Charting Your Course Effects of Bullying

ChartingCharting YYourour CourseCourse FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Building a better society: PEACE by PEACE by Gérard Cormier Ex e c u t i v e St a f f Of f i c e r , Ou t r e a c h Pr o g r a m s & Eq u i t y Se r v i c es Peace. Quiet. Tranquility. Serenity. everyone gets along, that peace reign in Freedom from or the cessation of war. their classrooms and in their schools. And Societies strive for it. People want it. how does this come about? Are students to Remembrance Day commemorates it. But see it? Experience it? Live it? The answer where does it begin? Peace Treaties? Peace is yes. All of these. If students are to Summits? Legislation? It all starts with the appreciate the need for global peace, they individual, learning to harmoniously coexist first must appreciate the need for peace in with others who are somehow different. our schools. They often meet in those little societies To that end, the NSTU will be offering that exist in various forms throughout the an historical professional development world school. event to be held April 7 to 9, 2011. A Schools used to bring together people conference entitled Peace…ing it Together based on similar characteristics: Catholic is being organized by the NSTU’s equity schools, gendered schools, segregated and professional development committees The NSTU Equity and Professional Development Committees are meeting jointly this schools based on one’s race. We went in conjunction with the Sheonoroil year to plan the April joint conference Peacing…it Together on April 7 to 9 in Halifax, through school with people who were Foundation. Its goal is to bring together 250 which will focus on peace education and be the main fundraiser for the Sheonoroil more or less like ourselves. We learned with educators and have them see and experience Foundation. Shown above seated: NSTU PD committee and Sheonoroil liaison Betty-Jean them; we played with them; we sometimes Peace through the lived realities of fellow Aucoin, and PD committee members Jaylene Chase (Lunenburg County Local) and Leon eventually fell in love with them. However, NSTU members, following which they Swinkels (Halifax County). Standing: Krista Moore (Digby Local, PD committee), Mary will be able to return McLeod (Cape Breton District, Equity committee), Angela Deagle (Inverness Local, PD to their respective Committee), Jill Burton (Richmond Local, PD committee), Chris Weeks (Cumberland schools with practical Local, Equity committee), John MacKay (provincial executive Equity committee liaison), hands-on strategies Bev Roy (Kings Local, Equity committee) Dan Stephenson (Colchester-East Hants Local, that will bring peace PD committee chair), Tanya DeViller (Yarmouth Local, Equity committee chair), NSTU to their classrooms. Equity committee liaison Gérard Cormier, Daniel Blinn (Dartmouth Local, Equity The conference committee) and Sue Hannem (provincial executive rep Equity committee). Missing: Jenn will begin with a Laudadio (Antigonish Local, Equity committee). keynote address by Dr. Samantha Nutt, the founder and war and human rights issues. She has justice, peace on-line, peace through art and executive director of been awarded honourary degrees and is music and much more. Peaceful Schools War Child Canada. the recipient of a long list of titles and International, a Canadian, non-profit, A medical physician, designations—including Canada’s Top 40 charitable organization which provides Dr. Nutt has more under 40 Award (The Globe and Mail). supports to schools around the world, will than 13 years of She is also a highly sought after keynote also be offering workshops. There will also experience working speaker on the impact of war, human rights, be a number of organizations that will be in war zones. She social justice and on public engagement setting up kiosks to highlight to NSTU is committed to in global issues, inspiring others to make members the resources that exist to help peace, human rights a difference. educators in this very important work. and social justice, Numerous conference workshops, many Information regarding this important always with the goal of which will be facilitated by NSTU event will arrive in schools and campuses these homogeneous societies are a thing of of helping war-affected women and members, will deal with the various areas in early December. Mark your calendars. the past. Today’s schools bring together children. Through War Child Canada, where peace must exist: peace within Join us at the Delta Hotels as NSTU those who are different from one another, the United Nations and various non- yourself, peace with your identity, peace members continue the journey of Peace... and these differences are numerous. Race, governmental organizations, Dr. Nutt has within your family, peace through restrictive ing it together. gender, religion, sexual orientation, learning worked in many of the world’s most violent ability are just a few examples. places, including Iraq, Afghanistan, the In recent years, we have seen much more Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, emphasis placed on eradicating the negative Sierra Leone, Somalia, Burundi, northern Charting Your Course effects of bullying. The second Thursday Uganda, Ethiopia and the Thai-Burmese FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT of September is Stand Up Against Bullying border. She has written for Maclean’s Day. Educators are asked to see to it that Magazine, is a published author and Email your name, home address, and school frequently appears on Canadian television or campus with PD-Chicken Soup in the and radio as an expert commentator on subject line to [email protected] by January 10 to be eligible for the draw.

The winner will receive Chicken Soup for The October winner of the PD book the Soul Teacher Tales: 101 Inspirational Stories from Great Teachers and Appreciative Students, by The Beauty Myth is Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark. The book is about the heart and soul LISA BAKER of teaching. It is filled with stories about new and experienced teachers, tough students, sweet students, funny and embarrassing moments, of Middleton amazing connections and relationships and all the ups and downs of being a teacher today.