Its time to Reform Education in Ontario
Demand a Parents' Bill of Rights
Restore advocacy at all levels of Education
Reform Governance model
Restore Free Speech
WHY WE NEED EDUCATION REFORM
Additional Information
In the past two decades, school boards in Canada have undergone several dramatic changes. Provincial governments have significantly decreased the number of school districts, and these amalgamations have been accompanied by a large reduction in the number of school board members. The result is that board members are now responsible for a much larger geographic area, with many more schools, students, and parents. This had made it more difficult to stay in touch with local community issues. Consequently, there has been a general decline in school board autonomy as Bill 98 with decision-making becoming more centralized in the hands of provincial governments. These changes have put Parents in a difficult position
- Today’s elected school boards DO NOT represent the concerns of Parents but rather focus on political parties and unions vying to consolidate their power
- As the Education Act states: YOU CAN DISCUSS ANY MATTER; however, school Boards continually deny Parents the ability to advocate against divisive curriculum; violence in schools, poor educational performance, and lack of religious accommodations
- Restrictive legislation: the Education Act, and most recently Bill 98, has accelerated the process of eroding parent voices. Contrary to the message of improving parent engagement, Bill 98 has increased the power of the Ontario government, including the Minister of Education, with respect to school board activities. Several amendments would give the minister additional powers to establish policies and guidelines with respect to: review and revision of curricula based on pedagogy and labour market needs, school boards communication with parents and student mental health, just to name a few
- The Education Governance Model of Ontario structurally confines Parents to Advisory status on all school councils and other board committees. This construct prevents parents individually or as a group to challenge educational mandates and policies
- In a democracy, all stakeholders must have the privilege of Free speech with immunity from censorship to ensure that all VOICEs in Education are heard and acted upon
SUMMARY: If we don’t learn the lessons of history, and take account of present-day mistakes, we will be condemned to repeat even more costly blunders in future. Lacking in fiduciary responsibility, Boards and Parents are bit players in a big system bankrolled by the province, whose elected MPPs are directly accountable for education and taxation decisions. Lacking any real authority, our school boards have become powerless. We need REFORM NOW.
