Unschool/décole

Thanks so much to Adam, Hana and Aidan for their leadership in providing prompts to (un)learning normalization and gentrification. In thinking about how we move through spaces, I appreciated the chance to reconsider our assumptions. With that, I continue to think about the intersections between form and content. (Un)schooling and (un)learning... Thinking through the tensions between structured and unstructured learning continues to be a point of interest for (un)school. Thanks to everyone who came out to collaborate on these experiments. relational engagements are so pivotal to this process. We look forward to providing more experiences and collaborations in the near future!

- genevieve

Thanks to everyone who came to our (Un)school session on Saturday! Thanks to Sarah and Rebecca for their workshop on unlearning place through alternative consultation processes, walking, memory and place-making. This made connections for (un)school as an alternative consultation project and offered radical transparency and collaboration. Thanks to everyone for being vulnerable and for sitting in the unknown and uncomfortable spaces together. As we work towards deconstructing cohersive spaces, we continue to experiment with co-creating sensitive spaces. Oh and buttons were made! Thanks Cara and Sarah for the idea ⚡️

Haven't had the time or money to really get the next (un)school sessions out there, but I managed to print some posters today to put around the university of ottawa. Part of the reason we haven't advertised too much (apart from time, money etc) is that we don't do registration and therefore can't have too too many people. With that said, we want all of you there! don't know what to expect, which is always awesome and scary. It's so hard to get people out. If you are interested, please do join us. It'll be generative, participatory, engaging and there will be snacks and art and a button press! Please spread the word!

This Saturday March 3rd and March 10th in the Arts Court Courtroom between 12-5

Free , , , , , and to (un)learn , , and on March 3rd and 10th.

These events were born out of a series of (Un)schooling sessions where we worked towards (un)learning various topics deemed to be of importance via community consultations. This second series will extend on our emerging understandings of what (un)learning and (un)schooling mean.

**These understandings emerge from participatory and relational practices that remain aware of systematic barriers that maintain social inequities. All are welcome!

UPDATE: We will be offering a couple of sessions in March before we re-envision and change locations and spaces. Before we do that, a couple of (un)school community members will be offering workshops that add to the conversations we've had during past (un)schooling sessions. First, Sarah Gelbard and Rebecca Dolgoy will be leading a workshop (un)focused on (un)learning place!

Our first three experimental (un)school sessions took place in the Courtroom of the Arts Court. There, we (un)learned, disrupted and shared our experiences about gender/sexuality, mobility/corporeality, and fear/institutionalization.

An (un)school participant/community-member spoke about our time of crisis. We reflect on this as we work towards creating sensitive spaces. Please read our statement below.

It was recently brought to our attention that the links to the consultation forms for our second and third events were not working on the event invites. We fixed it and there's still time to take a few minutes to fill it out. Thanks!

(Un)school update:
You are invited to bring something for an emergent show and tell! Anything at all that touches on the themes of the day. This will happen during our introductory community meetings. Our first session on (un)learning gender and sexuality is happening this Sunday between 12-5. See you there!

Our first session is this Sunday the 20th between 12-5 in the courtroom of the Arts Court. we're getting excited about what's emerging! Our first session will focus on (un)learning gender and sexuality.

Every session will begin with a community meeting. Here, you can listen or share, ponder or question. More info coming soon. And can't wait to see you there!

"(Un)School is helping us to understand how people best learn. By attending one or all of its events we support thoughtful efforts to make our world a better place." -OPERI (Ottawa Public Education Remake Initiative)

(Un)School is a Sensitive Space and is committed to producing inclusive and accessible programming and fostering a respectful and safe environment for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, ability, physical appearance, size, race, or religion. We anticipate that there are needs/accommodations that have yet to be articulated and as such we are committed to thoughtful responsiveness. This means listening to the needs of the community and responding to ensure an equal access to resources, spaces and experiences. While some of the work that will arise involves confronting and deconstructing internalized oppression and/or oppressive behaviour, we are committed to working through this process in a respectful and sensitive manner. Grounded in the practices of equality, liberation and freedom, Sensitive Space prioritizes consent, bodily autonomy and freedom of expression but not at the cost of harming others. (Un)School community members are equally and actively responsible in the maintenance of Sensitive Space.