A proposal for the deregulation of the Canadian school. Arguing that a broad range of school choices is necessary in a pluralist society, the author contends centralized decision making by departments of education obstruct parental choice. He also criticizes the tenets of progressive (or child centered) pedagogy, which he claims has captured the school system for the past three decades. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Are the learning needs of children and youth being met by the Canadian school system? Is it possible for all students to learn what is essential to function in our society? What must be done to reform schools? Canadian parents, business leaders, citizens, community and political leaders are asking these, and similar questions. They know that education is essential for their children, and they realize that our country's future depends on a population of educated citizens. This book is Bill McKerlich's response to these questions. Twelve Steps to Reform Canadian Public Education outlines both a comprehensive assessment and a thoughtful plan for the necessary reform of our schools written by an experienced educator. Focus: "To adjust the focal length of the eye to give a clear image." Our school system may have been adequate for the past, but is now out of focus with the present learning needs of our students. The system requires immediate adjustment so that it has a clear image of purpose, and how to achieve this purpose. As part of this process, it will be necessary to improve the early childhood development of an important minority of our children. Using our democratic processes, these adjustments will be discussed and changes decided. The results will be immediately planned and implemented. If this does not happen, effective public schooling for all children and youth will be lost, and a significant minority of Canadian children will not reach their potential to be happy and productive citizens. The resulting long-term negative social and economic consequences will cripple our society. Book Purpose: The purpose of this book is to assist this important public discussion by outlining a plan of school reform in twelve steps. The plan describes how the early childhood development of some deprived children can improve, and how the school system can be refocused so that all children will learn to the maximum of their ability. Book Organisation: The steps are stated at the beginning of the chapters in which they are described. The first five chapters centre on children, learning, teaching, and schools. The later four chapters describe the organisation, governance, leadership, and management processes required for schools to have all children learn. The twelve steps form a planned approach to improving schools with the steps often interdependent on each other. This approach is in contrast to the unsatisfactory ad hoc tinkering that public education has experienced over the years. The plan has direct relevance to the Canadian provinces, but may have some application to the education jurisdictions of other countries. Visit the author's website at http://www.reform-education.com
Sociology of Education in Canada utilizes a contemporary theoretical focus to analyze how education in Canada is affected by pre-existing and persistent inequalities among members of society. It presents the historical and cultural factors that have shaped our current education system, examines the larger social trends that have contributed to present problems, discusses the various interest groups involved, and analyzes the larger social discourses that influence any discussion of these issues. To achieve this, Karen Robson uses many current, topical, and relatable issues in Canadian education to ensure that readers fully comprehend the information being presented and leave with an appreciation of how the sociology of education is inextricably linked to issues of stratification.
Over the last fifty years, Canada's public schools have been absorbed into a modern education system that functions much like Max Weber's infamous iron cage. Crying out for democratic school-level reform, the system is now a centralized, bureaucratic fortress that, every year, becomes softer on standards for students, less accessible to parents, further out of touch with communities, and surprisingly unresponsive to classroom teachers. Exploring the nature of the Canadian education order in all its dimensions, The State of the System explains how public schools came to be so bureaucratic, confronts the critical issues facing kindergarten to grade 12 public schools in all ten provinces, and addresses the need for systemic reform. Going beyond a diagnosis of the stresses, strains, and ills present in the system, Paul Bennett proposes a bold plan to re-engineer schools on a more human scale as the first step in truly reforming public education. In place of school consolidation and managerialism, one-size-fits-all uniformity, limited school choice, and the "success-for-all" curriculum, Bennett advocates for a new set of priorities: decentralize school governance, deprogram education ministries and school districts, listen to parents and teachers, and revitalize local education democracy. Tackling the thorny issues besetting contemporary school systems in Canada, The State of the System issues a clarion call for more responsive, engaged, and accountable public schools.
