CatholicBoardHuron-Superior Catholic District School Board trustees learned more about the ‘Students As Researchers’ program on Wednesday night. The initiative ran over three days last fall at Stokely Creek Lodge with a goal to help participants acquire leadership and data gathering skills. They were also encouraged to create solutions to increase inclusion in their respective schools. Mona Jones is the Aboriginal Education Special Assignment Teacher with the catholic board. She says more inclusion is the primary objective here…

In Jones’ case, the non-native students participated in the survey by answering questions relating to learning about First Nation, Metis and Inuit culture and traditions. Results were made available online with more than 130 students participating in the survey over the three days. Three student ‘teams’ representing St. Theresa, St. Mary’s College and St. Basil Secondary School took part in the event. Their survey results related to topics ranging from native culture to intramural activities and how to make change at their particular school. Jones says her group from SMC had a unique way of presenting its results…

Jones adds that the province will benefit from those same results, projecting an idea reflecting how students think and feel about parts of their at school experience. She adds a catch for participants is that the winning team gets to present their data in Toronto later this year…

Between 50 and 60 students from the Algoma District School Board and the Huron-Superior Catholic District Board took part in the event. The student presenters plan to pick up next year where their earlier results left off. When asked if the program would happen again next year, Jones would only say that it would be up to the Ministry of Education, who made it possible through funding from ‘Speak Up’ grants.