London-area parents dealing with today’s tough issues in education are invited to an all-day conference Saturday at The University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Education.
The conference, From Rhetoric to Reality: How Engaged Parents Close the Achievement Gap for Students, is being offered free of charge as an initiative of local public and Catholic parent involvement committees.
Media violence expert Peter Jaffe, a professor in Faculty of Education, will explore the latest research on violence in movies, music, TV and video games and discuss the effect it’s having on your children.
“We’ll offer some practical strategies parents can use to reduce exposure to media violence as well as minimize the harmful effects,” said Jaffe, a veteran Thames Valley District School Board Trustee and former board chair.
Jaffe will be joined by Katie Cole of Medway High School and Ray Hughes, a former TVDSB Safe Schools coordinator, both known for their expertise in this area.
“We want to provide parents with ‘take-away tools’ to implement at home and in their local communities, so they can contribute to the success and well-being of their children,” said Arlene Morell, Chair of the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee.
“Engaged parents, as partners within the education system, can contribute directly to student success, safety, health, and happiness,” added Linda Steel, chair of the London District Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.
The supportive partnership between the parent organizations, boards and community agencies is unique in Ontario, say Steel and Morell, whose keynote address will examine their grassroots successes as partners in education within their school systems, with each other, and within the community.
The April 24 event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register please contact plf@tvpic.ca.