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?