safe Schools
Progress Update 1
Module 3
Your Classroom: Building a Learning Community
Progress Update 2
Module 4
Progressive Discipline
Module 5
Culturally Relevant and Responsive Pedagogy and Inclusive Design
Progress Update 3
Module 6
Family and Community Engagement
Module 7
Putting It All Together
Final Report