Post by gatormom on Nov 2, 2007 6:47:29 GMT -6
Diversity at forefront of Dist. 204 discussions
By Melissa Jenco
Daily Herald 11/2/2007
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 parents are opening a discussion about diversity.
The Parent Diversity Advisory Council is holding dialogue circles throughout the year to talk about how to help students transition in a diverse school community.
"They offer a great opportunity not only to build community but also to help parents help themselves in terms of talking about those issues students face as they move from preschool to high school and out on into the world," advisory council chairwoman Sandra Charles said.
Circles consist of 10 to 15 people and may include parents, teachers and administrators who share their experiences and discuss how they can best help students.
This fall, circles in English and Spanish already are under way, each of which will gather for three two-hour meetings. The council plans to continue the dialogue circles with English and Mandarin sessions in the winter and English and Hindi sessions in the spring. Only one circle in each language will be held during each session.
"It's a way to have all the stakeholders at the table at the same time and get a chance to have your voice heard and not feel like things are mandated down," said Cathy Piehl, dialogue circles coordinator.
Discussions are assisted by a trained facilitator and participants sign confidentiality agreements in order to create a comfortable and open environment for sharing.
At the end of the sessions, groups may choose to create action plans to share with district administrators.
But Piehl said the circles are about discussion, not debate, and some may simply result in a greater understanding of each other.
"There's not going to be a right or wrong decision made," she said. "It can remain open-ended at the end of the whole thing. Finding the common ground is a goal. It's not winning the argument. It's trying to look for what do we have in common."
For details or to register for the winter or spring sessions, visit www.ipsd.org/Uploads/news_15847_1.pdf
By Melissa Jenco
Daily Herald 11/2/2007
Indian Prairie Unit District 204 parents are opening a discussion about diversity.
The Parent Diversity Advisory Council is holding dialogue circles throughout the year to talk about how to help students transition in a diverse school community.
"They offer a great opportunity not only to build community but also to help parents help themselves in terms of talking about those issues students face as they move from preschool to high school and out on into the world," advisory council chairwoman Sandra Charles said.
Circles consist of 10 to 15 people and may include parents, teachers and administrators who share their experiences and discuss how they can best help students.
This fall, circles in English and Spanish already are under way, each of which will gather for three two-hour meetings. The council plans to continue the dialogue circles with English and Mandarin sessions in the winter and English and Hindi sessions in the spring. Only one circle in each language will be held during each session.
"It's a way to have all the stakeholders at the table at the same time and get a chance to have your voice heard and not feel like things are mandated down," said Cathy Piehl, dialogue circles coordinator.
Discussions are assisted by a trained facilitator and participants sign confidentiality agreements in order to create a comfortable and open environment for sharing.
At the end of the sessions, groups may choose to create action plans to share with district administrators.
But Piehl said the circles are about discussion, not debate, and some may simply result in a greater understanding of each other.
"There's not going to be a right or wrong decision made," she said. "It can remain open-ended at the end of the whole thing. Finding the common ground is a goal. It's not winning the argument. It's trying to look for what do we have in common."
For details or to register for the winter or spring sessions, visit www.ipsd.org/Uploads/news_15847_1.pdf