A book co-authored by York University Professor Patrick Solomon (right) and Cynthia Levine-Rasky of Queen’s University, entitled Teaching for Equity and Diversity: Research to Practice (2003), has been awarded the 2005 American Educational Studies Association (AESA) Critics’ Choice Award.
The book explores teachers’ perspectives on race and ethno-cultural equity, and offers solutions for some of the most pressing social justice and diversity issues facing educators in contemporary Canadian schools and society.
Drawing from experience in the pioneering Urban Diversity Teacher Education model in York’s Faculty of Education, the book proposes strategies for renewing teacher education in collaboration with partnership schools and the communities in which they are situated. It links the sensitive issues of race, ethnicity and culture to broader equity, social justice and diversity themes in Canadian society and institutions.
“This book documents 14 years of teacher education research and practice in the Canadian setting and highlights some of the challenges facing teaching for diversity and social justice,” said Solomon, a professor in the Faculty of Education.
The AESA Critics’ Choice Award recognizes and increases awareness of recent scholarship deemed to be outstanding in its field and of potential interest to members of the association. Each year, a committee of AESA members selects a number of titles it regards as outstanding books that may be of interest to those in educational studies. These books are designated as AESA Critics’ Choice Award winners and are displayed prominently at the association’s annual meeting.