Research on Navigating Religion in a Public School Environment

Rebecca Starkman, a senior PhD student in Education at OISE/University of Toronto, is studying how religious girls navigate their academic and social lives in public school. Rebecca herself is a Jewish woman, and is very interested in how girls of all religions experience the secular and public space of high school in the GTA.

There is currently very little reliable information about religious youth in Canadian public schools. The goal of Rebecca's research is to raise awareness about the unique aspects of being both a girl and a person of faith in Canadian society today. She hopes to build greater understanding towards religious youth in the public education system. 

Rebecca is interested in speaking with girls, of all faiths, currently attending a public high school in the GTA. Rebecca would like to interview the girls about their school experiences. The interview would take about 1.5 hours and would take place at a time and location that is convenient to the girl participating. Each girl will receive a small honorarium for her participation.

This project is supervised by the University of Toronto's Research Ethics Board, and has been carefully designed to protect the girls who participate. The names and schools of girls who participate will be confidential. Parental consent is required for any girl who is under 18 years old. 

Rebecca can be reached at: rebecca.starkman@gmail.com or by text/phone at 647-208-2925.