Ecological Education for Peace and Justice
The Department of Educational Foundations conducted a study-tour course in Costa Rica from July 23 to August 15, 1996. This course was the third such tour class offered by the department. The first class was to Britain in 1994, and the second to China in 1995.
These classes have been offered through the department of Extension during intersession or summer session are open to graduate and undergraduate students.
The study-tour classes are open to students from various disciplines. The 1996 tour included graduate students in business administration, English, educational psychology, sociology, adult education and philosophy of education programs. Undergraduate students came from agriculture, education and Indigenous education. As well, three teachers with twenty six years of teaching experience joined the group.
The tour to Costa Rica was designed for students to learn about ecological education, community and national development, and environmental issues by visiting various projects, organizations, movements, and communities in Costa Rica. The class was assisted by Canadian University Services Overseas (CUSO), and was hosted in part by CODEBRIWAK an Indigenous organization that works for the cultural and human rights in Costa Rica. Professor Robert Regnier led the tour and was assisted by Janet Ward-Baldwin, the graduate student organizer.
While in Costa Rica, the class visited the University for Peace, the Inter-American Institute for Human Rights, the Mayan League, Cefemina, Universidad Nacional Indigenous Teacher Education Program, the Department of Indigenous Education, the Ecological Association of Costa Rica, COOPRENA, the Earth Council, the Canadian Embassy, La Catarata the Waterfall Lodge in Arenal Conservation Area, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and Conservation League, the Tropical Science Centre, the Agricultural School of the Tropical Humid Region, the Aerial Rainforest Tram, CODEBRIWAK, and several Bribri Indigenous communities in Talamanca.
At each of its venues, students in the class sought to learn about various issues. At the Canadian Embassy, for example, the class sought critical analyses of international issues and forces affecting development and Canadian policy in Central America; the current mandate of CIDA, IDRC and embassy agencies in Costa Rica and Central America, and the political foundations of these current mandates; and an assessment of some current initiatives in education, eco-tourism agriculture, Indigenous peoples, the environment, and/or economic development.
We expect to return to Costa Rica in the summer of 1999. For more information, please contact: Professor Robert Regnier at (306) 966-7520, Fax: (306) 966-7020 or e-mail: regnier@sask.usask.ca