Margaret Wilson Named as
‘Distinguished Educator’ by OISE/UT
College Registrar Margaret Wilson has been awarded a 1998
Distinguished Educator Award by the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the
University of Toronto.
A graduate of the universities of Toronto and Windsor, as well as London Teachers’
College and the U of T education faculty, Wilson ended her in-class-teaching career as the
English department head at North Toronto Collegiate in 1984.
She has been active in the teaching profession as both president and secretary-general
of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation and as a director of the Canadian Teachers’
Federation. Wilson was named Registrar-designate of the Ontario College of Teachers in
1995 and was confirmed as the College’s first Registrar in 1996.
In a letter of support to the nomination committee of the annual OISE/UT award, former
Ontario assistant deputy minister of education Duncan Green wrote, "She has
constantly exhibited the qualities of intelligence, industry, endurance, which, with her
considerable knowledge, are the key to any significant achievement. But more than anyone
else, she has contributed to the status of a teacher as a professional."
Wilson has served on numerous boards, delegations and education-related committees
throughout her career as an educator, including the Advisory Committee on Educational
Finance; the Secondary Education Review Project; Role and Certification of Supervisory
Officers; and the Teacher Education Council of Ontario, where she was chair of the
committee on admission to teacher education.
"I am both pleased and honoured to join in fellowship with this year’s
recipients of the Distinguished Educator award," said Wilson. "I am profoundly
grateful to my nominators, the judges, OISE/UT and last but not least to my supportive
family and the many colleagues who make possible the work which leads to such
honours."
Other recipients of the 1998 Distinguished Educator Award include Keren Brathwaite
(faculty member and English co-ordinator, transitional year program, U of T); Walter
Hardwick (professor of geography at the University of British Columbia); Jeffery Douglas
Jefferis (professor emeritus and former head of the teacher education program at
Bishop’s University); Andrew Chiang-Fung Liu (mathematics professor at the University
of Alberta); and Scott Turner (director of animation, arts and design at Sheridan
College).
Toronto Teacher
Receives Order of Canada
College member Jean Ashworth Bartle has been honoured with
Canada’s highest recognition: the Order of Canada.
Ashworth Bartle, a teacher for almost 33 years, taught music at Blythwood Public School
in Toronto’s west end before retiring last fall.
"She is dedicated. She is great with children. There’s a long list of people
who went through that choir (Toronto Children’s Chorus) and came out very
accomplished," said composer and friend Harry Freedman in a Toronto-area newspaper.
Ashworth Bartle, a grandmother of six, was recognized for her "outstanding
contribution to Canadian music in taking the choral art for children to unprecedented
heights and the finest Canadian compositions to choirs and audiences around the
world."
Teacher-Friendly
Master’s Degree Program at OISE/UT
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the
University of Toronto has pioneered an innovative and accessible part-time master’s
degree program designed specifically for teachers with a humanities or social science
background.
The department of theory and policy studies offers a flexible and individualized
program emphasizing interdisciplinary explorations of historical, philosophical, artistic,
political, social, economic, technical and ecological issues.
To accommodate working teachers in the Toronto area, classes take place in the late
afternoon or early evening. The program also offers summer courses and is introducing more
distance education courses this year.
For more information, contact David Levine at (416) 923-6641 ext.2509 or e-mail dlevine@oise.utoronto.ca.
Peregrine Falcons on
the Rise … Barely
In 1970 there were a mere 200 peregrine falcons in the wild.
Today, the number has climbed to over 2,000. Yet, this bird of prey remains on the
endangered species list. Not surprisingly, education is a critical component of the
Canadian Peregrine Foundation’s work in the recovery and restoration of the raptor.
While the peregrine falcon is not uncommon in an urban setting – the falcon has
been known to nest on the ledges of tall office buildings – getting students to
understand this magnificent bird and appreciate wildlife issues in general is at the core
of two programs offered by the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.
The Mountsberg Raptor Centre sits 45 minutes northwest of downtown Toronto and offers
students an up-close encounter with peregrine falcons, owls, eagles and hawks.
Best suited for Grades 5-8, the program allows up to 40 students to spend the day at
the centre where they see the video "Life on the Ledge," take a nature walk on a
working farm with domesticated animals, and check out a lake where nesting ospreys and
other migratory birds make their homes. A video of the class trip is produced and donated
to the class.
Each student also receives a copy of the "Student’s Guide to Ontario’s
Endangered Species."
The Canadian Peregrine Foundation also offers to have biologists and handlers visit a
school for an hour-long presentation that includes a live peregrine falcon. Again, these
presentations are best suited to Grades 5-8.
The seminars address "the impact human endeavours have on other species, whether
through air, water, soil, noise, light pollutants."
Fifty copies of the "Student’s Guide to Ontario’s Endangered
Species" are donated to the school library. The presentation is videotaped and
donated to the school.
The field trip, including transportation and admission, costs $500, and is limited to
just 40 students. The school visit program includes three one hour-long presentations to
groups of 50. It also costs $500.
Contact Bill Green at the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, 112 Merton St., Suite 300,
Toronto ON M4S 2Z8. Telephone (416) 481-1233 or fax (416) 481-5872.
College Staffer
Elected to English Leadership Body
Rick Chambers has been elected as associate chair of the
Conference on English Leadership (CEL), a branch of the U.S.-based National Council of
Teachers of English.
Chambers, a program officer within the accreditation unit at the College, was an
English teacher for almost 27 years before joining the College in 1997.
The CEL, with about 1,700 members across North America, plays a role in selecting class
materials, designing courses, reviewing and creating curriculum, dealing with censorship
issues, literacy, media literacy, mentoring and other leadership roles within the context
of an English department.
"I was flattered to be elected," said Chambers, the first Canadian to be
elected. "Teachers need to take leadership roles in schools. By doing so, they can
enhance their own practice and make a difference to the students they teach."
The CEL membership includes program leaders in English departments in elementary,
middle and secondary schools, as well as faculties of education.
Clarification
In the December edition of Professionally
Speaking, a story about an Internet listserv and the Education Quality and Accountabil-ity
Office may have left readers with the impression that the Internet forum was hosted by the
EQAO. This is not the case. To subscribe, or for more information, contact Bob Clements at
bob.clements@sympatico.ca.
PS
Calendar
If you would like to list your conference or event on the College web site, e-mail the
College library with the information at
library@oct.ca; fax (416)
961-8822; or phone (416) 961-8800 ext. 679.
The calendar of conferences is found on the College
Library page.
