Provincial Election

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Northern Light

Both Newfoundland and Quebec have managed to wipe out their religious (public) boards.

Ontario can do the same.

Though in fairness, Ontario's Catholic Boards are very large in some communities.

I think I might be inclined to try to merge French-Catholic and French Public first, as these would produce some fairly large incremental savings (being smaller boards with 2 HQs etc.) while effecting a relatively small number of voters.

It would also have the effect of dramatically improving access to French language education if you kept most (not all) of the schools open

French schools, interestingly, have not had as significant of enrolment changes - and might even be increasing in enrolment, while English public and Catholic schools have seen their enrolments collapse in the last 10 years or so.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

How so if the Catholic school system is eliminated? I do agree that 4 school boards are too many, it should be 1 (the French boards should be eliminated as well and merged into one system).

I am definitely in favour of a voucher system where the parents have the full decisions though. All public schools would be under one board.

If you take away private school boards your going to see people puch more and more to allow religion in public schools.

[lrt's friend]

I strongly oppose an American style voucher system. This encourages different qualities of education depending on what you can afford, a degradation of the public system because of the lack of political clout of the poorer people left in the system and encourages the formation of schools based on religion and ethnic origin. One of the reasons that Canada has been so successful in having such a wide variety of ethnic groups live in relative harmony is because the vast majority attend the same public schools. This arrangement teaches different ethnic groups to work together and play together. Furthermore, education standards will become much harder to maintain with such a variety of private schools to be kept track of.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

I strongly oppose an American style voucher system. This encourages different qualities of education depending on what you can afford, a degradation of the public system because of the lack of political clout of the poorer people left in the system and encourages the formation of schools based on religion and ethnic origin. One of the reasons that Canada has been so successful in having such a wide variety of ethnic groups live in relative harmony is because the vast majority attend the same public schools. This arrangement teaches different ethnic groups to work together and play together. Furthermore, education standards will become much harder to maintain with such a variety of private schools to be kept track of.

My concern is if you have a public school made up of 60-80% ethnic origin are they acting more like a private school board meaning getting away from some canadian tradiitions etc and replacing it with other traditions etc thats what i think could happen.

[adam-machiavelli]

And what do you think happens when a school is 60-80% anglo and Protestant? The same thing obviously. I don't mind if a school incorporates multiple cultural practices and points of view. It reminds people that there is not just one "true" way of understanding ideas. I agree that when a school's student body is overwhelmingly made up of one ethno-cultural group, it can have an isolating effect that makes people too comfortable with their own beliefs. It is the responsibility of teachers, administrators, staff, parents, students, and school visitors to expose each other to multiple points of view.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

And what do you think happens when a school is 60-80% anglo and Protestant? The same thing obviously. I don't mind if a school incorporates multiple cultural practices and points of view. It reminds people that there is not just one "true" way of understanding ideas.

So if a school had culture practices that go aginst canadian culture and laws you would be fine with that?

[adam-machiavelli]

Originally Posted by reidjr

So if a school had culture practices that go aginst canadian culture and laws you would be fine with that?

You have just made the unfortunate mistake of taking an argument to its logical -as opposed to its pragmatic, conclusion. I refuse to rebut your statement.

[toaster]

Originally Posted by eternallyme

French schools, interestingly, have not had as significant of enrolment changes - and might even be increasing in enrolment, while English public and Catholic schools have seen their enrolments collapse in the last 10 years or so.

Do you have a quote or numbers for that? I'm just curious, as I've heard the opposite argument made too, but nobody's ever justified their claims.