Educators will discuss civility in public schools at 10th annual Civil Discourse Symposium

Participants at the 10th annual Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Symposium will hear educators discuss current issues such as how school libraries have become sites of debated censorship and history curricula sources of contention.

The event, "Calm the Chaos: Honoring All Voices in Public Education," will be held November 16, 6-8:30 p.m., at the L. William Seidman Center on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Refreshments will be provided from 6-6:30 p.m. The event is free; registration is required . 

Panelists are listed below:

• Dan Behm, retired superintendent, Forest Hills Public Schools
• Rick Dernberger, board of education trustee, Zeeland Public Schools
• Alexia Youngman, English language arts teacher, Grandville High School
• Dominique Rickett, dean at Taylor Preparatory Academy

Greg Warsen, associate professor of educational leadership and the Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse, said public school education has risen to become a polarizing topic, with increasing numbers of arguments at school board meetings and politicized, top-down decisions.

"Are schools really safe spaces if we, as a country, have failed on one of our fundamental promises to our young students?" Warsen said.

Warsen, the fifth Padnos/Sarosik endowed professor, will bring this topic to his winter semester class, "Civil Discourse: Bridging Divides Through Dialogue." He said students will learn communication tools, diverse perspectives and collaboration. 

Read more information about the Civil Discourse Symposium . The Padnos/Sarosik Center for Civil Discourse was founded through the generous gift of Shelley E. Padnos and Carol Sarosik to help create more inclusive, tolerant and peaceful communities.