NEW WEBSITE

We are transitioning over to our new website!!!!
Please start visiting the new site:

freescool.com

Particularly, check out the calendar: http://www.freescool.com/calendar/ for all our upcoming classes, events, and meet-ups.

And, the forums: http://www.freescool.com/forum/  - for discussions and to get involved in organizing!

If you would like to get involved in the website development, email us, or come out on Thursday to our Zine Making and Website Teach-in Party (location TBA, please check calendar on new website!).

with love,
free'scool

Tomorrow - Monday August 20th - work party in Trinity Bellwoods

Hi Free'scoolers,

even though we're taking Sundays off, there loads of planning and contacting that has to happen for September.
Tomorrow, for all who are free, we're meeting in Trinity Bellwoods Park around 2pm, near the Queen St. gates entrance, to do some work and hang out.

list of topics that we can potentially cover tomorrow: Website, email list-serves, space, teachers/classes, community outreach, zine, human rights framework, collaboration with Anarchist Free University

bring: paper, pens, computers, phones, food, music, good cheer :)

August 7th Student Union Meetings, and August Plans

Agenda:

1. This Sunday and Zeitgeist

2. Free Art'Scool 

3. Proposal for summer hiatus, last two weeks of August

4. Fall workshops and planning

In Attendance: 9 people

Facilitator: Laura

Note taker: Roxy

Decisions:

1. This Sunday Classes are Suspended, instead, we have a field trip to the Zeitgeist Media Festival (website), which is running from 12pm-8pm in Kensington Market (on Augusta street across from Freshmart). 

2. We have been invited to run a half-hour workshop at the Zeitgeist Media Festival for a half hour; the first 10 minutes will be a dramatic/artistic presentation of our framework and what it means to be a part of free'scool; then, we will run a short critical thinking exercise/discussion. All those interested in helping with this workshop/presentation, we are having the planning meeting on Friday August 10th at 3pm in Bellevue Park in Kensington Market

3. The last two Sundays of August (19th, and 26th), we will take a break from classes, to allow free'scoolers a chance to enjoy the last 2 weekends of the summer. All other free'scool activities will continue (free art'scool wednesdays, student union meetings, outreach, work meet-ups); we will resume Sunday classes in September. 

4. In September, we will host a workshop series (2 Fridays of the month) on the following topics: popular education teaching methods, facilitation and non-violent communication, cross-cultural conflict resolution, anti-oppression, and two possible workshops: bringing a human rights framework into the classroom, and taking back power. 

Discussion:

1. Zeitgeist

- we have been invited to do a workshop; at the last meeting it was suggested that we suspend classes for the day to attend the festival

- There were some concerns raised about Zeitgeist, as many of their 'solutions' to capitalism, and structure are questionable

- Perhaps we should run a critical thinking workshop with them

- We definitely have to go in with a critical mind - there are some really great things they are doing, and some things to be questioning

- It is a really great outreach/networking/educational opportunity

- Some were under the impression that we were going to run classes in Bellevue Park and float in and out of the festival

- We wanted to continue classes for continuity, and because all the courses are in the middle of their teachings

- but we can learn from zeitgeist

- we don't necessarily have the capacity to have some of our people at the festival and others in class

- it is not the best impression if we show up just for our half an hour session and nothing else

- "While i love classes, I think this opportunity for a full day of networking and learning is too good to pass up"

- see decisions - we couldn't make a decision by discussion because most saw the value of both continuing classes, and simply going to zeitgeist. We put it to a vote. 1st was asked if we wanted to do classes in Bellevue park - there were 4 'maybe' hands, no definite yeses. Next option was to go to zeitgeist all day: there were four clear yeses. 

- What are we going to do for our half an hour presentation?

- Ideas: critical thinking, something participatory to give them the 'free'scool experience', a theatre of the oppressed piece on free'scool to be developed in the Drama club on Wednesday evening

- after hemming, and hawing, and almost having to vote....we reached a collaborative compromise!

- 5-10 minute dramatic presentation; 20-25 minute critical thinking discussion/exercises. 

* note: drama class did not prepare presentation on Wednesday the 9th - open preparation is Friday, August 9th at 3pm in Bellevue Park. 

2. Free Art'Scool Updates (by Veronica):

- everything is going well

- the schedule for tomorrow (wEdnesday August 8th) is very open; especially because it is the first one. We will have visual arts and crafts starting at 5pm, drama at 7pm, and and ceremony and music at 9pm

- In a week or two, we'll start holding clear classes with instructors from a variety of diciplines

- Word of the day: Perspective for this Wednesday 

- I have one of the best thespians in Toronto wanted to hold a drama workshop

- Someone thinks they might be able to get a ballroom dance instructor

- Open to help, suggestions, and participation

- very excited to start!

3. Proposal: 2 week Sunday Hiatus August 19th and 26th. 

- everyone was ok with this...didn't take us more than 2 minutes

4. The Fall

- workshop series in decisions was discussed

   - location suggestions: OISE (need to pay), Friendship house with a 'pay-what-you-can'

   - think on this for a week and come back

   - Dates: to be decided based on availability of facilitators

- other topics/concerns mentioned but not fully addressed:

  - need to make material more accessible for those who cannot attend events/meetings - this concern was diverted to the website production, which is still under process and aims to be very clear and accessible with loads of resources

 - we need space! pretty soon winter is coming. 

    - recognition that we've been deliberating on this for a while

   - space proposal still in the works

   - we need any and all space we can get! 

   - We need a big advertising and class 'blitz' in September

   - because of space constraints and growth, we need to change up when we run classes

 - It's great to focus inwards, but I want this group to do more with what's going on in the world!

   - recognition of our limited capacity at the moment and slow growth process

closed the space by moving into Human Rights class. 

Student Union Meeting Tonight...An Important One!

Hi everyone,

as August comes upon us, planning for the fall becomes more and more pressing. We have been discussing plans for expansion for a week or two now, and will continue this conversation tonight (and it's very important that everyone is here!).
We also need to make changes to our Sunday schedule, as a full weekend day in the summer seems to be dwindling our numbers.
There have been lots of great ideas floated; we will also be discussion the free art'scool.
look forward to seeing you all there!

July 17th Student Union Meeting Minutes

Agenda: we went with a free-flowing discussion today

reminders: Tomorrow is art project day – meeting at Ossington station at 4pm; goes to 8pm, COMER court case that was scheduled for tomorrow, july 18th, has been pushed back to september, so no action tomorrow morning. Need some people to volunteer to bring some potluck food on Sunday. 

3 new classes this week: 

1-3pm community resilience is starting (looking at ways to plan and protect and provide for ourselves after the current system). this is an ongoing class

1-3pm ayurveda health: traditional Indian medicine. this is a one-time workshop

6:30-8pm Cordage making: natural rope making. 

Fundraising:

1. T-shirts – start making t-shirts and patches

            a. Sylvia has all the equipment except press and designs

            b. Laura has the press

            c. Tomorrow’s (Wednesday, July 18^th) art class will solidify designs

            d. Need to get: water-based inks, emulsion, and four screens

            e. Online survey: come up with your own slogan!

            f. Doc on Facebook where we can put up the slogans

2. This Sunday, July 22nd

1-3pm - Community Resilience

             - Ayurveda Health

3-5pm – D and FNH

6:30pm - Economic Discussion: how to re-vamp the course (?) 

6:30pm-8pm - Cordage-making, and Natural Dyes (?)

              8-10pm – Understanding Resistance

Economics: take it online – what questions do people have on economics/we have had some problems, how do we make it more engaging?

- More activities

- Explore new economic systems - How do we transition?

- Bring it to Sunday discussion – how do we re-vamp it…slowly turn it into a class

3. Art-day: 4-8pm - meeting at 4pm at Ossington Subway Station

- Jo has some materials; please bring some if you can

-  Start on some media ideas

- Friday, Roxy and Arestia are going to go around neighbourhoods to talk about free’scool…if anyone wants to join

- Free’scool has a tumblr now!!!! Please send us pictures

4. Space Proposals

- Write out proposal asking for those who have space

- Will start this week

5. Curriculum Vitae

- This Sunday some people re-vamped a draft CV for free-scool. Here are some comments from the original writers:

- What we ended up writing was a derivative of a derivative of a derivative

            - Personally it didn’t contain the potency of the original

            - Don’t think we should dumb down the words – too watered down

            - It is living – keeps changing

            - Would like someone on the outside to look at both versions and combine

them

6. Sunday Potluck: who will bring food this week?

- Arestia, Roxy, ask Facebook group…

7. Wednesday July 18^th COMER Court Case:

- Was postponed until September/October – no action tomorrow

8. Fall

Need to …

- have a Huge re-launch campaign with maps, photos, stories of what we’ve done so far

- Find spaces in all different areas of the city

- 1 course to meet 2 days a week to allow consistency and commitment 

Tuesday July 17th

This is a reminder to all Free ‘Scoolers that there will be a student union meeting tonight at 6pm on the fifth floor of OISE. It would be lovely to see you all and recap what we did this past Sunday and continue to work on our many projects and ideas. 

There will also be a Human Rights class tonight after the student union meeting at 7:30 on the fifth floor of OISE with Jo. Join in the active conversation.

July 10th Student Union Meeting Minutes

Agenda:

1. This Sunday

2. New Classes in 6-8pm and 1-3pm timeslot

3. Fundraising

4. Volunteers- update

5. NAME!!!!!!!

6. Other

Decisions: every week 3 people will sign up for potluck on Sunday; every week one to two member(s) of the student union will be the welcome committee; July 18th we will fieldtrip to COMER's court case against the bank of Canada: Court Filling, Press Release; 

OUR NEW NAME IS: THE FREE'SCOOL

This Sunday:

- Economics is on break

- Last Human Rights Class on Sundays? – Jo will get back to us

- Plant ID – need to check how many weeks that Doug can do

- Political Intervention Theatre - see if Grace can do more weeks

- For Potluck: encourage everyone to bring something, but 3 people each week sign up to make food for the next week

- For this week: George – main dish, Arestia – desert/snack, Roxy – salad

-  Welcome committee: Roxy and Arestia to split shifts

- During social hour – discussion on july 18^th

                                    - informal occupy discussion for 9 month anniversary

New Classes for the 1-3pm and 6-8pm timeslot:

- Pre-registration for classes 1-2 weeks before they start

1. First Aid Training – is coming, Ian is in contact

2. Doug and Grace will be asked about plant ID, and political theatre respectively

3. Healing the Mind- is coming

4. Ayurvedic Health – Li would like to teach sometime after 5pm.

5. Community Resilience – to start the week after next (July 22^nd)

6. Want to start an exercise class, for before classes…ask around. Maybe self-defense

Fundraising:

- Treasure Hunt

            - Sponsors to donate gift certificate to get prizes

            - On Sunday, will talk during the social – make a timeline

            - End in a picnic (and music?)

Volunteers:

- volunteertoronto.com costs $50

-LIFT will see if they can sponsor

Name:

Idea brought to student union:

- freeskule

- freesküle

- Rad School -

- Free School  -

- Free’scool

- Take Out Toronto and Take Out Occupy…Just Free’scool

Other:

July 18^th - Field Trip to Court Case against Bank of Canada

                  - Get there for 9am and have a 30min-1hr discussion about what the court case is about – then go see it…maybe do a write up for the site?

                  - On Sunday, give a 10 min talk on the case and ask people to write out a question to bring on Wednesday

- Curriculum Rules – George has begun to write out some guidelines,

            - To type it up to give everyone a week to think critically about it

Occupy Toronto: need to write a letter telling them that they need to contact us before making decisions concerning the free’scool  

- Occupy Gardens Summer Jam, garden party picnic potluck on Saturday July 28th at the People's Peas Garden in Queens Park…free skule classes/table?

            -Going to conflict with Megaquarry action.

            -Once megaquarry action is confirmed, talk to Gardens and see if they know about it/are willing to move 

A beautiful Sunday in the park: Recap of July 8th

After a few weeks of rain and then our break, yesterday, we had a great day for learning (although it got a little chilly at the end). As usual, we gathered around 12:30pm and set out the books in a circle, outlining our classroom (s). 

In Human Rights, we discussed the responsibilities of human rights (who and how to hold accountable) , taking special interest in the Megaquarry planned for southern Ontario. This class is slowly moving timeslot to Tuesday at 7:30pm, OISE. Therefore the Human Rights Class will take place Tuesday at 7pm, Sunday the 15th at 1pm, and then, starting Tuesday the 17th, Human Rights will only take place on Tuesdays.              

Homework for the week: create a drawing, poem, lyric, sentence, article, word, etc. on the right to water. 

Next, we split into 2 groups for Real Democracy and First Nations History. 

Real Democracy had a review week - discussing the 3 major oligarchies (feudalism, monarchy, and republic), next week the class will begin to explore Athenian democracy. 

First Nations History read narratives and had a discussion on residential schools, and Brenda shared a little about her thesis which uses storytelling and mapping to exhibit her experiences. 

--------------------------------------------

During social hour we had peaches, cherries, water, and pasta with vegetables, as well as our skule-wide discussion. We discussed: student accountability, workshops for teachers, and the school's name. 

Student Accountability: Our classes have fairly consistent numbers, however, it is often not the same people. A combination of being free, and happening on a summer weekend affects the consistency of all the classes' student-base. We discussed ways in which to improve regular attendance, applicable at the teacher-learners' discretion. These range from assignments, to class synopses, to certificates. The linked document presents a list of all approaches we hope to continuously develop: Raising Learner-Teacher Responsibility Skule-wide support: create a memory box and recycling bin for Sundays - an anonymous system for continuously receiving ideas and criticisms; weekly rotations of organizing group to take responsibility of passerby and general email list; statement of collective liberation visible on Sundays represented by its mascot Anti O. 

Workshops for Teachers: recognizing that most are new to the type of paradigm we operate under, and following up on requests from both students and teachers, we discussed workshops/classes for teachers to learn about popular education methods. We discussed asking popular educators to give a workshop on their experiences/popular education methods. Looking to do a workshop once every 2-3 weeks outside of our Sunday classes. Please contact Roxy (course coordinator) if you would like to get involved in the development of these workshops. 

School Name: the freeskule has recently received notice from the UofT engineering society, that 'skule' is a registered trademark, and we have until the 31st of July to cease use of the word. We discussed the legality of this cease and desist letter, as well as its immorally. We talked about solution-names: freeskule *get rid of the space*, toronto free skool *need to talk to anarchist toronto free skool*, toronto free school,  the rad school *rad as in radical*, and jokingly entertained the idea of the Alternative University of Toronto (AUofT). These suggestions + those from the facebook group will be brought to the student union meeting on Tuesday the 10th. Ultimately though, we need to talk to a lawyer before a decision can be made. 

Other: fundraising - some members of the student union are organizing a treasure hunt on the island to fundraise for freeskule. If you would like to get involved, talk to George on Sunday, or email us. Next Sunday, July 15th, from 6-8pm we have a guest-teacher-learner, Grace Thompson-Campbell, coming help develop a political intervention theatre piece in support of the fundraiser. 

space - Laura has started a gallery space with others, and will have some workshop/art space for freeskule sometime late August/early September. 

July 11th - meeting to discuss general intro to freeskule class.

July 25th, 7pm Hart House UofT - Human Rights class' Families for Education Festival organizing meeting.

July 28th - keep your ears open. 

--------------------------

After social hour, we had Economics, followed by a new 6-week course that started this week entitled Understanding Resistance (equity class transformed, 8-10pm). In this class, we completed a thought experiment which asked learner-teachers to imagine themselves as a cooperative society whose homeland had been overtaken by a competitive society and they were forced to make refuge in the competitive society. Learning from their experiences, they recognize that the only way their culture will survive they must assimilate the competitive society. In groups of 6, students created mindmaps exploring how they would assimilate the competitive society, and then shared. At the end of the class, we will re-do this exercise and examine the differences. Next week, Understanding Resistance will look at ways in which people are resisting the dominant education system, with specific focuses on Ghanaian education, and Indigenous Research Methodology. 

Homework: write down 1 way in which education is used as a tool to segregate, suppress, or hurt people. 

All in all, it was a great day. Teachers, look to the attached document for freeskule tips on how to create classroom continuity. Students, see you tomorrow (Tuesday June 10th) at 6:00pm OISE 5th floor for our student union meeting, followed by Human Rights from 7:30-9pm. (That means we have to start the student union meeting on time!)

p.s. next Sunday Doug is coming at 1pm to teach a Plant Identification Course, followed by natural dyes in the evening. Bring a white shirt if you want to learn how to dye naturally! 

June 3rd Student Union Meeting Minutes

Agenda:

1.     Reflections

2.     Next Days

3.     Volunteers / Outreach

4.     Festival overview

5.     Space/September  - saved for next meeting

6.     9-month anniversary of Occupy, in St. James? – will invite Occupy Toronto to spend the day with us in Alexandra Park, and dedicate our social hour to talking about good Occupy memories

In Attendance: Dix, Salomeh, Roxy, Laura, Shirley, Roxy, Mizel, Chris, Veronica, Li

Decisions:

1.    This Sunday, July 8^th, we will actually have the skule wide discussion! Questions:

a.     Ask Sunday classes if they feel strong enough to move onto another day of the week and free up their timeslot

b.    Need a class (4-week?) to teach people how to teach – gage interest, needs, and availability

c.     Surviving the Apocalypse Class – when and interest?

2.    We will put out a volunteer call-out on Toronto.com

Actions before Sunday:

1.    Outreach: Friday at 1pm anyone who is free will meet at the corner of Dundas and Bathurst (on the south east side, Alexandra Park side) to do some outreach for a few hours. Salomeh is printing off flyers, and will bring them to us around 3pm.

Reflections:

- Courses are going well, people are learning lots

- Human Rights Class has been covering the different international human rights documents, and how to use human rights as a framework for your activism

- We have a couple one-off workshops

- Toronto free skule really provides something more – I have my degree – I think it’s a great and necessary alternative school

- I love that there’s different facilitation workshops

- There is a need for education reports – Salomeh is working on a Youth Report, and Roxy is helping with the higher-education section – other research groups are being de-funded

- Teaching economics is a very challenging thing in this environment – creating a language between economics and social change; people think economics is really boring, but we need to connect this

- We have a bit of a stable attendance problem: you build something up with the class and then only 1 person from that class comes to the next one

- It’s been really interesting for me because I’ve learned that it’s important to have a debate going, not just telling people

- Request from Occupy Toronto for Free Skule to be a part of 9-month anniversary party

- We need to think of some sort of strategy to raise attendance

Adding another day in the week:

- Not at the Time-being

-- I think we should try to perfect the one-day before moving onto a second

- I’m too busy to come to more days

- You could throw in 1 or 2 workshops during the week

- This would require a lot of outreach

- It’s difficult to spend a full day, but then you’re immersed in it for a full day

-In the beginning we wanted the courses to be an affiliate group, and then it’s the teacher’s responsibility to recruit

Bringing out the classes onto different days:

- see decisions

Outreach:

- Media Wrench to make letterhead – Roxy will send out info

- Toronto.com à volunteer opportunities

            - Roxy will write up a volunteer call-out, and post it on a google document for all to see – 24hrs after it is posted and commented on, we will send it out

Roles and Responsibilities of Volunteers:

- Social Media Updates

- Outreach and Recruit

            - Flyers

            - Postering

            -Specific event promotion

            - Calling other organizations

            - Door to Door

            - Streetreach

- Any other creative ways you can think of

            - Street Theater

- Teachers

            - ESL teacher – free language courses

- Web-Developer

- Help with Event Planning for September Community Event

3-5hrs a week

Google Group:

- Salomeh will make one

- Roxy to send out list of emails to Salomeh

- Outreach on Friday

Festival:

- Families for Education Festival

- Action groups/items

- To discuss general education system

- Need to Research Venue Spaces – ideally with outdoor and indoor space

- Queen’s Park, Community Center in St. James Town  - Jo

- Scadding Court Community Center  - Roxy

- Events happening in September – Laura to research

                        - Not frosh week, not Labour Day, manifesto

Funding - Roxy to Set up A Pay-Pal Account for the Free Skule dedicated

                - Indy Go-Go – Veronica will look into this

                -

Art Space:

- Veronica – to contact SKETCH about opening another location in the east end of Toronto

- Petra has offered warehouse space at Dupont and Ossington for Free Skule – would like a ‘pay-what-you-can’ deal

- Jo’s backyard can be used every once and a while

Extras:

- On June 11^th @7pm there is a meeting to develop a 4-8 week intro to everything class. Please contact us if you would like to be a part of this planning

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!

June 12th Student Union Meeting Minutes

Agenda:

1.     Next Sunday and this past sunday 

a.    22^nd 

2.     24^th and 30^th

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

24^th and the 30^th: 24^th is OM festival, 30^th is Canada Day. There have been requests to take these days off:

1.     Keep the 24^th

2.     Take the 1^st 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 

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 18^th 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 23^rd 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 

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.

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 3rd Class Schedule, and Course Assignments

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
                         - Garden Tour" of the Occupy Garden we planted the week before last with Occupy Gardens,  care needed6:00-8pm - Economics with Dix
8:00-10pm - Equity and Popular Education Teaching Methods 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. Bring your art supplies...to make art!
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Recommended Assignments:
Human Rights - write a phrase to a page talking about the issues most important to you within a human rights framework. See the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights for guidance.

Occupy Democracy - Read Introduction (The Vision of Real Democracy) and Part 1 excerpt @ circleofdemocracy.net

Equity and Popular Education - write a phrase to page on: "Who Are You In Relation To The World?"

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This is our last Sunday at St. James Park. Next Sunday, June 10th, our permanent Sunday location will be expanded to Alexandra Park.

Tuesday June 5th - Student Union meeting 6-7:30pm @ Philosopher's Walk. Then, march with OSMC to take back our education @ King St E. and George St. 

Things To Know, Do, and Consider Based On The Minutes - May 22nd

To Know:
1. Classes will once again be held on Sunday in St James Park starting at 12pm the schedule so far looks like this:
              12-1 - potluck and yoga and general skule discussion
              1:15-3:15 - human rights, and deescalation
              3:30-5:30 - equity and writing (*assignment: write a 1-2 page piece answering: "who are you in relation to the world", bring to class), and economics

To Do:

1. It is once again a potluck. please bring cutlery/plates if you can...and food!

2. Friday is another day of streetreach - if you can make it to: chalk, hand out business cards, busk for funds, or any combination, please contact us!

3. Send out that funding proposal to those you think could donate! while you're at it, link us up with any group working on/who would be interested in similar educational projects around the city.

To Consider:
1. Occupy Gardens is planning to garden in Queens Park from 5-7pm on Sunday. Do we want to, as a skule, shift our final classes over there - so we can have gardening and first aid, and so they can have more growers?

2. We are looking to start a second day of classes the week of June 12th. Any day preference...we're thinking Tuesday.

3. We have officially endorsed the Ontario Student Mobilization Coalition (OSMC).

Student Union Minutes - May 22nd

Alex - asked his union for $ from union, but didn’t work out

Roxy - today some free skulers gathered at Hart House in solidarity with Quebec students

Free Skule quoted in press release - what’s the point of $ if we’re not investing in the youth - along those lines

350 people by 2 pm

Roxy and Trey facilitated mini-GA - hit up University and College, in front of Police HQ, to Ryerson, then dispersed. Overall good rally, good momentum and spirit. After, there was a mtg (15 people) interested in continuing discussion > next action June 5th 6pm. And the OSMC, the Ontario Student Mobilization Coalition

Dix - what happened to Occupy Student group?

Roxy - I think they just totally fizzled out

Dix - there was a lot of people in the first mtg. but after 2nd mtg it got unproductive.

Arestia - occupy wants to be involved in this.

Laura - there was a school in Chatham I think where the student union was ousted. I guess stuff like this would fall under OSMC.



-------part of meeting missing------ask us on sunday or at the next meeting if you would like the details---------





Roxy - officially we are educators not organizers and do not advocate violence

Dix - I think the police are on the offensive.

Arestia - its amazing how well they’ve gotten used to those bikes - just cage you in.

Laura - I think we should keep in mind escalation with police

Mao - had made rapport with a cop in the park, and saw him again on May 1st

Dix- talked to cop about demonstration and why they were here. Surprised they didn’t just allow people to go into Simcoe Park

Mao - it was a trap - they had us basically caged.

Laura - maybe we could have a what-the-police-institution-looks-like workshop

Roxy - met Jenn, from Free University New York. I think we should organize with them and the Free Uni UK. Jenn has two strings of the school; one is the uni with regular weekly courses, other (forget name) does tactical free school, doing actions, etc. They occupied ministry of education and had a class. Something to keep in mind as we move forward.

Mao - mumble is good for conference calls

Dix - in Copenhagen economics students have rebeled and in Paris. In fall perhaps we should also get into that.
-i think we can get all kinds of classes, using mic check get kids out of the classroom. It’s really important to break down this learning structure.

Roxy - I think we can start some really cool classes going. FUNY has radical algebra

Arestia - can they send us their curriculum

Laura - should we make a promo video

alex - “are you tired of sitting on the couch all day?”
    -can have testitmonials

Arestia - it would be cool is free skule could go throughout Ontario.

Alex and Laura have connections in CFS

Dix - I have a 32” tv we could potentially use

Dave can run a silk screen workshop but needs funds

Alex - can contact grad student union for money

Laura - i think we could get under an umbrella org for non-profit so we can accept donations

Roxy - funding - estimate for a week (“Fund a week!” or “Fund Media”, etc)
Reworking Funding Proposal Document


Alex- concern about being in one park over and over and the cops coming in

Laura - i think it’s hard for people grouped to learn to look like bad guys

Roxy - we are not just one large org

    -one task for next week is make list of possible donation sources

Dix - about going somewhere like Nathan Phillips Sq with info and such ask for donations.

Arestia- could have also have wksps

Mao - we can set up an account at Alterna - needs 2 signatories - set up as community account

Dix - research credit union, alterna, etc for best option for us

Alex -  hoped to have more food, and also larger breaks

Roxy - 15 min breaks?

Overview of sunday
-we should have info on where to go to washrooms and other things
-we should have water - how are we going to bring it? have a jug we can fill at second cup?
-should put call out for people to bring own cups and plates and
-keep eye on size of groups and keeping it together
-maybe we should cut large groups into two
-coordinate to have one volunteer to be by the library (1-3, 3-5, 5-7) and put it outward facing more and not put stuff in front of it - Brian could do organizing around that
-should we have people RSVP for classes? easier to organize - Roxy already keeping track of people who want to regularly take class and pass contact info to TLs


-Roxy - friday another reach-out day
Laura to edit business cards