35.3 Teaching Position with THESTUDENTSCHOOL, TDSB, 1992
35.3.1 Introduction
Click here to see my public records page at the Ontario College of Teachers
35.3.2 Hired on at THESTUDENTSCHOOL
I was hired on at THESTUDENTSCHOOL by a committee of fellow teachers and TSS students. I started teaching in September, 1992. TSS, a TDSB alternative school, was physically housed (at that time) on the third floor of Eastdale Collegiate Institute, 701 Gerrard Street East (see map and photo below).
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35.3.3 THESTUDENTSCHOOL
THESTUDENTSCHOOL is an academic alternative school with a semestered program. It generally has a total enrolement of around 185 students and eight staff. Its description is as follows:
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THESTUDENTSCHOOL provides a warm, supportive atmosphere for students to complete their secondary school credits. THESTUDENTSCHOOL is for those students who have left school or whose needs are not being met in mainstream secondary schools. The great majority of our graduates continue their education in university or college. Many of our graduates have said that if not for this program they would never have received their high school diploma and reached post-secondary education.
We provide high academic standards and an accepting, supportive environment that encourages students to attend regularly, develop responsible study habits, and refine all academic skills. Students learn skills essential to post-secondary education such as:
- Comprehension and application of theory;
- Research, essay writing, and oral presentation skills;
- Critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation of historic and contemporary issues.
THESTUDENTSCHOOL fosters an apppreciation for learning as a lifelong experience. Equally important is that our students develop a healthy awareness of self-worth as well as respect for the environment and humanity in all its diversity of gender, culture, religion, race, age, appearance, and sexual orientation.
The special features of THESTUDENTSCHOOL include:
- democratic operation by the school council in which all students have a say;
- students help determine the timetable and have input into the areas of course content and course evaluation;
- students participate in the hiring of new teachers;
- students attend biweekly council meetings, chaired by students, where staff and students together make decisions on many issues concerning the school community --in this way, the school operates democratically with all students having an opportunity to have a say;
- students run an ongoing fund raising project for several local women and children's shelters.
35.3.4 Come As You Are
(sub-section title is from a Kurt Cobain song of the same title). Everything was very informal at TSS.
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35.3.4 Fall, 1992: My First Semester at TSS
Initially I took the College streetcar to TSS (I would not buy my van until the summer of 1993).
Courses Taught at TSS,
Fall, 1992 |
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| Fall, 1992 | . | . |
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This first semester was wonderful for me. TSS was democratic, co-operative, and uplifting. There were seven other teachers at that time:
- John Morton
- Anita
- Alan Heavenrich
35.3.5 My Bridge Unit
This term I did with my architecture students the bridge unit which I had developed at King Square Collegiate. Students designed and built a bridge which was to span one metre and support several bricks at the centre span.
35.3.6 Spring, 1993: My Second Semester at TSS
Courses Taught
at TSS,
Spring, 1993 |
| Date: | Course: | Description: |
| Spring, 1993 | . | . |
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35.3.7 Specialist Qualification in Environmental Science, Spring, 1993
In Spring, 1993, I completed the third of three courses to earn the Specialist qualification in Environmental Science. Bill Andrews was the professor for each of the courses.
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