Anti-Oppressive Approaches in Education Teach-In - Naarm

Please note this is a ticketed event.

NOTE TO ATTENDEES: doors will open at 9:25am and close at 9:35am. We will need to swipe in attendees who have registered to attend; to avoid disruptions during the teach-in, please ensure you arrive on time as we will not be available to organise entrance into the building after the doors close. Please note that when you arrive it may seem like you are at the wrong venue as the library will be closed to the public during our event. 

This teach-in aims to provide a space for teachers to come together and think about anti-oppressive approaches in education and forms part of a collective who are committed to liberation and justice through the practices of thinking, making, un/doing, and sharing.

• CONTEXT: Whilst education is routinely recognised for its emancipatory possibility, education and schooling continues to reinforce various forms of oppression. In so-called Australia, despite the insistence that schools celebrate government observations such as 'Harmony Week', oppression in education forms part of a history of social segregation which begins with the active exclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from education and schooling. Oppression in education can also be illustrated by the politicisation of people, groups, histories, and world events. This has led to attempts recently made to silence students' and communities' Palestinian identity, as well as political prejudice that is shaping education directives which seek to narrow how the curriculum can be taught and censor students, teachers, and communities. At the same time, student wellbeing is positioned as a priority in education policy to support student mental health whilst there is a sector-wide staff shortage as a result of teacher, principal, and school staff burnout.

• PURPOSE: The purpose of this teach-in is to firstly recognise various forms of oppression in present-day education and schooling and the effects this has on students, teachers, schools, communities, and society more broadly. From here, the teach-in aims to consider how anti-oppressive approaches in education can work against various forms of oppression. Although there is no quick or singular solution, we recognise the importance of continuing to build our collective awareness and education praxis in response to the issue of oppression in education.

• SPEAKERS: We aim to have a variety of voices contribute to the dialogue we share. 

• AUDIENCE: Please note that whilst we recognise there is growing interest and commitment to anti-oppressive approaches in education, this teach-in is reserved for teachers. However, in saying that, these conversations must also be ongoing; depending on interest, this event may be the beginning of a series. Please send an email to hello@inpraxiscollective if you are not a teacher but would like to attend a future event or if you are a teacher who cannot attend this event but you are interested in the idea of an event series.

• ACCESSIBILITY: Please note the venue is wheelchair accessible including toilets and is located near a wheelchair accessible tram stop. Unfortunately we will not be able to organise Auslan interpreting for this event. Please email hello@inpraxiscollective if you have questions about accessibility.

Please note tickets are limited due to physical space limitations; if you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket.

We acknowledge the Wurundjeri-Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nations, who are the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the lands on which the in-person event is located. We recognise their continued connection to their land and waters they have taken care of for thousands of generations. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Indigenous Sovereignty has never been ceded; it always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We remain committed to centering Indigenous people, their knowledge, and self-determination.