Conferences on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life

The Center for Global Curriculum Studies initiated a series of conferences on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life. To date, there have been separate conferences: 1997, 1999, 2001, and 2006.

There is much talk these days about academics, particularly the failure of so many youngsters to achieve the various state standards in mathematics and reading. The results so far have been less than promising, and they serve as a bellwether of an era of more rigorous teaching, textbooks, and no-nonsense essentialism. The Center for Global Curriculum Studies acknowledges the validity of this concern, but continues to believe that there are other important things at stake as well along the way to getting an education.

In that spirit, CGCS initiated a series of conferences on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life to discuss not so much the bricks, but perhaps the mortar of school life: its social and moral dimensions. Numerous scholars were invited to submit papers for presentation and discussion within the parameters of the theme. These discussions have consistently been a time of spirited debate in an atmosphere of civility.

The first two conferences, held in 1997 1999, and 2006, were hosted by CGCS and held in Edmonds , WA . These two conferences included speakers representing 15 different institutions from the United States , Canada , England , Spain and Russia .

The University of Hull, England, hosted the third conference that was held in the autumn of 2001. Speakers represented SPU and a large number British institutions.

Examples of papers presented at these conferences:

• "Disentangling Collaborative from Cooperative Learning: Vygotskian Perspectives," (Chris Sink and Sue McPeak, SPU)
• "The Effects of Globalization on the Social and Moral Fabric of School Life" (Mike Bottery, University of Hull , England )
• "Standards: Is That All There Is?"
• (Allen Glenn, University of Washington )
• "Negotiating School Discipline: an Ethical Bricolage."
• (Bruce Kramer and Don LaMagdaleine, University of St. Thomas )