Director, Centre for Education, Law & Society

My research focus is in law-related education and its intersection with social studies and citizenship education. An important dimension of my work involves examining those values and beliefs that underpin the legal system and are instrumental in developing a just and caring society; these include the ethics of care, conceptions of diversity and inclusion, and notions of social responsibility.

I am also the Director of the Centre for Education, Law and Society, an endowed centre established to improve the legal literacy of children and youth through a program of research, teaching, curriculum development, and community-based initiatives.

Email: wanda_cassidy@sfu.ca

Selected Publications

Books and Chapters

Cassidy, W. & Ferguson, M. (in press).  Law-related education:  Cultivating informed and empowered citizens.  In R. Case & P. Clark (Eds.), The Canadian anthology of social studies:  Issues and strategies for elementary teachers.  Vancouver, B.C.:  Pacific Educational Press.

Cassidy, W. & Ferguson, M. (in press). Law-related education:  Preparation for citizenship and for life.  In R. Case & P. Clark (Eds.), The anthology of social studies:  Issues and strategies for secondary teachers. Vancouver, B.C.:  Pacific Educational Press.

Cassidy, W. & Yates, R. (2005).  Once upon a crime:  Using stories, simulations, and mock trials to explore justice and citizenship in elementary school. Calgary:  Detselig Enterprises, 1-223.

Cassidy, W. (2004).  Law and social studies:  Preparing students for citizenship.  In A. Sears & I. Wright (Eds.), Challenges and prospects in Canadian social studies (pp. 126-137). Vancouver, B.C.:  Pacific Educational Press.

Cassidy, W. (2000).  Law-related education:  Promoting awareness, participation and action.  In T. Goldstein & D. Selby (Eds.) Weaving connections:  Educating for peace, social and environmental justice (pp. 297-322). Toronto:  Sumach Press.

Cassidy, W. & Yates, R. (Eds.) (1998).  Let’s talk about law in elementary school. Calgary:  Detselig Enterprises, 1-202.

Textbooks

Cassidy, W. & Brown, K. (2007).  Legal Context of Teaching (Course Reader & Study Guide, Educ. 445).  Burnaby:  Simon Fraser University, Centre for Online & Distance Education, 263 pages

Yates, R. & Cassidy, W. (2001, revised 2004, 2005).  Law for the Classroom Teacher (Course Reader & Study Guide, Educ. 446).  Burnaby:  Simon Fraser University, Centre for Online & Distance Education, 108 pages.

Cassidy, W. & Yates, R. (2003, revised 2005). Law in the Curriculum (Course Reader & Study Guide, Educ. 448).  Burnaby: Simon Fraser University, Centre for Online & Distance Education, 160 pages.

Selected Articles

Brown, K., Jackson, M., & Cassidy, W. (2006).  Cyber-bullying: Developing policy to direct responses that are equitable and effective in addressing this special form of bullying.  Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, Issue 57. (Co-author) http://www.umanitoba.ca/publications/cjeap/articles/brown_jackson_cassidy.html

Cassidy, W. & Jackson, M. (2005).  The need for equality in education:  An intersectionality examination of labelling and zero tolerance policies. McGill Journal of Education [Special Issue on Law and Education], 40(3), 445-466.

Cassidy, W. & Pitsula, P. (2005). Forging a new pathway:  Learning from experience and research to shape practice in public legal education efforts in Canada, Education and Law Journal, 15(2), 113-138.

Cassidy, W. & Bates, A. (2005).  “Drop-outs” and “push-outs”:  Finding hope at a school that actualizes the ethic of care. American Journal of Education, 112 (1), 66-102.

Cassidy, W. (2005).  Abandoning zero tolerance for a culture of care.  Education Canada, 48(3), 40-42.

Subroto, D. & Cassidy, W. (2005).  Many hands make small work:  A collaborative approach to First Nations education.  Perspectives, 27(1), 6-7.

Cassidy, W. (2004).  Don’t forget about law:  A case for law-related education in elementary social studies.  Canadian Social Studies [Special Issue on Social Studies Research and Teaching in Elementary School], 39(1), 1-6.

Cassidy, W., & Young, M. (2004).  Impact of a global education course on students’ self-reported citizenship attitudes and behaviour.  Canadian and International Education Journal, 33(2), 1-32. (Equal co-authors)

Research and Technical Reports

Shariff, S., Cassidy, W., Oborne, D., Ho, Y., Gander, L. & Taylor, W. (2000).  Identifying successful school and community programs for at-risk youth:  An evaluation rubric and compendium of sources.  Ottawa:  Department of Justice, Canadian and Youth Justice Education Partnership, 1-214.

Bognar, C., Cassidy, W. & Clarke, P. (1997).  Social studies in British Columbia:  Results of the 1996 provincial learning assessment.  Victoria:  Government of British Columbia, 1-398.

Cassidy, W. & Manley-Casimir, M. (1993).  The educational value of mock trials as an instructional approach at the elementary school level:  A report to the Law Foundation of B.C. Burnaby:  Centre for Education, Law and Society, Simon Fraser University, 1-76.

Cassidy, W. & Bognar, C. (1991).  More than a good idea:  Moving from words to action in social studies.  Victoria:  Government of British Columbia, 1-89.

Bognar, C., Cassidy, W., Lewis, C. & Manley-Casimir, M. (1991).  Social studies in British Columbia:  Technical report of the B.C. social studies assessment.  Victoria:  Government of British Columbia, 1-335.

On-line Journal

Yates, R., Cassidy, W. & Craig, R. (2003-2007).  Law Connection, On-Line Journal on Law-Related Education (www.lawconnection.ca).  Centre for Education, Law and Society, Simon Fraser University and Law Courts Education Society of B.C.  (Yates, Principal author; Cassidy & Craig, Co-editors)

2007: Climate change and environment law;

2006: Social host liability; Sentencing – theory and practice

2005: Violence in sports; Land claims and treaties

2004: Censorship; Copyright and downloading music; Restorative justice

2003: Buyer be smart; Role of judges; Bullying; Privacy; Law and the environment; Same sex marriage; the Kyoto Accord

Selected Conference Presentations (Sample Since 2000)

2007: Brown, K. & Cassidy, W. Girls and Relational Aggression in Cyber-space. 12th Annual Values and Leadership Conference, State College, Pennsylvania. (October)

2007: Cassidy, W., Jackson, M., Brown, K. & Shariff, S.  Cyber-bullying: Documenting the perspectives of students, teachers and principals. Canadian Association for the Study of Practical Law in Education (CAPSLE). Vancouver, B.C. (April)

2006: Cassidy, W., Jackson, M., & Brown, K.  Developing effective policies and practices to counter cyber-bullying. 11th Annual Values and Leadership Conference, Victoria, B.C. (October)

2006: Cassidy, W. & Marsden, D. Ethical leadership as a different “way of being”: Educators and aboriginal students.  11th Annual Values and Leadership Conference, Victoria, B.C. (October)

2006: Cassidy, W.  Zero tolerance policies and labelling students as “severe behaviour”: Is this equitable, legal and just? AERA (American Education Research Association) Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA.  (April)

2006: Shariff, S., Cassidy, W., Jackson, M.  Investigating cyber-bullying from a legal perspective. CAPSLE (Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law and Education) Annual Conference, Montreal, Quebec. (May)

2006: Cassidy, W. Creating a culture of peace: Continuing the conversation.  Plenary panel presentation, Provincial Peace Education Conference, BC Teachers’ Federation and the Peace and Global Education PSA, Port Moody, B.C. (October)

2006: Cassidy, W.  The ethic of care: changing lives, changing schools. Plenary panel address, Maple Ridge Teachers’ Association Annual Conference, Maple Ridge, B.C. (February)

2006: Cassidy, W.  Zero tolerance policies in school:  Illegal, inequitable and unjust? 25th American Bar Association National Conference on Youth Education for Citizenship, Phoenix, Arizona (January)

2006: Cassidy, W.  Troubled and troublesome youth: Providing hope through a life-changing revolutionary program. 25th American Bar Association National Conference on Youth Education for Citizenship, Phoenix, AZ (January)

2005: Cassidy, W. & Jackson, M.  Zero tolerance policies in school: Equitable or discriminatory? 10th Annual Values and Leadership in Education Conference, State College, Pennsylvania (October)

2005: Cassidy, W. & Subroto, D.  A school of hope:  Reclaiming the lives of drop-outs and push-outs.  National Inner City Conference, Vancouver, B.C. (February)

2005: Cassidy, W.  The role of law and the rule of law. Forum panelist, Simon Fraser University Public Forum, entitled, “Illegal Strike or Civil Disobedience.” Burnaby, B.C. (October)

2005: Cassidy, W. & Pitsula, P.  Forging a new pathway: Learning from experience and research to shape practice in public legal education efforts in Canada. Plenary address, Access to Justice: Sharing Our Stories, National Conference of the Public Legal Education Association of Canada, Saskatoon, Sask. (June)

2004: Cassidy, W. & McAllister, H.  Transforming schools through the ethics of care.  9th Annual Values and Leadership Conference, Christ Church, Barbados. (October)

2004: Cassidy, W., Beck, K., McAllister, H. & Whitley, C.  Imagine if we cared:  Influencing learning environments with the ethics of care. 2nd International Conference on Imagination and Education, Vancouver, B.C. (July)

2004: Cassidy, W. & Bates, A.  Imagining positive futures:  The role of caring and imagination in re-directing the lives of troubled youth.  2nd International Conference on Imagination and Education, Vancouver, B.C. (July)

2004: Cassidy, W., Beck, K., McAllister, H. McDowell, K. & Whitley, C.  Building knowledge about care:  Experiences of teachers and administrators from diverse classrooms. Citizenship Education Research Network, Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Winnipeg, Manitoba. (May)

2004: Cassidy, W.  Vision and values-based learning communities.  Plenary presentation.  B.C. Deans’ of Education Conference on Learning Communities:  Promises and Perils, Vancouver, B.C. (October)

2003: Cassidy, W., Mann, P. & Oborne, D.  Restorative justice and the ethic of care:  Moving towards a transformative model of education. Citizenship Education Research Network, Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (May)

2003: Cassidy, W. & Slater, A.  Building communities of care in school:  Perspectives of key stakeholders. Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (May)

2002: Bai, H. & Cassidy, W.  The moral challenges of our time and putting the ethic of care to work.  Ecole Pauline Johnson, Parent Advisory Committee, West Vancouver, B.C. (April)

2001: Cassidy, W.  Compassion and social justice:  Necessary symbiosis.  Interchange on Canadian Studies, National Student Conference, Victoria, B.C. (May)

2001: Cassidy, W.  The power of compassion:  Making the ethic of care central to schools.  North Vancouver School District Professional Day, North Vancouver, B.C. (February)

2001: Cassidy, W. & LaRocque, L.  From conflict to caring.  Ecole Pauline Johnson Professional Day, West Vancouver, B.C. (February)

2001: Cassidy, W.  Bigotry: The hidden and the overt:  Students’ attitudes towards immigrants and First Nations people.  Canadian Society for the Study of Education (May).

2000: Cassidy, W., Chorak, E., Kover, A., LaRocque, L., Shariff, S. & Whitley, C.  Doing democracy:  An international perspective. Symposium. International Conference on Citizenship and Democracy, Calgary, Alberta. (June)

2000: Cassidy, W., Pereira, C. & Surtees, D.  Revitalizing law-related education:  Radical changes for the new century. International Conference on Citizenship and Democracy, Calgary, Alberta. (June)

2000: Cassidy, W.  From altruism to genocide:  Students’ attitudes towards refugees. Canadian Society for the Study of Education, Edmonton, Alberta. (May)

2000: Cassidy, W.  Teaching and social change.  Keynote address, British Columbia

Teachers’ Federation Bi-Annual Quality Teaching Conference, Richmond, B.C. (February)

2000: Cassidy, W.  High school students’ attitudes to refugees.  Provincial Student Conference, Vancouver, B.C. (February)

Selected Research and Development Projects

Scholarships

• University of Chicago Century Scholarship (approximately $60,000US)
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship (approximately $50,000)
• Simon Fraser University Open Scholarships (approximately $10,000)

Courses Taught

EDUC 445: Legal Context of Teaching (Distance Education)

EDUC 446: Law for the Classroom Teacher (Distance Education)

EDUC 448: Law in the Curriculum (On campus and Distance Education)

EDUC 414: Designs for Learning Social Studies:  Secondary (On campus and Distance Education)

EDUC 474: Designs for Learning Social Studies:  Elementary (On campus and Distance Education)

EDUC 402: Education:  Theory and Practice

EDUC 572: The Ethics of Care:  Theory and Practice

EDUC 816: Developing Educational Programs in Diverse Settings

EDUC 820: Current Issues in Curriculum and Pedagogy

Service (examples)

Faculty and University:

• Director, Centre for Education, Law and Society, 1998-current  (Co-Director, 1984-98)
• Faculty Tenure Committee, 1999-2000; Field Programs Committee, 2000-2002
• Dean of Education Search Committee (2007-8)
• Faculty of Education Appointments Committee (Social Studies Education Appointment) 2007
• Coordinator, Inclusion and Diversity Master’s Program (2006-7)
• Professional Programs Committee (2004-06)

Scholarly Community

Conferences & Networks

• Member, International Planning Committee, American Bar Association Leadership Conference
• Steering Committee, Public Forums on law and policy issues, with CBC Radio/TV, Canadian Bar and Ting Forum on Public Policy
• Executive, National Citizenship Education Research Network of CSSE
• Chair, CELS Advisory Committee
• Member, National Youth Justice Education Partnership.

Grants Reviewer

• SSHRC
• Law Foundation of B.C.
• Dept. of Justice Canada

Publications reviewer

• American Journal of Education
• Alberta Journal of Educational Research
• BCASW Perspectives
• Journal of International Migration and Immigration
• McGill Journal of Education and Curriculum Inquiry

Professional Community

Committees

• B.C. Law-related Education Consortium
• Research, Education, and At Risk Youth Sub-committees of YJEP
• Interdisciplinary Committee, Resiliency Program, Banting School
• Chair, Whytecliff Education Centre Advisory Committee
• Judge, Burnaby Social Studies Fair
• Research and Professional Development Committee, Public Legal Education Association of Canada

Presentations

• North Vancouver Teachers’ Annual Conference (2001)
• Ecole Pauline Johnson ProD (2002)
• Canadian Heritage B.C./Yukon staff (2000)
• Refugees and the Law Public Forum (2000)
• West Vancouver School District Professional Day (2007)
• Principals and Vice-Principals Association, Aboriginal Education Committee (2006)
• Maple Ridge Teachers Association Annual Conference (2006)
• North Vancouver ProD (2001)

Field Work

With teachers in schools and on-line, to enhance law-related and social studies programs.

Media

• Burnaby now interview (2007)
• MTV interview (2005)
• Reader’s Digest article (2005)
• National Post (2004)
• CBC Radio, the Current feature interview (2004)
• CJOB, DKOL, CBC Radio (2004)
• Ottawa Citizen (2003)
• CBC Radio One and Morningside, “Courts and Public Opinion” (2000)
• CBC Radio interviews on refugees (2000)
• Vancouver Sun interviews (2000)
• VTV News (2000)

Graduate Student Supervision

Senior Supervisor for 3 doctoral students (2 completed), 7 Master’s students (5 completed), and 22 M.Ed. students (19 completed).

Committee member for 6 Ph.D. students (3 completed), 12 Master’s students (10 completed), and 9 M.Ed. students

Examiner for 3 doctoral students, 7 Master’s students