Nearly 30 public school educators (K-12) in mid-Missouri will participate in a workshop on June 15-16, 2010, in Columbia, Missouri, aimed at broadening understanding of mid-Missouri’s increasing religious diversity. Registration is closed.
The program begins with registration and breakfast at 8:30 am. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at the Reynolds Journalism Institute on 9th Street, part of the School of Journalism. (Note: It’s near the Heidelberg). Attendees should check their email for more specific instructions. Come to room 200 A, the Lambeth Seminar Room on the second floor.
Workshop content will, among other things:
- Introduce religions practiced in mid-Missouri and their relationship to global communities;
- Provide expertise on the cultural geography of religion in mid-Missouri- present approaches to the academic study of religion;
- Address controversial issues among school personnel, students and parents that arise with growing religious diversity in public schools;
- Explore ways to incorporate religion into social studies and humanities curricula in line with First Amendment requirements and curricular goals.
Program schedule
| Dates |
Time |
Topic |
June 15
(Day 1) |
8:30-noon |
Overview, religious practice in mid-Missouri |
|
1-3:30 p.m. |
Religious diversity, religious geography |
|
3:30-5 p.m. |
Master teacher discussions |
|
5:30-8 p.m. |
Parent concerns |
June 16
(Day 2) |
8:30-noon |
Walking tour of Columbia |
|
noon-5:30 p.m. |
Bus tour |
Program includes breakfast and lunch both days, dinner on Day 1, and transportation.
Project leaders
- Dr. Robert M. Baum is Chair of MU’s Department of Religious Studies and is an expert in world religions, especially Islam and African religions. Dr. Baum has led two institutes for elementary teachers for the Ohio Humanities Council and was a project leader for MU’s Difficult Dialogues.
Dr. Larry Brown drives WRIM’s local-to-global, geographical focus through his expertise in cultural geography and Middle America. He will present on the geography of religion in Missouri and serve as our tour leader on Day 2 of he workshop. Dr. Brown is an assistant professor of Geography at MU and a well-known storyteller.- Master Teacher George Frissell teaches a popular course in world religions at Hickman High School in the Columbia Public Schools. Frissell will bring his expertise to the teaching of religion at the secondary education level.
- Master Teacher Eryca Neville is a former Columbia Public Schools elementary teacher who now teaches in the MU Teacher Development Program. She continues to be involved in schools through her work at West Boulevard Elementary School and the MU Teaching Fellows Program.
- Dr. Peggy Placier’s interest in cross-cultural approaches to teacher education and educational policy structures the WRIM workshop and tour. She will present on religion and education, drawing on her expertise as an associate professor in the MU College of Education, where she specializes in public policy.
Questions?
Contact Project Coordinator Crystal Kroner for questions about the program. For additional questions, please call Debra Mason at 573-882-9257.
