AAACS 9th Annual Meeting – April 27-30, 2010
Curriculum and the Cultural and Environmental Commons: Local to Global//Global to Local
Location: Doubletree Hotel, Denver, Colorado
Our 2009 conference theme carries us into 2010, but with a new subtitle. Last year’s theme bore the subtitle “Towards Reclaiming, Restoring, and Reinventing.” Though we hardly exhausted the possibilities to which that subtitle points, our hope for the Denver conference is that we reconsider, but with a greater focus on the international scene.
Again, we might understand the commons, in general, as those material and cultural spaces that belong to everyone, upon which our survival depends, and which are not, or should not be, abandoned to the logics of private interests. For example, more tangible assets of the commons include vast resources such as oil, water, minerals, timber, that are on publicly owned lands, as well as broadcast airwaves, parks, and civic institutions. Less tangible commons include public education, nonprofit institutions, creative works and public knowledge that are paid for by public funds. All are essential to human survival or quality of life. Yet, these public resources are under persistent threat of enclosure as private interests steadily convert them into market resources.
The encroachment of private interests on a global scale into environmental commons such as water, energy, and agriculture, and into cultural knowledge and information commons threatens to overwhelm efforts toward global sustainability, equity, and peace. At a time when numerous expert analysts are predicting disastrous events from climate change in which millions will be displaced, the “end of oil,” massive water shortages, and more, international educational efforts toward sustainable futures could not be more pressing.
What sorts of curriculum work are needed to assist us in becoming the people we need to be in order to meet these challenges? How will we, as curriculum theorists, articulate and pedagogically address the challenges before us in their myriad local and global manifestations? How can we support each other in the work of conceptualizing the interpersonal, political, and spiritual dimensions of a sustainable future, one that expands the possibilities of peace and freedom for an ever greater number and fosters an ever broader and more sensitive attention to the resources and rhythms of our planet?
While presentations, performances, or installations that speak directly and clearly to this theme are desirable, we also recognize that the spirit of the theme points toward a broadly conceived and complicated conversation, not fettered by any assumptions—conscious or unconscious—embedded in the foregoing words. Any proposed contribution to the complicated conversation that creates meaningful curriculum study is welcomed and encouraged.
Conferences Committee,
Louise Allen, Chair
Peter Appelbaum, Program Chair
aaacs@arcadia.edu
Conference Site Co-Chairs:
Bruce Uhrmacher bruce.uhrmacher@du.edu & Bradley Conrad bconrad2@du.edu
University of Denver
Proposals are being accepted at this time and through Friday, December 18, 2009.
Due to a number of logistical concerns, timely submission is encouraged. Late proposals, however, will be accepted through January 10th. Late proposals will be considered as a batch once notifications for on-time proposals have been sent in late January.
AAACS 2010 Proposal Guide
As described in this year’s conference theme, you are encouraged to contribute to the complicated conversation that creates meaningful curriculum study through any of the great variety of passions and perspectives that have informed your work to date. Any proposal is welcomed and encouraged. At last year’s business meeting, the membership voted to include the new format of “working groups” in the 2010 conference. Working groups will meet several times over the course of the conference to draft policy recommendations, research summaries, or other suitable media to be voted on by the members of AAACS as officially endorsed public position statements. Examples of working group themes include ‘living and learning toward near and distant futures’ and ‘ecology and the commons’; any themes deemed potentially suitable for the membership of AAACS will be considered if you would care to propose one along with two co-facilitators. Working groups will be open to all interested conference participants.
Proposal – Information to be Included:
Name:
Email Address:
Institutional Affiliation:
Street Address:
City, State (Province, Country):
Telephone:
Fax:
Title:
Description: Please compose 2-3 paragraphs describing your proposed presentation, symposium, installation, or working group, including a short bibliography. If proposing a panel, please include all participants’ names, addresses, etc., plus a short paragraph on each person’s proposed presentation.
*** Special requests? Please include any special requests (e.g., technology, scheduling, space needs) regarding your proposed session/presentation with your proposal.
Send (preferably via email, but by regular mail if needed) to:
Peter Appelbaum, AAACS Program Committee Chair; aaacs@arcadia.edu or Department of Education, Arcadia University, 450 South Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038, USA.
Your proposal automatically registers you as a member of AAACS;–there are no dues. With membership in AAACS (http://aaacs.info) comes membership in the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies (http://www.iaacs.org).