Philadelphia Public School Notebook, a quarterly publication that promotes public involvement in working for quality and equity in Philadelphia public schools, has received funding from the Samuel S. Fels Fund for a 10-week graduate student internship for the summer of 2002, to coordinate the research and writing for an issue on the topic of multicultural education in Philadelphia schools.

The project: The concept of multicultural education is an important one for the Philadelphia public schools. At the simplest level, multiculturalism is a recognition and affirmation of the diversity of our society. In schools, it provides a push to acknowledge and include all students and their cultures. But in a deeper analysis, multiculturalism is an approach that raises questions of privilege and disadvantage and encourages us to re-examine our assumptions about what is identified as positive or as the norm. Proponents of multiculturalism in education have pointed out that that it is an essential approach to making education meaningful to the diverse populations in our schools.

But multiculturalism faces some important challenges both nationally and here in Philadelphia. A backlash against multiculturalism in education has developed in recent years, and the concept is frequently criticized and trivialized in the media. In this project we will explore the rationale for and history of multiculturalism, while focusing on two significant developments and the challenges they present to the possibilities for multicultural education in Philadelphia: 1) the events of September 11 and their aftermath, and 2) the state takeover of the Philadelphia schools and plans for privatization.

The intern will work with the Notebook staff and an editorial committee to research and write articles that will be published in Public School Notebook addressing multicultural education and its relevance to the Philadelphia public schools.

Who is eligible: Any graduate student enrolled in or graduating from a graduate program or professional school in 2002. (No exceptions to this requirement.)

Qualifications:
-knowledge of urban public education issues; familiarity with concepts of multicultural education
-superior writing skills; ability to write about complex concepts for non-academic audiences
-experience doing interview research
-commitment to improve public education and to educational equity for all students.

Familiarity with Philadelphia public school system desirable. Must be available to work full-time for 10 weeks starting in mid-to-late May 2002.

Stipend: $6000 for 10 weeks.

To apply: send a brief cover letter, a resume, and a writing sample to Philadelphia Public School Notebook, 3721 Midvale Ave., Philadelphia PA 19129, fax to 215-951-0342, or e-mail to psnotebook@aol.com. Deadline for receipt of applications is April 2, 2002.

Philadelphia Public School Notebook is a quarterly, independent newspaper founded in 1994 to help build a local grassroots movement for public school reform and for public schools that serve all children well. We are currently in our eighth full year of publication and have a circulation of 45,000. Public School Notebook is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Ferris State University is offering an internet-based graduate course this summer that might be of interest to folklorists and educators, Literature 580: World Folk Literature. As an Internet-based course, the class will not be meeting in a weekly seminar; instead, class will be "meet" through weekly postings to a discussion board on the Internet. The central focus of the course will be the use of folk literature in teaching.

Texts include several collections of folk literature from around the world, as well as works that discuss the uses of such materials. Students will be expected to post to the discussion board weekly and to respond to the posts of several classmates on a weekly basis, and to write a book review on a related text of the student’s choosing. The final project for the course will be to construct a lesson plan incorporating folk literature and a justification for the plan, or to write an extended seminar paper. Interested persons should contact the course instructor, Professor Reinhold Hill, via e-mail at hillr@ferris.edu, or by phone at 231/ 591-5629.

The Creativity Workshop announces its Summer 2002 workshops in New York City and Europe. The Creativity Workshop's goal is to help individuals believe in and develop their creative process and break through the fears and blocks that inhibit creativity through using memoir, creative writing, visual arts exercises, and storytelling. The end product is expanded perception, innovative problem solving, and ways of looking at one's life and work as exciting and transformative.

People from all different disciplines, interests, and levels of experience come together to explore their creative process. Whether you are a writer, a business person, a teacher, or an artist, we can help you discover and nurture your particular way of expression and break through the fears and blocks that inhibit creativity.

Here is the latest news on upcoming Creativity Workshops: creative writing, drawing, storytelling and personal memoir.

SUMMER IN EUROPE 2002
All workshops are taught in English.

JUNE
Florence, Italy June 25 - July 6, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/florence.html
10-day workshop
Tuition Fee: $1,000 (Accommodation packages available)

JULY
Samos, Greece July 7 - 17, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/samos.html
9-day workshop
Tuition Fee: $1,500 (includes tuition and accommodations)

AUGUST
Barcelona, Spain July 31 - August 10, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/barcelona.html
9-day workshop
Tuition Fee: $950 (Accommodation packages available)

AUGUST
Paris, France August 11 - 21, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/paris.html
9-day workshop
Tuition Fee: $950 (Accommodation packages available)

SPRING IN NEW YORK CITY 2002

MAY
New York City May 18 - 19, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/newyork.html
2-day weekend workshop:
Saturday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM
Sunday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM
Tuition Fee: $300

New York City May 27 - 31, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/newyork.html
5-day workshop
Monday through Friday 4 to 7 PM
Tuition Fee: $600

JUNE
New York City June 8 - 9, 2002
http://www.creativityworkshop.com/newyork.html
2-day weekend workshop:
Saturday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM
Sunday from 11 AM to 4:30 PM
Tuition Fee: $300

For more information please contact Karen Bell at 212/249-2676 or e-mail kbell@creativityworkshop.com.