ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE

WOMEN EDUCATORS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE - LYNN FOGWILL,
MARGARET FULTON & CORINNE GALLANT

Lynn Fogwill is an adult educator who uses community development concepts and the techniques developed by Paulo Freire in her work. Currently, Lynn is free-lancing after seven years working with Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta.

Margaret Fulton, President of Mount St. Vincent University, is the only woman president of a Canadian university today. In this position, Dr. Fulton has encouraged a feminist perspective in curricula, in counselling services and in community outreach.

Corinne Gallant is a professor of philosophy at the University of Moncton. She has been involved in a number of women's projects and was influential in the formation of a consultative Council on the Status of Women in New Brunswick. Recently, she has helped to establish a re-entry program, Nouveau Depart.

Lynn Fogwill gave a picture of her particular experiences as an Adult Educator in Alberta, depicting her strengths in the face of obstacles and difficulties. Using a community college course for child care workers as a case example, she highlighted the dilemmas of feminist educators in non-feminist institutions. Lynn suggested the need for integration of education and socio-political realities in analysis and action.

Dr. Margaret Fulton situated the question of Women Educators in the broader context of the history of education and women's place' in that history. She proposed the development of a feminist perspective, consciousness raising and the work of the women's movement as the real catalysts for genuine basic changes in the condition of women throughout the world.

Dr. Corinne Gallant talked of the experiences of the women professors at the University of Moncton, mentioning how these professors have been active in improving their working conditions and introducing women's issues in some disciplines, thereby effecting a change in attitudes and habits.

Because of the very large number of women present at this workshop, the participation was limited to a period of questions and comments at the end of the three presentations.


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