The public is invited to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas about issues affecting schools and the school system at a new discussion series called Talkin' About School & Society.

Professors from the University of Regina's Faculty of Education and guests will facilitate conversations in an informal atmosphere over four evenings. The first discussion in the series begins on Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, with a focus on the topic "The new interactive classroom: Education, teaching and globalization."

Talkin' About School & Society discussions will take place from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. at La Bodega Restaurant, 2228 Albert Street in Regina. Complimentary snacks will be provided.

Faculty of Education Dean James McNinch says the lecture series is one way to move out of academia to discuss critical issues that ultimately affect us all.

"An initiative like Talkin' about School & Society is important because public schooling is premised on assumptions and values about democracy, citizenship, ethics, health, and well-being," says McNinch. As such, it's a highly contested and political space in which ordinary citizens, not just experts, need to participate. The Talkin' series is an effort to provide that connection, says McNinch.

Patrick Lewis and Marc Spooner, U of R Education professors organizing the series, believe it's important that everyone who is interested has an opportunity to engage in conversations about schools, teaching and education.

"The informal format of the series will help ensure that participants are not divided by terms such as expert, audience, lecture, keynote, parent, student, teacher, administrator, or professor, but rather as a gathering of a group of people interested in talking about education," says Lewis.

Future dates and topics for the Talkin' About School & Society discussion series include:

• January 26, 2009  "Arts in school: Frill or essential?"
• March 2, 2009  "Public Education: What are the potential roles and consequences of faith, race, sexuality or gender-based schools?"
• April 6, 2009  "What are fair policies in Public Education: Exploring funding, standards, and inclusiveness."

Talkin' about School & Society is sponsored by the Faculty of Education, the Centre for Continuing Education and the Centre for Social Justice and Anti-Oppressive Education.

For more information please email patrick.lewis@uregina.ca or marc.spooner@uregina.ca