The conference, which is geared for teachers, administrators and education students, will be from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb.18, in Room 1001, Wiekamp Hall.

The conference is free and open to the public. Reservations are required by Monday, Feb. 14. Please call (574) 520-5535 for information and reservations.

The speakers will be Gail McGuire, assistant sociology/anthropology professor; Angela Huettl, lecturer in English; Elizabeth Mooney, adjunct lecturer in sociology /anthropology; and Marcus Harris, a South Bend school teacher.

Each speaker will give their personal perspective on the educational issue and offer two or three questions for group discussion. Groups will then report back to the full session following a break out session.

Campus Diversity director Charlotte Pfeifer said the program will permit IU South Bend education students a chance to meet and talk with teachers from the area schools and alumni and explore ideas.

“Over the past few years, we have sponsored a spring educational conference that explores different problems that educators face. Last year we looked at immigrant children. The subject of gay children is another issue that teachers see in classrooms. What do you do when a child is depressed, withdrawn or bullied? What do you say? Or do?” Pfeifer said.

The conference is sponsored by the IU South Bend Office of Campus Diversity, the School of Education, and Continuing Education.