Discussion Panels...some ideas for you to consider

Dear Educators for Justice Society colleagues,

I wanted to get your feedback on a couple of ideas I had--actually the ideas woke me up this morning at 4:30 and wouldn't let me sleep.

Would you be in agreement for our society to sponsor two panels (one this coming Fall and one in Spring).

(1) One panel would include professors across disciplines whose works are based on or incorporates the philosophy of education of Paulo Freire (liberatory / radical education). Some professors who come to mind include yours truly, as well as Rodica Stoicoui (theology) and Kristen Urban (political science)...I've heard that there are professors in sociology who also work with Freire's ideas (I would have to identify them)... Finally, the panel could include any of you who know of Freire's work and have been personally transformed or inspired by his work. One of you could introduce our society (its mission and how it came to be), someones else could serve as moderator for the panel (to keep track of time / brief 10 minute presentations by each panelist about their knowledge of and work with Freire's ideas), and we would all have questions ready to ask the panel following their presentations to help out with audience participation. We could perhaps even organize light snacks to follow panel presentation in the Mount Cafe.

This would not only be an opportunity for the community to get to know us better, but also for us to take intitiative in developing on campus scholarly conversations that sensitize people to issues of equity in education. What do you think?

(2) The second panel would be one in which professors and students are invited to discuss meaningful teacher/student relationships. Again, our Society would sponsor it and our members would introduce and monitor the process. The point would be to create a forum where our professors and students could, within a safe space, explore better and more empowering professor/student relationships. What do you think?

If you all agree, I could compose a brief description of content and procedures for each panel for your approval; and then maybe we could ask Sam to contact the various identified professors for panel # 1 and perhaps panel # 2. We would then probably ahve to coordinate with Sean Adams for auditorium availability, etc. Let me know.

I hope to beginn posting, next week, several relevant documents on our board. I miss you all already--can't wait to reconnect in person!

Much love to all,
Dr. Eick