BY AMANDA GARRDIO, NATALIE GILL AND CATALIN SCUTARU

Multicultural Field Trip: A Walking Tour of The Ordinary

Made Interesting

This school year, FACE School is placing a strong emphasis on incorporating a multicultural approach into the curriculum. Secondary students will start to learn how to critically assess societal constructs and understand challenges that they and their fellow peers may encounter currently and in the future. The authors of Redefining Multicultural Education explain further the importance of teaching students critical consciousness: “A significant goal of multicultural education is to teach all children critical consciousness so that they can question the conditions in society that allow inequalities to exist within the democratic rhetoric of social justice” (Ghosh and Galczynski 3). Therefore, in implementing a multicultural approach, it is our hope that our students will become more empathetic to the struggles of others, embrace differences and develop critical consciousness.

To date, the secondary four English arts class has been introduced to the themes of gender inequality and racial and cultural injustice. The next theme that we will explore is society and class. We will introduce this topic by reading S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders. The Outsiders tells the story of the social-class division between two groups: the socs and the greasers. The teenage protagonist, Ponyboy, considers himself to be slightly below the working class. The Outsiders details Ponyboy’s struggle against prejudice and stereotypes that he faces due to his socioeconomic status. The novel also demonstrates that differences can be embraced and that regardless to one’s socioeconomic class, we are all, ultimately, human.

INTRODUCTION

To contextualize The Outsiders for our secondary four English arts class, we have designed a multicultural walking tour of downtown Montreal (please note that there are no fees attached to this field trip). The students will have a chance to start thinking about concepts such as: social class, privilege, disadvantage, and stereotypes.The tour is comprised of four main points of comparison: access to education, access to material goods, access to food, and access to housing. The last site that we will visit is the park Square Dorchester place du Canada; here, an activity will be done in order to put the whole tour into perspective.

•Starting point will be FACE School: 3449 University, Montréal, QC

CONTEXT

Locations will include university campuses, shopping

centers, restaurants, housing infrastuctures and parks.

Our secondary

4 students will embark on a fun and intersting field trip, unlike

one they’ve ever taken, picking at their explorer within.

This activity will show how inequalities in class (this being

a reocurring theme in our curriculum) exist in their surroundings

and in their school’s neighborhood.

Why and Where

FOOD

Cavali Tim Hortons

MATERIAL GOODS

Complex des Ailes Les Cours de Montréal

EDUCATION & LOCATION

McGill Concordia

Overview of The TripA B

SQUARE DORCHESTER

Peel Street Metcalfe Street

HOUSINGLes cours de

Montreal CondosGuy and

Maisonneuve

Overview of The TripA B

“It is important to be cognizant of how our perceptions are framed by our worldviews and come to affect our actions” (Ghosh and Galczynski 29)

This field trip will be done in a multicultural framework and at no cost to the students. It will help to push the secondary 4 students’ reflections on society, class, and inequalities that

we’ve been undergoingn in english class.

EDUCATION : MCGILL V.S. CONCORDIAAccess to education or more specifically access to higher education is a factor that contributes to social-class division. Families of higher socioeconomic classes have the ability to provide more financial assistance towards their children’s education. Research shows that individuals coming from higher-income families are more likely to attend prestigious universities.

• Concordia (5 classes, Quebec resident) - 1797, 42 $

• McGill (5 classes, Quebec resident) - 1987, 50$

McGill

Concordia

This first stop of the tour involves examining the glorious, green downtown campus of McGill University.The University was founded in 1821 during the British colonial era. The University bears the name ofJames McGill who was a successful Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland. This year, McGill was ranked 21 out of the world’s top universities, and 2nd in Canada (slightlybelow the University of Toronto). McGill is located at the foot of Mount Royal, gated in, with a large visible campus. We will also explore, later on in the tour, Concordia University’s downtown campus.Concordia was founded in 1974 following the merger of Loyola College and Sir George WilliamsUniversity. It is ranked #33 worldwide, and 7th in Canada. Located in the heart of downtown,Concordia’s campus is divided by main roads and is more widespread.

Here is a list of questions that will be presented to the students, and what we want in response:Which school is more accessible? •Are the students able to comment on the fact that Concordia has a metro in the school? Do they recognize that McGill is locate in a prestigious area and is less accessible by metro than Concordia?

In terms of school location and environment, can you describe any differences?

•Do they acknowledge the area surrounding the school? What does it mean to them in terms of McGillhaving a beautiful campus and Concordia having a less visible campus? There are certain visible characteristics associated with social class, what does McGill’s location (situated on a hill with a gate) reinforce in terms of class division?

Description of site/activity:

Material Goods: Complexe des Ailes and Eaton Center vs Les Cours Montreal

The purchase of material goods can be examined within social class. “Conspicuous consumption” is the term used to describe the spending of money on and the acquiring of luxury goods and services. The access to and the purchase of luxury goods and services is often associated with the upper classes (and less so with the working class).

Les Cours Montréal

EatonCentre

At this point of the walking tour, we will visit Complexe des Ailes and the Eaton center. The mall is located at the corner of University and Boulevard de Maisonneuve. Most of the visit will take place in Complexe des Ailes, but we will also visit the Eaton center food court - as the malls are closely linked. We will then take a look at Les Cours Montreal. This mall is located on the corner of Boulevard de Maisonneuve and Peel. Les Cours Montreal is known for its designer stores and it even has its very own model runway where many high end fashion shows take place. The Eaton center is two underground tunnels away from Les Cours Montreal. The two malls are close in proximity however they are extremely different in terms of atmosphere, types of stores and targeted clientele.

Here is a list of questions that will be presented to the students, and what we want in response:Did you notice a difference in terms of store placement? Were all stores given equal access?

•Are the students aware that more prestigious stores are located on higher floors? Is it recognizable that more expensive stores are smaller, and that cheaper stores are much larger? What does this say about the hierarchy found within social class? What does the atmosphere and structure of the mall say about social class? What does the presentation of articles in a store say about the store itself?

•Do students recognize the added elegance and superiority of design of Les Cours Montreal in comparison to Complexe des Ailes and the Eaton Center? Do they recognize that in more expensive stores there are fewer articles in comparison to cheaper stores that are flooded with items to buy? What about sale signs? Which mall has fewer sale signs?

Description of site/activity:

Research shows that there is a link between socioeconomic class and diet. Studies show that individuals of higher social classes tend to have a diet higher in nutritional value than individuals of lower social classes. Two factors that may affect the disparity between the classes in regards to diet are: access to nutritious foods versus access to fast food and the cost of nutritious food versus the cost of fast food

Food: Tim Hortons vs Cavalli

TimHortons

Cavali

At this point of the tour, we will visit the restaurant Cavalli. Cavalli is located on Peel Street between Sherbrooke and Boulevard de Maisonneuve. The restaurant is known for its atmosphere, flawless service, and its exclusive clientele. The menu includes a vast selection of nutrient-rich foods. Ingredients such as grilled pine nut focaccia and heirloom tomatoes caprese are included in the menu (students will have a chance to look at the menu posted on the restaurant’s window to examine the selections and the cost of the various dishes).We will also visit, later in the tour, a Tim Hortons located at the corner of Guy and Boulevard de Maisonneuve. This particular Tim Hortons is extremely busy; there is always a constant flow of people and traffic. Tim Hortons is Canada’s largest food operator. It is known for its fast food, affordability, and accessibility. Tim Horton’s generates a significant part of its revenue by the sale of bake goods such as doughnuts and Timbits.

Here is a list of questions that will be presented to the students, and what we want in response:

What type of clientele does Cavalli or Tim Hortons have? Can they imagine the professions of the people who eat at either restaurant? Can students comment on the difference in location of the two restaurants? Which establishment has more people? •Do students differentiate in terms of the type of people that eat at Cavalli in comparison to people that eat at Tim Hortons? Are there stereotypes that are associated with the patrons of either restaurant? Will students notice that Tim Horton’s is located at an extremely accessible location close to a metro? Do students notice, by comparison, that Cavalli is located in a less populated area and that it is less accessible by metro ? What are some of the marked differences between Cavalli’s menu and the food available at Tim Hortons?

•Do students recognize that Cavalli’s menu offers a vast variety of healthy and fresh choices while Tim Hortons offers limited choices (that are less nutritious)? Can they comment on the fact that Tim Hortons’ menu is significantly cheaper than that of Cavalli’s?

Description of site/activity:

The greater the wealth of an individual, the more choices they have in terms of real estate options. Conversely, individuals of lower socio-economic class, often have lesser options in terms of housing. In Quebec, there is debate regarding whether wages are rising at the same rate as inflation. As the cost of property and rent increases, a greater divide occurs between the classes in terms of accessibility to housing options.

Housing: Les Cours Montreal Condos vs Apartment complex at the corner of Guy and Maisonneuve

Les CoursMontréal Condos

Guy &Maisonneuve

We will visit the prestigious condos located at 1000 Boulevard de Maisonneuve (located inside the complex Les Cours Montreal). The building was built in 1922 and first served as the Hotel Mont Royal. These luxury condos start in price at around $899,000. The condo complex offers amenities such as: indoor access to a day spa, swimming pool, high end fashion retailers, medical clinic, 24 hour doorman etc.We will also take a look, later in the tour, at a housing complex located at the corner of Boulevard de Maisonneuve and Guy. The rent in this building begins at $468.00 (for a studio apartment). The back of the building houses a parking lot and dumpsters for the attached Tim Hortons.

Here is a list of questions that will be presented to the students, and what we are seeking in terms of responses.

By looking at the condos of Les Cours Montreal and the apartment complex on the corner of Boulevard de Maisonneuve and Guy, what professions do the students think the people living in these buildings have? What do the residents of Les Cours Montreal complex and the apartment building look like? What do they think of the difference in cost of a luxury condo and a regular apartment?

•Do students have stereotypes or prejudices attached to people depending on where they live? What do they make of the astronomical difference in cost between the condos and the apartments? Do students recognize the exclusivity of Les Cours Montreal condos?Can students think of any benefits of living at Les Cours Montreal complex and the apartment building?

•Are students aware that the residents of Les Cours Montreal have at their disposal access to healthcare, material goods and a sense of security (doorman)? Although the apartment complex is not as luxurious, can they still think of benefits of living in such a dwelling? Do students recognize that access to wealth offers privileges not accessible to individuals of lower socioeconomic classes?

Description of site/activity:

Park: Square Dorchester place du Canada

The final part of the tour involves an activity at Square Dorchester place du Canada Park. The park is located between Peel Street and Metcalfe, just above Boulevard Rene-Levesque. The park attracts a vast array of people; one side of the street consists of bars and fast food restaurants, while the Metcalfe side is flooded with Banks, financial institutions, and fancy diners.

This park is a great focal point as it is often enjoyed by people of all different cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes. This site offers a wonderful opportunity to embrace differences and similarities. The park will also aid in helping the students to dispel the stereotypes that are often associated with social class.

Thus far, the activities in the walking tour gave students the opportunity to start thinking critically in terms of accessibility in relation to socioeconomic class. Although there are differences between socioeconomic classes, we still want to acknowledge that people are all human. This idea resonates with The Outsiders as Ponyboy comes to realize a commonality between the classes as he looks into the sunset:

“It seemed funny that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset.” (The Outsiders)

Park: Square Dorchester place du Canada(continued)

At the park, here is a list of questions that will be presented to the students, and what we are seeking in terms of responses:

Looking around, are you able to point out people who would be considered socs or greasers (this is in reference to the terms used in The Outsiders to describe social class)?

•Can students really identify an individual’s class based on their appearance? Why did they choose to label someone a Socs or greaser? Is it by the way the person is dressed or by what the person is doing?

Can students identify any similarities between the people labeled as socs and greasers?

•Are students able to acknowledge that we are all human but at the same time uphold the belief that differences in individuals should also be embraced? In examining all the differences associated with people, can they identity elements that bring people together?

To conclude the tour, while still in the park, there will be an overall group discussion. The students will be asked to make further connections between The Outsiders and what was seen during the tour. The discussion will also explore how preconceived notions and prejudices can perpetuate the division between social classes. Again, by the end of this walking tour we want our students to come away with the lasting belief that differences should be embraced and that regardless to one’s socioeconomic class, we are all, ultimately, human.

Park: Square Dorchester place du Canada(continued)

Trip Map

This includes all the previous destinations in the order we will visit them