“Living Consciously” is the working-title for Bill Steer’s newly proposed course that he hopes will become mandated throughout the provincial secondary school curriculum. He recently received the go-ahead from his fellow trustees on the Near North District School Board to embark on the mission to make this course a reality.
Although a working title, “Living Consciously” well encapsulates the program’s intent. Comprised of four key areas – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion; Food Security and Nutrition; Wellness; and Climate change mitigation – these themes urge educators and students “to initiate change” through “education, experiences, and awareness.”
“Here’s the question to ask yourself,” Steer said, “when you went to school, would this course have been of benefit to you?” For him, the answer is a definite yes, and he’s hoping others agree. To have such a course mandated, he must gain support from the Ontario Public School Board Association. He plans to attend the Association’s annual meeting this July in Toronto.
Before then, Steer plans to garner support from the Northern Region school boards at a regional meeting in April. He feels the motion aligns well with public education values of all Ontario boards, “as it would be important for student well-being and success.”
See: School board introduces new Indigenous education initiatives
As envisioned, the new course will be taught “experientially and through project-based learning” so “students would learn by doing in their own communities,” Steer emphasized.
“Young people who are bombarded by social media need this course,” Steer noted. “It is a world that has become more complex,” and the proposed course “reflects upon current and future societal norms and challenges.”
More concretely, Steer emphasized that part of the public education experience is to “become a contributing citizen to a civilized society and to understand the diverse nature of our community composition,” which is what his course will contribute towards.
“We want to respect others, be kind and to be happy,” Steer summarized.
If the class doesn’t get picked up by the province and instituted as a mandatory course, ‘Living Consciously’ could still be adopted as an elective course within the Near North District School Board and other boards as well.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
