Halifax Youth Forum Nov 2017

Going to Halifax is like 'Groundhog Day'. As an educator one gets the feeling it is 10 years ago. These grade 7- 12 teachers struggle with getting support from their board and administration to use the community as a venue for teaching. Going outside is seen as a 'fringe activity' and seriously questioned as to its validity. In spite of this, 21 teachers gathered in a circle at Dalhousie to contemplate such 'rebellious acts' and look for support to do just that. They were a relatively quiet group at first, but as the day wore on they began to loosen up and contribute to some wonderful conversations. As we worked they began to nod in agreement, and question, and feel supported. We went outside twice to talk about the possibilities for using the outdoors and community. They were really interested in 4 credit courses and how they could work together with other staff members to do integrated projects. We started in a circle and stayed in a circle. They talked to the whole group not just a small table group. I realized that the circle has become for me an effective way of conducting these forums for the last 2 years. Youth Forums are like a 'tasting menu' or a 'trailer' for a movie. They move quickly through a number of ideas and teachers need time between each to respond and talk to each other. I truly have become more of a 'guide on the side'. Knowing when to sit down and be quiet is as important as when to talk. This group was very interested in the r4r searchable data base. They loved the peer review feature and some wanted to contribute to the site. That is the first time that idea has come up in any Forum I have been part of. It is my opinion that there is very fertile ground in Nova Scotia for the kinds of Institutes that we have done in the past on getting outside and on inquiry and that they would be very receptive to LSF offerings.