Open Season

http://westcoastnativenews.com/viral-online-comment-could-be-construed-as-a-hate-crime-terrace-rcmp-investigating/

Welcome to Winnipeg where Canada's racism problem is at its worst

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/welcome-to-winnipeg-where-canadas-racism-problem-is-at-its-worst/

Tyler Schade Blog #4

        After reading chapter 4 “The Structure of Education in Canada” I found it extremely interesting that in Canada the provinces and territories are responsible for education rather than the federal government (pg. 89). I think that this raises some issues with not every receiving similar education standards country-wide. However it allows for each province to structure and tailor their curriculum to their own needs and focus on areas specific to that province.
        I found the visual representations of flow charts for the structure of education helpful. I was surprised that there were vast differences between the two groups involved in decision making. For the K-12 model there were less levels of decision makers however there was input from teachers, students and parents (pg. 98). This model seems to make sense because these three are at the front line of the education system. These groups should have a strong say in the decision making since they are directly involved in the learning everyday.

        Decision making in Canadian universities follows a different flow pattern. The hierarchy  goes through a vast array of ‘higher ups’ such as presidents, vice presidents, deans and associate deans (pg. 113). Students and professors seemingly have less say because they need to report to a representative and then to a multitude of people in higher power. I believe that it is important that the people in power be in constant communication with the teachers to see what is and isn’t working and have them actually see the education process unfold.

Discussion question: As future teachers do you think it is important to understand the hierarchy of decision making and does it need altering?

Elizabeth Moore - blog 4

While reading chapter four of the textbook I learned about charter schools. I think that they are an important idea. They provide an opportunity for children to become experts in one area rather than becoming generalists. This is important for the future of our country because we need experts to help advance our knowledge in areas such as science, technology, and many others.

The opposition argument to charter schools provides a sound argument for how they can be improved. For example, “governance structures should be publicly elected” (pg. 104). I agree with that, however parents should definitely stay an active part of charter schools. Parent involvement is a strong advantage as it allows students culture and identity to remain with them while in school.

Unschooling was another new idea presented to me in this chapter. A couple of ideas stuck out to me as being unique. For example, “Topics are pursued as children show interest in them” (pg. 107), and “without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades” (pg. 107). Both of these ideas sound a lot like emergent curriculum, except unschooling occurs at home instead of in a school. I believe that going to a school is important for children to develop social skills, but also that more schools should attempt to provide a more student based approach.

Discussion Question:

How can we make sure that all children have equal access to charter schools?

Mandy Marchant: Structure of Canadian Education

I thought this chapter was very informative because it is important for up-and-coming teachers to know the various education institutions and how they work since we will be teaching in them. I can make a connection to the section about private schools in Canada, which is very near and dear to my heart. I graduated from a private or independent school, Cartwright Community Independent School (CCIS).

The community of Cartwright is largely based from a rural population, with only approximately 300 residents living in “urban” Cartwright. The school in Cartwright is comprised of residents surrounding Cartwright, which differs from other schools in the area that are comprised of students from more than one community/village/town. Cartwright was originally in Turtle Mountain School Division but eventually joined Prairie Spirit School Division, which is largely why the school is comprised of only Cartwright students.

In 1991 the school division threatened to shut the secondary school in Cartwright down, forcing high school students to bus to neighboring communities. However, the town resisted and instead formed an independent school. Grades 10-12 of Cartwright Community Independent School are partly funded by our local community and through small tuition fees. Like the textbook states, CCIS is also partially funded by the government but is separate from the formal school division that is responsible for the rest of the school. CCIS is staffed by provincially certified teachers and follows the Manitoba curriculum. Cartwright School is Kindergarten to Grade 9 and is covered by the school division, and then Grade 10-12 are considered Cartwright Community Independent School.

The textbook talks about privately funded schools that were formed because of denominational reasons or special/specific programming, so I thought it was important to provide another context for independent schools. Our community has maintained the secondary school and provided students of CCIS the opportunity to graduate from their local community and remain with the classmates many have known since Kindergarten. My oldest brother was in Kindergarten when the community began fighting to save our school and my parents never thought I would have the opportunity to graduate in Cartwright. However, I have been graduated for five years and our community is still fundraising for our education, which I am thankful for.

andDiscussion Question: I am interested in this topic and don’t know much about it but I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to this question. Do students who are homeschooled participate in standardized testing to see if their learning is at the same level as public or privately educated students? Is homeschooling regulated somehow? If it is not, do you think it should be?

Chelsea Needham - Blog #4

Throughout this chapter for our reading it was all about the different structure types of education in Canada.  I thought this was an interesting chapter in its own sense, it was quite a lot of information to take in.  Something I found pretty interesting during this chapter is when it was talking about how the school age is increased to 16 (91).  It is very important that we give our students the best opportunities to succeed and even though it may not seem important for them, it is getting far more difficult to get anything without a high school diploma.  Something that I think about is how it is the teachers responsibility to keep our students interested.  When it comes to the education we can't force our students to become interested in what we are teaching, but if we can relate it to them and actually make them feel helpful and valued then we can give them a better chance to succeed.  I used to love when my teacher would take time to actually talk to me and make me feel valued, that is something that needs to happen more in school, especially in the Senior Years.

Something else I found interesting is when the book was talking about how the system in Quebec has different names.  They go by cycles instead of grades, I think it would be a very interesting system to observe from the outside (91).  It makes me wonder how the students would compare to students in Manitoba, would there be a difference between the students?  It also makes me wonder about how they are taught, is it the same teacher for 2 years or do they have different teachers?  I would really like to learn more about this system.

I also think it was interesting when the book talked about school choice and what it refers to.  "School choice refers to the freedom that parents (and students) have in selecting the type of school that their children attend free from government constraint, whether it is public, alternative, charter, religious, or private" (93).  I think this is really interesting because there is a lot of drama going on between athletics and students transferring schools.  There is a rule that is getting into place that won't allow students to play the year after they transfer to a different school then is in their jurisdiction.  I think this is interesting, I agree and disagree with the rule.  It stops students from switching to a better high school to create a better athletic outcome, but I also don't think it is good because sometimes students transfer for a different reason and they shouldn't be punished for that.

Discussion Question: Do you think there are benefits to the different school systems other then the public system?

Jacquelyn Morran- Blog 4

This week's chapter discussed the structure of education in Canada and the different forms it takes in all the areas of the country. The very first thing that struck me, which I actually did not know previously, was that "Canada is the only country in the world with no federal education department." (89) I just thought that was an interesting fact because education is such an important part of a nation, I thought for sure it would be governed federally. I was also surprised by the variety of schools in Canada and how certain types of schools only exist in specific areas- like charter schools in Alberta. The text states that "supporters of charter schools argue that such schools provide much-needed flexibility within the public school system and allow parents more choice about where they can send their children" while opponents say they "raise concerns about equity and fairness around access." (104) I didn't know Canada even had charter schools, and I was intrigued by them.

When I was growing up, I was only aware of public and private schools, and while I would have loved the opportunity to go to the private Christian school in my area, I knew it was impossible for anyone in my family because we could not afford it. I attended public schools for my entire education, there was never a choice because we could not afford other options.

I was homeschooled for one year, however. The text describes home schooling as an arrangement where "children do not attend school, but are educated at home, usually by a parent." (106). I was homeschooled by my Mom in the first grade because I had major surgery that year, and the school I was attending did not accommodate me properly. I was in a wheelchair for several months, but even after I began to walk with my walker, the principle and my EA made me sit on a chair by the door for every recess and watch the other children playing, because they felt it was too dangerous for me to be on the playground. My mom tried to fight them so I could join the other students but they refused, so one day she pulled me out of school. I really enjoyed being homeschooled, and did well. I had to take specific tests but otherwise I could learn at my own pace. Best of all, my Mom allowed me to go outside, both to learn and to play. After we moved, I began going to a new school, but homeschooling was a very positive experience for me.

Overall, I found this chapter's summary of education in Canada to be both interesting and thorough, and I think it is very important to have a variety of options available to students when it comes to education.

Discussion question: Should homeschooling have more regulations put in place, and should parents have to meet any sort of qualifications to homeschool their children?

Hilary Blahey-Hasay Blog 4

                  This week, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Education in Canada focused on the various types of schools in existence throughout Canada. It was enlightening to read because I didn’t know there was so much variance between schooling across the provinces and territories.

                  The most interesting type of schooling I learned about from reading this chapter was the cycle system in Quebec. This system is different from the typical grade system “in that desired learning outcomes are focused on the completion of a cycle rather than a grade” (p. 91). I think this type of school system would be beneficial for most students, as it allows them to learn at their own pace and focus on cross-curricular competencies (p. 91), which I believe would make for a more well-rounded student in the end. Another type of schooling I hadn’t known about previously was charter schools, which “organize the delivery of education in a specialized way that is thought to enhance student learning” (p. 102). Once again, I believe this type of education system is great because it allows students to specialize and learn about something that is important to them. The last type of school system I was not previously aware of was the component of home schooling known as unschooling, “home-based education without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades…and is entirely child-led” (p. 107). This type of schooling does raise a slight concern though, because without a curriculum it is essentially up to the child what they learn, and could potentially miss out on various important components of education and preparation for becoming an active member of greater society. I think a common trend in these specialized schooling systems is the focus on the individual and placing the student at the center of learning.

Discussion Question: Have you had experience with any of the alternative school methods, such as the ones listed above? (ex. home school, private school, alternative school, charter school, etc.) What were some of the pros and cons you found with that type of schooling? If you have not had personal experience, what do you think some of the pros and cons might be?

Alanna Wilson - Blog 4

A close reading of Chapter 4: The Structure of Education in Canada of Robson’s text describes the variety of school systems and the roles in which they help to construct our education system as a whole.

One particular idea discussed in the text that I found quite interesting, was this notion of the structure of Quebec’s schooling system. As Robson describes in the text suggests: “The cycle system is different from the grade system used in the rest of Canada in that desired learning outcomes are focused on the completion of a cycle rather than a grade”(p. 91). She goes on further to mention: “…children have two years to master the curriculum outcomes of each cycle, rather than a single year to master a grade-specific curriculum”(p. 91). Lastly, Robson mentions: “Proponents of the cycle approach argue that two-year cycles allow children to learn at their own pace and foster competencies in a variety of skills”(p. 91).

Until now, this system is quite unlike anything I have learned about. From what is described in the text, I do agree that implementing this kind of system would allot enough time for students to grasp content or material and provides enough assistance with ideas that students may have not quite acquired yet. I am curious to know whether a similar system would work in our province, where achieving desirable grades (I’ll admit, I am guilty of this too) are extremely important. I hope that even though we don’t have this “cycle” system implemented, that as educators we can instill the importance of understanding content and material and in turn eliminate the fixation on perfect grades.

Discussion Question:

Do you think the rest of provinces should follow the “cycle” method similar to that of Quebec? If implemented would it prove to be successful, why or why not? 

Cheryl Wood (Blog 4)

This week chapter four discussed the structure of education in Canada. Right from the beginning we found out that Canada is the only country in the world with no federal education department (page 89). I found this rather interesting. It really made me think about the pros and cons to education differing province to province/territory. With Canada spanning over such a large mass it can be beneficial in some ways but difficult for those who may move from one province or territory to another.   

The text states that home schooling is permitted in all the provinces and territories (page 106). Home schooling can be a great opportunity for some children although it can hinder other students. A few of my distant relatives were home schooled and in their case it hindered them. Their education is not up to par with other children their ages. Once the children got older the parents were unable to teach them the curriculum due to the parents themselves not knowing it, as education has changed a fair amount since they were in school. They didn't have the determination to pursue their children’s’ education like they should have. These children will not be given the same opportunities as schooled children due to their lack of education. Maybe the lack of determination on the parent’s part was due to the lack of resources readily available.

The text mentions the requirement of school councils being a regulated way to generate parental involvement in education (page 97). I never really thought of this before but it makes sense.

Discussion Question:

1)With Education being different province to province does this hinder Canadian students or is this beneficial?

2)What other ways might be used to generate parental involvement? 

Krista Courchene - Blog 4

This week’s chapter was on the many different forms of schooling. I can vouche for at least three references from the text.

I was homeschooled for 3 years in junior high because I was bullied often. This also ties in with Aboriginal education because it was a school on my reserve where I experienced this bullying. The bullying happened because I was a straight A student and came from what was considered an upper middle class family who had a nice, huge home and parents who worked endlessly to make sure I was well-provided for. I was that kid who brought a $10 bill to school for lunch at least 3 times a week and would often be pushed down the boardwalk (my school was primarily 12 huts that would later be given away to families who needed homes) or what I experienced the most, being cornered in the classroom by 5 sometimes up to 10 girls who would insult me, pretend to punch me in the face to scare me into giving the “leader” my lunch money. It was a terrible experience and I am grateful that my mom took the time to take a leave of absence from work to teach me at home. I often did “unschooling” as cited on page 106 and 107 of the text. My mom didn’t just teach me whatever she felt, but she let me choose what I wanted to do. Usually I chose art or literacy. According to the province of Manitoba, as independently as my mom would teach me, I still was required to participate in provincial testing to see if I met all of the educational benchmarks required to move on to the next grade. I tried to go back to school again in grade 8, and only made it to October before I was pulled from being bullied. I find that there is a stigma against homeschooling and that as educators, we should be obligated to not see the benefits or appreciation for homeschooling, and I know this is partly due to the fact it means there is something wrong with our profession. That isn’t always the case, especially if it is a bullying issue like mine was.

However, as Robson states, “there is considerable evidence that on-reserve schools are not comparable to provincial schools” (109). This is true. I went to school on Sagkeeng First Nation (Fort Alexander on the map), and my 7^th, grade teacher was still in school getting her teaching certificate at the time before I was pulled out of school. I know from conversations with my mom, that many teachers before she took on the Director of Education position 5 years ago, did not even possess a grade 5 education. At one point when I attended Powerview, there was a grade 12 science teacher who did not have a teaching degree, let alone, a grade 8 education. This is still a problem today, but because of the lack of funding and support that reserves get (or in this case, don’t get) from the government, this is the way that on-reserve schools are run most of the time. My mom is constantly stressed out from her position because she is laying off employees like they are dropping like flies and then has to come home and deal with angry parents, spouses or family members. This complaining that community members do only does a disservice to their children in the end because they are not receiving the quality of education that they deserve. Once in a while, the reserve will get a balloon payment for education funding and my mom will hire candidates from off the reserve. Many usually leave the schools because parents have problems with non-Aboriginal staff teaching their children even though they are qualified teachers who can offer their children a decent education. As stated, this is a government problem.

Lastly, I have participated in the school of choice option for my son. We reside under Siene River School Division, but my son is currently attending a school in Pembina Trails. The staff at his previous school had a difficult time seeing eye to eye with me on alternative education plans. My son was always coming home from school with notes that were usually negative and very disheartening and I found the classroom teacher to be very pushy and had a philosophy that I felt was not a good fit for my son’s well-being. I appreciate the option for school of choice and I feel that more schools should be honoured to have families from out of catchment wanting to send their children to these schools. That says that these families believe in their mission statements and that they feel those schools are a good fit for their children. Most of the time, the school of choice option is for special needs students, which I have already mentioned my son has some difficulties and challenges that he faces. I needed him to have a fresh start and I may not always agree with what the teachers are doing in helping my son get by everyday, but I work with what I’ve got and I do my best to make sure my son’s needs are taken care of.

Question: Should parents require a degree or some other form of credentials to homeschool their children? 

(Blog 4) Stephanie Webster

This Chapter of the text explored the structure of the education system in Canada. It was not until I took this course that I learned that “Canada is the only country in the world with no federal education department” (p. 89), but rather each of the 13 jurisdictions are in control of the education in their area. It is interesting to me that each province/territory is in charge of the delivery, organization and evaluation of education (p.89). This makes me wonder about the education of our country as a whole, and the difference in education that children are receiving in some areas compared to others.

I found it really enlightening to learn about the variety of types of schooling available throughout the country including, public, private, alternative, charter, private or religious. I attended a private school and I just assumed there were two choices, public or private schools. I really had no idea there were so many different options for parents to consider for their children. The term “school choice” was one that I had never heard before, and refers to “the freedom that parents (and students) have in selecting the type of school that their children attend free from government constraint”(p.93). I am curious to know whether research shows if one particular type of schooling seems to be more beneficial for children, or even the strengths and weaknesses of each of the different options that are available.

Discussion: Do you agree with having a decentralized education system in Canada? 

Stephanie Fehr - Blog 4

This weeks reading presented the way in which education is structured in Canada. There were many things that I found to be quite interesting about it. First of all, the subject of homeschooling is something that has intrigued me in recent years. I used to believe that homeschooling was not ideal for children because it isolated them from society. However, now that I have met many people who were homeschooled, I have learned about the growing popularity of homeschooling groups as well as the concept of "unschooling" (106-107). Unschooling is something that I find to be interesting, especially since we have been learning so much about how the school system tends to take away many students' natural desire to learn. Although I am not necessarily an advocate for homeschooling or "unschooling," I do think that there is some merit in the idea of letting children learn for themselves. I think it would be quite beneficial for educators to follow some of these practices in the classrooms in any way they can.

Further into the chapter there is a section about international and offshore schools (110). I found this interesting because I was previously unaware that they existed. I like the idea of these schools because it creates more opportunity for international students to attend a Canadian university if that's what they decide. I think this is a positive thing because even though Canada definitely has a long way to go in terms of cultural acceptance, these schools promote diversity.

What surprised me most about this chapter was the fact that the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College was opened in Saskatchewan 20 years prior to the last residential school being shut down in the same province (117). Growing up in the Saskatoon area, I always knew that there was a post secondary school meant for Aboriginal students in the city. However, I had absolutely no awareness of the last residential school being closed, and no knowledge that one was still functioning for part of my childhood. For me it displays the ignorance of many in regards to how First Nations people are actually treated in their own country. SIFC claimed to protect the cultural values of First Nations people, while at the same time, there was still a school in the same province that was striving for the exact opposite. Obviously Canada still has a long way to go.

Question: What are your opinions of unschooling? Do you think it would be beneficial for students if teachers tried to use some of the same practices?

Craig blog 4

The chapter this week was mainly about the Canadian school system and how it's governed. One thing I didn't know was that kindergarten isn't a mandatory thing for all provinces. The book even says that "most pre-elementary programs are not mandatory". (pg 90) The book says that in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ontario, British Columbia, and Prince Edward Island pre-elementary schooling is mandatory. As far as I know Manitoba is the same, so I'm not sure where the mandatory provinces are. In my school I had half days everyday for kindergarte. I thought this was  a good routine for children. Now my school does every other day as a full day. This is nice for students to have days off, but parents do comment that a full day is sometimes too much for 5 year olds. Another thing I found interesting was the part on home schooling. This is permitted in all provinces and territories, and I think can be just as good, if not better sometimes than public school. (pg 106) I know people who were home schooled who are very well equipped for the working world. This might not be very important in the city, but in rural communities is quite useful. Not that all homeschooled people learn the same things, but the ones I know possess skills in mechanics, carpentry, cooking, and other very useful life skills that they lerant from their parents and having to do the work. Public schools teach these types of skills in an extremely basic sense, and students usually don't retain much of what they learnt. In this way I feel home schooling has great advantages, assuming there is motivation in both the parent and student. I have heard conversations of teachers that just heard of students taking home school instead of public, and the teachers feel sorry for the students "having to go through that". I don't feel that children should have to learn everything the public school system teaches, and think that home schooling is a very viable option for parents to consider.
Discussion: Is there some way that the life skills of home schooling could be taught in public school?

Jordyn Fernandes Blog 4

I began this chapter by skimming through and reading some of the bolded terms and headlines and I was shocked at how many different types of schools there were. As I began reading the text I was also blown away by the 80 billion dollar budget that all three levels of government had for Canadian education per year.(p.89) I think it would be very interesting to see the breakdown of this budget, whether it is equally shared, see what the money is allocated for and the benefit that this budget brings. Taking it a step further I wonder whether a study has been done that compares the product of the budget such as services for different schools and the results of academic testing to see if the different budgets truly did lead to a better education. (p.99) It would be interesting to see this among schools in Canada and also among schools throughout the world. These studies would be help to demonstrate whether or not the higher socioeconomic classes truly do receive a better education due to higher funding. I understand that there are numerous other factors in play but it would help to see if the budget and its ability to provide certain services had positive, negative or neutral impacts on the students.

I was also interested in the idea of alternative schools in regards to the Montessori programs. As a child I was placed in the Montessori program. I walked away learning things like subtraction, reading, I was able to participate in the Orff programs, learned the continents, had chores, and a multitude of other skills that I entered school with that my peers had not yet acquired. The structure, philosophy and funding made for a very different learning environment then is found in a standard daycare or preschool class. Once again it would be interesting to see if there was a long term benefit to this early learning or if at some point the educational ‘playing field’ becomes equal.

 

Discussion question: There are so many different ways the jurisdictions structure their educational programs and so many different opinions, are any right or wrong? Do you have a preference?

Michelle Boulet - Blog 4

    I have always been a little skeptical of the idea of home schooling. I believe there is a reason teachers need to go through certain education in order to get certified. A parent, having little understanding of the curriculum or best instructional methods, as a teacher is one of the many issues I see with home school. Many other issues come from the lack of social interaction the children would get. However, the idea of unschooling “without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades” seems to me completely ineffective (107). I like the idea of school being child centered, but with a lack of any sort of structure or assessment, children will not be prepared for the real world.
    Another concept I have some issues with is the idea of charter schools. I have heard of this type of education, but I did not realize it contained so many variations. I like the idea that charter schools “organize the delivery of education in a specialized way that is thought to enhance student learning” (102). I am a believer that all children learn differently, but I believe a way to approach that as a teacher is to incorporate many different teaching styles. By removing students completely to learn in a unique way seems to be counter productive. Not only will students leave school with inconsistent educations, they will miss out on many valuable skills. Separating at risk youth, gifted students, or future leaders will cause schools to be less enriching environments (103). Having gifted students helps those who are lower academically by giving them someone more advanced to work with. Creating a school of leaders is useless if they have no one to lead. I believe these aspects that they teach in charter schools are valuable, but they lose their value when they become a completely separate entity.

Discussion Question: Do you think home schooling or charter schools have enough advantages to outweigh the disadvantages?

Blog 4- Jennifer Provencher

            This weeks reading entailed learning all about the structure of education in Canada.

            The first thing that really stood out to me in this chapter was the concept of schools choice.  This is the parent’s choice in “selecting the type of school that their children attend free from government constraint, whether it is public, alternative, charter, religious, or private” (93). As a sister to twin brothers with special needs, I know my mom stressed over sending my brothers to the right school that would provide them with all the resources that they needed. Luckily, she lucked out and was able to select schools that would cater to their needs, even if they were outside of our catchment area. Even with selecting the school of her choice for them my mom was constantly fighting for funding for them, attending meetings, training teachers to use equipment, and arranging therapy times with the schools.

            I also found the idea of alternative schools very interesting. Although I am not too familiar with the system I did have an uncle who taught a small group of at risk students a couple years back. Prior to that, I had no idea that alternative schools even existed. I think it is wonderful that schools exist that differ in the “delivery of education from the mainstream public schools” (101). I was just talking to my friend that other day about how mainstream schools work for some people, but  for others it is an anxiety-ridden process. She felt that her whole school experience was terrible, she was not good at core subjects and as a result she always felt worthless and devalued. However, she excelled in the arts and was able to find some sort of validation in that program.

            Lastly, I found the information on homeschooling interesting, particularly the information on unschooling. Personally I do not think that unschooling is a good idea. I think that if I were to home school my kid I could not do it “without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades” (107). I think that a schedule is necessary especially when homeschooling to give your child/student some stability. Without a schedule I feel like the whole day would be a free for all. Instead I think having an hour of unscheduled work would be much more appropriate. At this time the student would be able to engage in choice time or have some time for discovery learning. Also, I think that some method of assessment is necessary to ensure that my student was retaining some sort of knowledge.

Discussion question: What are your opinions on unschooling? Do you think it is beneficial or a complete waste of time?

Matthew Sysa Blog 4

            The reading for this week was chapter 4 of the textbook. In this chapter they talked about the different elementary and secondary education systems that are in Canada depending on province (most notable the different education system in Quebec). Also, it talked about the different types of post-secondary education available, from university, college or apprenticeship.

            One aspect that caught my attention was when they talked about school choice. “School choice refers to the freedom that parents (and students) have in selecting the type of school that their children attend” (p. 93). Growing up, I was a part of a French Immersion program and attended schools that taught in both English and French. I did not think much of this until I reached high school when I did not attend the school closest to my house as was English only. Thanks to school choice, my parents were able to enroll me in a French Immersion program which is “for students whose first language is not French” (p. 107) and this has allowed me to have more opportunities now available for myself as a future teacher.

            One other topic that caught my attention was when they talked about unschooling, which is “home-based education without curriculum, schedules, tests, or grades. The approach is entirely child-led.” (p. 107). After first reading this, I thought that unschooling sounded chaotic and that the children would probably not end up learn anything from it. However, after thinking about it for a bit, I realized that some of a child’s best learning comes from when they discover on their own. They learn on their own to walk and talk, so why can’t they at least learn some aspects of their schooling through child led inquiry. It is already being done in classrooms, with discovery tables and dramatic play time, both of these activities help children to learn on their own and gain a better understanding.  

Discussion Question: Comparing the elementary education system in place in Quebec to the general one in the rest of Canada, does one work better than the other? Why? Why not?

Holly Blog #4

This week’s reading covered the topic of the structure of education in Canada.  Something that I found really interesting was that pre-elementary is mandatory in some provinces like Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and New Foundland and Labrador (pg. 90).  However, in the other provinces and territories, it is optional.  From my experience, I throughly enjoyed kindergarten, besides the first day when I wouldn’t let go of the bearhug I was in to my mom, when she tried to get me to go on the bus.  I went for a full day every other day of the week.  I remember learning my alphabet, having play time, and counting.  I think it was very beneficial and according to the text, research has shown that kindergarten or pre-elementary programs “can have a positive effect on academic performance in early grades” (pg. 90).

Something new that I learned was that charter schools are public schools that deliver their teaching in a specialized way (pg. 102). They are only found in Alberta and follow the Alberta learning curriculum. However, supporters of charter schools would say that they have much more flexibility that is not capable in the normal public system (pg. 104). People against charter schools would argue that those students would not get the same education as those attending regular public school, and there should be a common core across the education system (pg. 104).  I’m not sure what to think exactly about charter schools. In one way, I think it could be very beneficial to have a specific focus for a school, however, are those students then missing out on what the majority of children would be experiencing in the rest of the public system?

Discussion Question: If you lived in Alberta, would you send your child to a charter school? Why or why not?

L’Été Molnar 4

Blog Four

            It was quite interesting reading about the structure of the education system in Canada.  I was unaware that each province had differing ages for elementary school attendance, and was surprised to learn that Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador require mandatory attendance for pre-elementary schooling (p. 90).

            I was intrigued by the discussion of alternative schools starting on page 101 of the textbook.  Once again, I was not aware that schools of this nature were a part of the education system of Canada.  I believe alternative schools are a great opportunity for students who find it more challenging to adhere to a traditional school atmosphere.  I would be interested in researching what variety of alternative schools are have available in Winnipeg, and what the procedure is in order to attend.  I would hope that alternative schools could be further highlighted throughout Canadian education systems since standard education does not fit the needs and potential of every student.  I would also be interested to learn more about job opportunities within this branch of schooling.

            It seems as though the trend for this chapter was that I am not aware of the variety of educational institutions that are present within Canada.  Another education institution that I learnt about are the charter schools found solely in Alberta (p. 102).  It was neat to learn about the different levels of administration, and governance that each institution follows.  Overall, there I have plenty more to learn about the structure of Canada’s education system, and I better get going on it!

Discussion Question:  If you had the option to attend an alternative school as a child would you have been interested in the opportunity?

L.

Evangelin Francis - Blog #4

This week’s reading was chapter four which focuses on the educational structure in Canada. I found this chapter an easier read than the last one – which was rather information heavy.

One of the first things that stood out to me was learning about charter schools. I thought it was interesting that as of now they only exist in Alberta (102). I also like how the text highlighted the schools and what they were geared towards on the following page, such as in Calgary there is one for “leadership in young girls” as well as one for “arts immersion curriculum” (103). I think the idea of charter schools is a good one – in terms that parents and even children can have more freedom in choosing which school would be an ideal suit them or in other words be a good learning environment. Often I feel like studies come out about how at-risk youth are being dismissed in the public school system (i.e. like falling through the cracks), how students are not being challenged or how ESL students are lacking in test scores compared to their English counterparts – and I just feel like having specific schools who could shift how they teach to specifically deal with these, would only benefit the learner (or child) in the end.

Another thing that stood out to me in this chapter was the idea of unschooling, a term put forth by John Holt. Unschooling is different from homeschooling because rather than following the provincial curriculum (typically), in this approach the child decides what to learn and pursue based on their own interests (107). This stuck out to me, because I thought I knew someone who was homeschooling her daughter, but now looking at it I think she was actually following an unschooling approach. Her daughter was interested in the violin so she began to practice that, her daughter was also interested in tennis so she began lessons – like the violin, for hours each day. Recently her daughter is more interested in cooking so last I heard they are planning a trip to Italy so she can purse that more. Personally I think it is kind of crazy but also equally very cool at the same time. 

The last thing that stood out to me was rather small but worth noting. It was the fact that in Canada there is only one Aboriginal controlled university in Canada (117)! I guess I just thought that there would be more. I can see this growing in the coming years and hopefully so. I think by having more available schools across the country - that perhaps if more comfortable at and should they choose - could attract more Aboriginal students in to higher learning which in turn could help their culture in turn (e.g. policies and laws, perception, family).

Question: Do you think charter schools are a good idea? Or do you think they would create a “two tiered” system of their own, in which profits those who fit that category.