Reframing Intersections: Assessing the Disconnects and Debates Within an Urban Community School-University Partnership

• In Event: Building Quality School-University Partnerships

Abstract

The development of urban school-university partnerships face a number of challenges requiring a process of formally identifying conflicting goals and barriers to change within the school and community as a key aspect of substantive transformative practice in partnership development. This study examines the development of the Urban Education Partnership in the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor, designed to strengthen school and community ties through its teacher education program. Several ‘disconnects’ are identified, with proposals offered to ameliorate cross-cultural tensions and ensure critically meaningful and emancipatory learning experiences for students through socially/culturally relevant and responsive curricular strategies. Key questions addressed in this paper focus on institutional and classroom challenges, response strategies and sustaining this work.

Authors

• Aamer Shujah, University of Windsor

• Andrew M.A. Allen, University of Windsor