Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Free Skule is On Break This Week
Just a Reminder: free skule is on break this week (ironically coinciding perfectly with the corporate universities' reading week).
Student Union meetings will resume on July 3rd
Classes resume on July 8th.
peace, and enjoy pride week!
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Sunday June 24th, see you in Alexandra Park
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine Grey
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent or
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix Sandbeck or
- Love in Action with Veronica Campbell
8:00-10pm - Equity Studies and Writing with roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
Direct Action Class' June 22nd Action
TORONTO DELUGED WITH RED SQUARES IN SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENT RIGHTS
TORONTO, ONTARIO - 22 JUNE 2012 - As a class project of a Toronto Free Skule course, students unveiled red squares in the city today to draw attention to the abhorrent condition of Ontario’s post-secondary education system. Acting in solidarity with the “Maple Spring” student movement quickly spreading across Canada, they hope to inspire a greater awareness of the issues facing students in Ontario today. The red square, the iconic symbol of the Quebec student strike, signifies that students are “squarely in the red” - that is, deeply indebted because of the costs of education. The issues of debt and education costs are pressing for Ontario students, who pay the highest tuition in Canada. Students' human rights are being violated, and a major policy reversal is needed to correct these violations.
Canada's commitment to uphold the right to education is enshrined in several documents, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This treaty recognizes that “education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realizing other human rights”. As part of this agreement, governments are obliged to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to education, by not creating barriers to education, and by actively supporting individuals and communities in attaining education. As well, the Covenant states: “Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education”. Our government's obligation to uphold the right to education is crystal clear. But when we look at their actions, it is equally clear that they have ignored this responsibility.
Funding for education has been disappearing rapidly. While government funding once covered 80% of postsecondary operating costs, today it only covers 50%. Tuition fee hikes have been implemented to cover this funding shortfall, yet as we pay more, the quality of education falls. Between 1990 and 2006, the ratio of students to full time faculty increased by nearly 40%. Provincially, the government’s behaviour has been abhorrent. In the 1990s, under Premier Mike Harris, Ontario saw a 25% cut in funding for Ontario universities. In 1998, Harris deregulated tuition fees for all graduate and certificate professional programs, resulting in tuition fee hikes of over 500%. This has never been rectified! There is further evidence of displacement of funds: at times, the province of Ontario has decreased funding in the same year that the Canada Social Transfer has increased. Where’s our money actually going?
We must also look at the oppressive denial of education for First Nations, consistent with the systematic oppression on which Canada was and continues to be built. Between 1992 and 1997, the government shifted funding for First Nations’ post-secondary education to block funding, and in 1996, increase to funding was capped. Because of this, 10,500 First Nations youth were denied postsecondary funding between 2001 and 2006. First Nations, the fastest growing and youngest population in Canada, are systematically denied education. This is shameful, and unacceptable.
So, just how much have tuition fees gone up? In 1990/91 tuition fees were $1653; and for the 2011/12 school year, fees averaged an incredible $6640. Adjusted for inflation, tuition fees have seen a real increase of 244% since 1990, and they are projected to increase by 4-4.5% annually for the foreseeable future. Increasingly, the burden of education costs is being shifted onto the shoulders of students.
The debt load which accompanies these fees is daunting, with a provincial average of $26,000 for an undergraduate degree. This is understandably a huge obstacle, and a deterrent particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and students with children. Debt also has a negative effect on retention rates, and success. This is perpetuated through an extremely problematic loan system, the Ontario Student Assistance Program, or OSAP. After being assessed by OSAP, students are allotted extremely minimal living allowances amounting to a measly $7.50 per day for food. If a student is not healthy enough to think, isn’t their ability to enjoy education hindered?
Consequently, students with high debt levels are far less likely to complete their education; if they do graduate, their career choices are highly distorted by this burden. By forcing students to work while they study, we are preventing them from reaching their potential and in many cases keeping them from completing their education. On top of this, students pay high interest rates on their loans; this amounts to a penalty for lower-income students who are unable to afford tuition costs up front.
So what is the alternative? It would only cost $2.5 billion annually to eliminate tuition fees; $170 per household per year in income tax. Only $1.5 billion would reduce tuition fees to their 1992 levels. The unpopular corporate tax cuts of 2009 equal a loss of $1.6 billion in revenue this year; we would go a long way towards making education accessible by simply reversing the tax cut. More funding should also come from the federal government. If taxation rates were at the same level as they were in 2000, the federal government would be collecting $48 billion more in revenues each year; a mere tenth of this lost revenue would be enough to eliminate tuition fees for all attending postsecondary in Canada. As the government finds money for faulty fighter jets and corporate tax cuts, it is clear that cuts to education are not a product of necessity, but of misplaced priorities, and broken treaties.
Free or fully-funded tuition is not a radical or impossible demand; it has already been promised to us, and is fully attainable. The defunding we’ve seen over the last few decades violates human rights as it strips the youth of opportunities provided to previous generations. Instead of placing maximum resources in education, and instead of fulfilling their promise of protected, accessible, and free education, the government continues to cut corporate taxes and social funding. It's time for Canada to get its priorities straight. Students at the Toronto Free Skule, a democratic open-access school which runs every Sunday in Alexandra Park, will continue to find creative ways to draw attention to these pressing issues and build momentum around solutions. Keep your eyes open for more red squares appearing around Toronto - this movement isn’t going anywhere! For more information, contact: Sage.Indigo@gmail.com
TORONTO, ONTARIO - 22 JUNE 2012 - As a class project of a Toronto Free Skule course, students unveiled red squares in the city today to draw attention to the abhorrent condition of Ontario’s post-secondary education system. Acting in solidarity with the “Maple Spring” student movement quickly spreading across Canada, they hope to inspire a greater awareness of the issues facing students in Ontario today. The red square, the iconic symbol of the Quebec student strike, signifies that students are “squarely in the red” - that is, deeply indebted because of the costs of education. The issues of debt and education costs are pressing for Ontario students, who pay the highest tuition in Canada. Students' human rights are being violated, and a major policy reversal is needed to correct these violations.
 |
| Toronto Free Skulers' Drop Banner above highway, June 22nd 2012 |
Canada's commitment to uphold the right to education is enshrined in several documents, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This treaty recognizes that “education is both a human right in itself and an indispensable means of realizing other human rights”. As part of this agreement, governments are obliged to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to education, by not creating barriers to education, and by actively supporting individuals and communities in attaining education. As well, the Covenant states: “Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education”. Our government's obligation to uphold the right to education is crystal clear. But when we look at their actions, it is equally clear that they have ignored this responsibility.
Funding for education has been disappearing rapidly. While government funding once covered 80% of postsecondary operating costs, today it only covers 50%. Tuition fee hikes have been implemented to cover this funding shortfall, yet as we pay more, the quality of education falls. Between 1990 and 2006, the ratio of students to full time faculty increased by nearly 40%. Provincially, the government’s behaviour has been abhorrent. In the 1990s, under Premier Mike Harris, Ontario saw a 25% cut in funding for Ontario universities. In 1998, Harris deregulated tuition fees for all graduate and certificate professional programs, resulting in tuition fee hikes of over 500%. This has never been rectified! There is further evidence of displacement of funds: at times, the province of Ontario has decreased funding in the same year that the Canada Social Transfer has increased. Where’s our money actually going?
We must also look at the oppressive denial of education for First Nations, consistent with the systematic oppression on which Canada was and continues to be built. Between 1992 and 1997, the government shifted funding for First Nations’ post-secondary education to block funding, and in 1996, increase to funding was capped. Because of this, 10,500 First Nations youth were denied postsecondary funding between 2001 and 2006. First Nations, the fastest growing and youngest population in Canada, are systematically denied education. This is shameful, and unacceptable.
So, just how much have tuition fees gone up? In 1990/91 tuition fees were $1653; and for the 2011/12 school year, fees averaged an incredible $6640. Adjusted for inflation, tuition fees have seen a real increase of 244% since 1990, and they are projected to increase by 4-4.5% annually for the foreseeable future. Increasingly, the burden of education costs is being shifted onto the shoulders of students.
The debt load which accompanies these fees is daunting, with a provincial average of $26,000 for an undergraduate degree. This is understandably a huge obstacle, and a deterrent particularly for students from low-income backgrounds and students with children. Debt also has a negative effect on retention rates, and success. This is perpetuated through an extremely problematic loan system, the Ontario Student Assistance Program, or OSAP. After being assessed by OSAP, students are allotted extremely minimal living allowances amounting to a measly $7.50 per day for food. If a student is not healthy enough to think, isn’t their ability to enjoy education hindered?
Consequently, students with high debt levels are far less likely to complete their education; if they do graduate, their career choices are highly distorted by this burden. By forcing students to work while they study, we are preventing them from reaching their potential and in many cases keeping them from completing their education. On top of this, students pay high interest rates on their loans; this amounts to a penalty for lower-income students who are unable to afford tuition costs up front.
So what is the alternative? It would only cost $2.5 billion annually to eliminate tuition fees; $170 per household per year in income tax. Only $1.5 billion would reduce tuition fees to their 1992 levels. The unpopular corporate tax cuts of 2009 equal a loss of $1.6 billion in revenue this year; we would go a long way towards making education accessible by simply reversing the tax cut. More funding should also come from the federal government. If taxation rates were at the same level as they were in 2000, the federal government would be collecting $48 billion more in revenues each year; a mere tenth of this lost revenue would be enough to eliminate tuition fees for all attending postsecondary in Canada. As the government finds money for faulty fighter jets and corporate tax cuts, it is clear that cuts to education are not a product of necessity, but of misplaced priorities, and broken treaties.
Free or fully-funded tuition is not a radical or impossible demand; it has already been promised to us, and is fully attainable. The defunding we’ve seen over the last few decades violates human rights as it strips the youth of opportunities provided to previous generations. Instead of placing maximum resources in education, and instead of fulfilling their promise of protected, accessible, and free education, the government continues to cut corporate taxes and social funding. It's time for Canada to get its priorities straight. Students at the Toronto Free Skule, a democratic open-access school which runs every Sunday in Alexandra Park, will continue to find creative ways to draw attention to these pressing issues and build momentum around solutions. Keep your eyes open for more red squares appearing around Toronto - this movement isn’t going anywhere! For more information, contact: Sage.Indigo@gmail.com
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Friday Night Masquerade Solidarité: Students and Allies Unite Against Tuition Fees
Where: St. George Subway Station
When: Starting 7pm
What: A Masquerade party in the streets; march and afterparty. Bring a mask (there will be some provide for those who don't have time or money for one), an noise-maker, and a good spirit!
Why: Charivari, a form of political protest dating back to the 16th century, is a peaceful method of bringing attention to socially unacceptable behaviour, especially that of government. Quebec has again brought the charivari back to life through casseroles and masquerades; and, on June 22nd, we bring this protest in the form of masquerade to the streets of Toronto. Our targets are the federal and provincial governments, our reason: the continued exploitation of students and perversion of the education system through privatization, cuts to funding, and mounting debt.
The streets of Toronto: filled with the most beautiful masks and costumes – a party. A party with a purpose: to heckle our governments for their dehumanizing policies, and their unwillingness to respect, protect, and fulfill those most fundamental rights which they already agreed to decades ago. Demand your right to education be upheld, and tuition fees eradicated.June 22nd will be the 5-month anniversary of when Quebec students first stood in the streets with these same demands. When called upon to fulfill its responsibility on education, the Quebec government responded by violating more human rights through Bill-78, the bylaw prohibiting masks or bandanas at protests, and have since engaged in extreme political profiling – based only on the colour of your square. With Harper’s Bill C-309 set to do the same nationwide, it is more important than ever that Canadians band together to protest these egregious violations of our rights.
Our governments are violating national, and international law. If you are fed up with having your right to expression trampled, if you are looking to make noise, if you just want to have a good time: put on a beautiful mask, grab your pots, pans, and drums, and come celebrate!
Who: this event is being hosted by the Ontario Student Mobilisation Coalition osmc.ca
facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/399285933447185/
When: Starting 7pm
What: A Masquerade party in the streets; march and afterparty. Bring a mask (there will be some provide for those who don't have time or money for one), an noise-maker, and a good spirit!
Why: Charivari, a form of political protest dating back to the 16th century, is a peaceful method of bringing attention to socially unacceptable behaviour, especially that of government. Quebec has again brought the charivari back to life through casseroles and masquerades; and, on June 22nd, we bring this protest in the form of masquerade to the streets of Toronto. Our targets are the federal and provincial governments, our reason: the continued exploitation of students and perversion of the education system through privatization, cuts to funding, and mounting debt.
The streets of Toronto: filled with the most beautiful masks and costumes – a party. A party with a purpose: to heckle our governments for their dehumanizing policies, and their unwillingness to respect, protect, and fulfill those most fundamental rights which they already agreed to decades ago. Demand your right to education be upheld, and tuition fees eradicated.June 22nd will be the 5-month anniversary of when Quebec students first stood in the streets with these same demands. When called upon to fulfill its responsibility on education, the Quebec government responded by violating more human rights through Bill-78, the bylaw prohibiting masks or bandanas at protests, and have since engaged in extreme political profiling – based only on the colour of your square. With Harper’s Bill C-309 set to do the same nationwide, it is more important than ever that Canadians band together to protest these egregious violations of our rights.
Our governments are violating national, and international law. If you are fed up with having your right to expression trampled, if you are looking to make noise, if you just want to have a good time: put on a beautiful mask, grab your pots, pans, and drums, and come celebrate!
Who: this event is being hosted by the Ontario Student Mobilisation Coalition osmc.ca
facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/399285933447185/
Anarchist Book Fair This Weekend
Although on Sunday we will be enjoying a beautiful day of learning together in Alexandra Park, Saturday is the Anarchist Book Fair! Free Skule will have a table on Saturday - stop by, or come volunteer!
Workshops: Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th, 10 AM -5 PM at the Bahen Centre, 40 St. George Street (north of College, near Spadina Avenue).
Tabling: Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th, 10 AM - 5 PM at the Galbraith Building, 35 St. George Street.
facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/376709855699088/
Check out the website for the full schedule: http://torontoanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com/
Workshops: Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th, 10 AM -5 PM at the Bahen Centre, 40 St. George Street (north of College, near Spadina Avenue).
Tabling: Saturday June 23rd and Sunday June 24th, 10 AM - 5 PM at the Galbraith Building, 35 St. George Street.
facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/376709855699088/
Check out the website for the full schedule: http://torontoanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com/
"This year, we have over 20 amazing workshops, 40 tablers, as well as a Kid Zone with great kids' programming, an Anti-Authoritarian Indigenous/People of Colour space, a DIY space with flexible workshops, a space to relax if you need a nap, and an opportunity to connect with and hear about different projects that our fellow anarchists, anti-authoritarians, and radicals are involved in at a giant go-around. We have also identified that talking about and addressing racism in radical spaces must be a priority in our community and is a priority of the Bookfair program. As a result, “Racism in Radical Communities,” will be the topic of the closing panel discussion on Sunday. Tea and coffee will be available throughout the weekend and lunch will also be served on both days. Food and drinks will be offered for whatever you can pay.
On Saturday evening, there is a book launch for Beautiful Trouble: Toolbox for Revolution at 7pm at Tranzac. 292 Brunswick Avenue. Please see the Facebook event for more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/375859059129847/ "
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Last Week's Art Build in Action; HudBay Protest
Last Sunday, an art-build for a protest in response to the Canadian mining company Hudbay's most recent gang-rapes and murders, was held at the free skule in Alexandra Park.
Here's a video from their protest; and, we at free skule want to say thank you to these individuals for bringing awareness to the violence our country and associated companies propagate!p.s. see everyone today in Alexandra Park
Friday, June 15, 2012
Final Update of Schedule For Sunday June 17th In Alexandra Park
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine Grey or
1:00-2pm - General Assembly Facilitation with Sakura Saunders
2:00-3pm - Plant Identification with Maria Kassan
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent or
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot, teacher at the University of Toronto in Aboriginal Studies
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix Sandbeck or
- Love in Action with Veronica Campbell
8:00-10pm - Equity Studies and Writing with roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
what a wonderful, and jam-packed schedule. can't wait to learn again with you all this Sunday x
p.s. it's father's day, and that means: bring your father to skule day!
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine Grey or
1:00-2pm - General Assembly Facilitation with Sakura Saunders
2:00-3pm - Plant Identification with Maria Kassan
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent or
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot, teacher at the University of Toronto in Aboriginal Studies
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix Sandbeck or
- Love in Action with Veronica Campbell
8:00-10pm - Equity Studies and Writing with roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
what a wonderful, and jam-packed schedule. can't wait to learn again with you all this Sunday x
p.s. it's father's day, and that means: bring your father to skule day!
Update on this Sunday's classes
Plant Identification with Maria Kassan now has a time slot and it will be from 2 - 3 pm.
Remember, we are now meeting at Alexandra Park - just south of the library at Dundas and Bathurst. And please come a bit early to ensure you don't miss any of the class you are planning on attending.
Another note - if you would like to smoke at Free Skule, you are more than welcome, however we ask that you respect non-smokers, especially people with air quality sensitivity and step away from the circle briefly (and down wind) Thank you :)
Remember, we are now meeting at Alexandra Park - just south of the library at Dundas and Bathurst. And please come a bit early to ensure you don't miss any of the class you are planning on attending.
Another note - if you would like to smoke at Free Skule, you are more than welcome, however we ask that you respect non-smokers, especially people with air quality sensitivity and step away from the circle briefly (and down wind) Thank you :)
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Sunday, June 17th Schedule
This Sunday is our once a month Skule-wide discussion! All day there will a knowledge tree to which you can post ideas, concerns, successes, points of improvement, etc. Therefore, this week's social how will be an even bigger celebration! Also we have two, possibly three amazing new courses - come check them out!
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent or
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot, teacher at the University of Toronto in Aboriginal Studies
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
one-hour plant identification walk with Occupy
Gardens.
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix or
- Love in Action with Veronica: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-In-Action/396077967096314
8:00-10pm - Equity Studies and Writing with Roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
Come to the classes that fit with your schedule, come and eat, and hang out. Bring your instruments for between classes jam time, and the social hour. Bring your frisbees, and balls for between class sports. Remember to bring something for the potluck!!!
Also, we are pleased to welcome the Free Skule Drama Club to our school! check them out on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Vayyabell or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freeskulethedramaclub
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent or
- First Nations History with Brenda Wastasecoot, teacher at the University of Toronto in Aboriginal Studies
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
one-hour plant identification walk with Occupy
Gardens.
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix or
- Love in Action with Veronica: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-In-Action/396077967096314
8:00-10pm - Equity Studies and Writing with Roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
Come to the classes that fit with your schedule, come and eat, and hang out. Bring your instruments for between classes jam time, and the social hour. Bring your frisbees, and balls for between class sports. Remember to bring something for the potluck!!!
Also, we are pleased to welcome the Free Skule Drama Club to our school! check them out on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Vayyabell or Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freeskulethedramaclub
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
New Courses Starting This Week
We have two (maybe even three!) new courses starting soon at the Free Skule.
1) Love in Action, with Veronica Campbell at 6 - 8 pm. Explores spirituality in activism. Includes arts activities as well as readings.
2) First Nations History, with Brenda Wastasecoot from 3 - 5 pm.
and maybe, 3) Plant Identification with Maria Kassan - time TBA.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
It Will Be A Great Day
* Image from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, founded in 1915.
June 12th Student Union Meeting Minutes
Agenda:
1.
Next Sunday and this past sunday
a. 22nd
2.
24th and 30th
3.
Bank Account
4.
General Outreach
.
In attendance: Arrestia, alex, dix, roxy , chantel, chris,
veronica, george, brent, laura, Mao
Decisions made: - Sunday July 1st will be a skule-holiday!!!
- We will run 2 courses at the same time
- Saturday June 23rd we have a table at the anarchist book fair from 10am-3:30pm, we need volunteers
- This Sunday will be the once a month skule-wide discussion during social hour
1.
Alexandra Park: how did this Sunday go, and what
to do for next Sunday:
a.
Problem with the dogs so…
b.
Move further back into the park
c.
Need a banner
i. Veronica
to go to sketch – 12-4pm on Thursday, if anyone would like to help in the
banner discussion, please come!
d.
Talk to scadding court community center –
Arrestia to contact coordinators
e.
Need to stay here for at least a month
f.
Trust in the potluck system for food
g.
Guest speaker and economics activity cut off one
another’s discussion time.
2.
Next parks, ideas:
a.
Grange Park
b.
Philosopher’s Walk
c.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
d.
Christie Pits
e.
Dufferin Grove
24th and the 30th: 24th is
OM festival, 30th is Canada Day. There have been requests to take
these days off:
1.
Keep the 24th
2.
Take the 1st off
3.
Bank Account – we need 2 people to open an
account
-
Need 2 people to open the account
-
Laura and Roxy to open the account to go 9:30 on
Friday
-
Chris to make the letter head
-
Once we have a bank account
3.
General Outreach:
a.
Roxy will use last $15 from Occupy Toronto to
print more flyers
b.
Brent has made pamphlet for democracy course
with free skule website on it
c.
Dufferin Grove 8pm is casseroles, both flyers
should be headed out
d.
“Find out about free skule booth” – people
sign-up for courses
i. find
a day, set up in a busy area
e.
Teachers need to hold some responsibility to get
students to their class
f. Please send an email to occupyfreeskule@gmail.com if you have time in the next week to flyer and/chalk the immediate community around Alexandra Park
f. Please send an email to occupyfreeskule@gmail.com if you have time in the next week to flyer and/chalk the immediate community around Alexandra Park
4.
New Courses
a.
Chris is developing course on Marijuana Rights –
Laura will contact hot box café
b.
Love in Action – spirituality in activism to be
taught with readings and arts
i. Veronica
is going to make a Facebook group
ii. 6-8pm
c.
Aboriginal studies class to start – will let the
teacher choose time-slot
d.
What to do with more courses?
i. 2
courses concurrently à
decided that this was ok
ii. Courses
every other week à
looses continuity
iii. Courses
can start on Sundays and then continue on their own time
iv. Discussion
on whether 2 hours or 2 hour is best? ½ hour is already cut off, 2 hours is
working well as long is it is flexible on both ends; need 2 hours for everyone
to be heard
e.
Instructors should collect a sheet of student contacts, and send out reminder email
5.
Other ideas
a.
Badges for course completion
b.
July 18th is Anne’s court case
against the Bank of Canada – should come speak about her case
c.
Another member of comer is 99 years old and
should come talk
d.
Have 1 time slot for guest speakers/musicians
e.
Josephine to run a free skule course at OM
festival; Laura will do outreach at OM
f.
Invite prominent members of the community to
come and speak
g.
Laura to take on volunteer coordinator
h.
Need to be looking a week ahead – have a guest
speaker decided on this Sunday to promote for next Sunday
i.
Need to create a culture of coming on time, by
showing up early, and start courses on time.
i. If
you come in late, the class will not stop to update you
j.
Human Rights Class is planning for a end of
August “Families for Education” festival
k.
Anarchist book fair June 23rd we have
a table from 10am-3:30pm – need volunteers – email Laura through
occupyfreeskule@gmail.com @ the Bahen Center 35 St. George St.
6.
Next Skule-wide discussion
a.
It’s been over a month that we’ve been in
operation
b.
Need feedback, and advice
c.
Do it through a knowledge tree – have it present
for the whole skule day, focus specific energies on this during the social hour
i. Veronica
to make a banner at sketch
ii. Roxy
will buy post-it-notes
iii. Roots
= what needs to be improved, problems we face
iv. Trunk
= new ideas
v. Leaves
= what’s going well
d.
General Survey for each class? – many thought
this was too vague and would not generate wanted information
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Special Guest for Economics - June 10th 2012
I must say - we here at the Free Skule are incredibly stoked for our special guest, Jesse Cohen, law student at Osgoode Hall Law School. He will be joining in part of the Economics course to talk about the incredibly controversial, incredibly delicate and incredibly pertinent issue of the Tar Sands in Alberta.
I am sure we have all heard tonnes about the dreaded Tar Sands, but in case you want to do a little reading up...
http://oilsandstruth.org/
http://www.canadians.org/energy/issues/tarsands/index.html
and much much much more to be found by searching online.
And here's a little bit about the Osgoode Hall Law School.
http://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/about
See y'all tomorrow!
I am sure we have all heard tonnes about the dreaded Tar Sands, but in case you want to do a little reading up...
http://oilsandstruth.org/
http://www.canadians.org/energy/issues/tarsands/index.html
and much much much more to be found by searching online.
And here's a little bit about the Osgoode Hall Law School.
http://www.osgoode.yorku.ca/about
See y'all tomorrow!
Friday, June 08, 2012
Remember, We've Changed Locations; See You In 2 Days in Alexandra Park!
Sunday Schedule:
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix
8:00-10pm - Equity suspended for one week: Self-Care and Support Networks when Changing the World with Laura and Roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
Come to the classes that fit with your schedule, come and eat, and hang out. Bring some food to share, and some blankets to sit on. Bring your instruments for between classes jam time, and the social hour. Bring your frisbees, and balls for between class sports.
-----------------------------------------
Recommended Assignments:
Human Rights - bring research on human rights in relation to education/ the student movement
Occupy Democracy - Read Part 2 except at circleofdemocracy.net
Equity and Popular Education - write a phrase to page on: "Who Are You In Relation To The World?"
- no one's done this yet...you'll get a new assignment when you complete the first one
--------------------------------------------
Tuesday June 12th - Student Union meeting 6-8pm @ Philosopher's Walk.
12:30-1pm - Gather
1:00-3pm - Human Rights with Josephine
3:00-5pm - Occupy Democracy with Brent
5:00-6pm - Social Hour and Dinner with Everyone
6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix
8:00-10pm - Equity suspended for one week: Self-Care and Support Networks when Changing the World with Laura and Roxy
10:00-12pm - Direct Action Training with Ian
Come to the classes that fit with your schedule, come and eat, and hang out. Bring some food to share, and some blankets to sit on. Bring your instruments for between classes jam time, and the social hour. Bring your frisbees, and balls for between class sports.
-----------------------------------------
Recommended Assignments:
Human Rights - bring research on human rights in relation to education/ the student movement
Occupy Democracy - Read Part 2 except at circleofdemocracy.net
Equity and Popular Education - write a phrase to page on: "Who Are You In Relation To The World?"
- no one's done this yet...you'll get a new assignment when you complete the first one
--------------------------------------------
Tuesday June 12th - Student Union meeting 6-8pm @ Philosopher's Walk.
Respect to Our Friends in Quebec Trying To Break Through Ignorance and Apathy
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Education is a Right...in fact it's one of the most important
Fitting in nicely with our human rights class, this article from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights outlines that under the ICESCR, individuals not only have the right to education, but also that the STATE HAS RESPONSIBILITIES to uphold these rights; namely, that they deploy the maximum amount of resources in universalizing access to education.
The student fight for free education is nothing radical. Our states simply need to be accountable to the treaties they signed decades ago.
UN Article - Education as A Right
The student fight for free education is nothing radical. Our states simply need to be accountable to the treaties they signed decades ago.
UN Article - Education as A Right
Monday, June 04, 2012
Week's Schedule and Reminders
Tomorrow (June 5th): 6pm Student Union Meeting at Philosopher's Walk, right in the middle. By 6:45 our meeting will turn mobile, as we walk to join the student protest.
8pm Students and Workers' Unite! OSMC hosts a march to spread the student strike starting at George Brown College (George St. and King St. E.)
Wednesday, June 6th: 8pm Casseroles Night Starting at Dufferin Grove - bring your pots and pans in support of the students!
Sunday June 10th: remember, classes have moved to Alexandra Park! Classes will still be held all day from 1pm through to midnight.
Homework:
Human Rights - research human rights treaties signed by Canada: the class has chosen to focus on creating a document which explains the student struggle for free and equitable education from a human rights perspective. This is the research faze.
Democracy - read excerpt from chapter 2 of Real Democracy at circleofdemocracy.org
Equity - we will be taking the next class to discuss self-care and support networks in activism work. Think on which of the following you would like to focus on for the week of the 17th: non-violence, or Canadian immigration
Direct Action - which actions would you like to carry out as a class? What issue do you want to focus on? Research a storyline to your proposed action, and past actions of the same ilk.
Agenda:
1. Sunday Details
2. Course Report Backs
3. New Courses and Student Strike
4. OUTREACH!!!!!!!!!
8pm Students and Workers' Unite! OSMC hosts a march to spread the student strike starting at George Brown College (George St. and King St. E.)
Wednesday, June 6th: 8pm Casseroles Night Starting at Dufferin Grove - bring your pots and pans in support of the students!
Sunday June 10th: remember, classes have moved to Alexandra Park! Classes will still be held all day from 1pm through to midnight.
Homework:
Human Rights - research human rights treaties signed by Canada: the class has chosen to focus on creating a document which explains the student struggle for free and equitable education from a human rights perspective. This is the research faze.
Democracy - read excerpt from chapter 2 of Real Democracy at circleofdemocracy.org
Equity - we will be taking the next class to discuss self-care and support networks in activism work. Think on which of the following you would like to focus on for the week of the 17th: non-violence, or Canadian immigration
Direct Action - which actions would you like to carry out as a class? What issue do you want to focus on? Research a storyline to your proposed action, and past actions of the same ilk.
Sunday, June 03, 2012
Facebook, Classes and Homework, Oh My!
update: the old facebook site is back up, so we will go back to using that instead of the new page.Classes today were amazing! We changed the scheduling around a bit, just one class per slot, but we now go until midnight and we meet at 12:30 for lunch potluck and there's another potluck and social hour from 5-6. List of classes follows:
1-3 Human Rights
3-5 Real Democracy
6-8 Economics
8-10 Equity
10-12 Direct Action
Homework... hmmm, I'm bad at copying that down. Stay tuned for Roxy's update...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)