We may be on a break, but we're still keeping our eyes on the education debate. Expect things to heat up again in 2011.
In the meantime, I thought I would share an opinion piece by Charles Cirtwell, President & CEO of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies. This piece appeared recently on allnovascotia.com and is reprinted here with the permission of Mr. Cirtwell.
Rhonda
Can we have something besides the boogie man please?
Here we go again. A “planning exercise” is underway where the province has asked the school boards to tell them what a 22% reduction in funding would look like “on the ground”. The School Boards have dutifully trotted out the fear factor. Closed schools, grown over sports fields, unemployed teachers, abandoned children, tattered books, forty kids jammed into a tiny room with a wet behind the ears graduate six months out of teachers college.
How disappointing. This government was supposed to be different. They were not supposed to resort to tried and true tactics of scare the hell out of taxpayers then just go ahead and keep taxing, then spending.
Here is an alternative suggestion. Let’s actually talk about what a 22% cut could look like. Sure, if you want to put the classroom focused horror movie cuts on the table, fine – but let’s have some other scenarios too. How much do we save with two or three boards instead of nine? What about the option of closing half empty schools? What about reducing or eliminating other non-classroom expenditures at the Board or Department level. I am sure those working inside the system see waste every day, we all do, no matter where we work, let’s give them a platform to make those observations known publicly.
And, instead of talking just cuts, let’s talk about ways to raise 22% in new revenues. How much of our excess school space could be rented to government agencies or third parties delivering services that our kids and communities need? The Edmonton city centre project had social services, police community office, big brothers big sisters and daycares of all types renting space in schools. How much could we “save” by renting space from ourselves instead of developers? How much could we “earn” by competing in the marketplace for the right kinds of tenants?
Renting excess space isn’t the only way to increase revenues for education by the way. School vouchers also demonstrably increase total education spending while increasing total employment and reducing average class sizes. If we leverage our limited tax dollars with the limited means of average Nova Scotians, we actually have more money to spend. And vouchers are a better means to access that money than simply raising taxes. In return for voluntarily increasing their share of the cost of education, the taxpayer gets more and more immediate value in return. They get more and more accountable education options and we get a more cost conscious, more high performance, and more affordable education system. And vouchers, like taxes, can be tied to income, so those needing more, can get more.
Of course, with vouchers comes two “four letter” words, choice and profit.
So let’s talk about profit. We regulate profit everyday in other industries, so why not regulate “acceptable profit” in education. For that matter, it isn’t as if the unearned profit in education is retained by taxpayers. We deliver that profit, in the form of higher average wages and generous pensions, to teachers and other public servants every day. Education profit also go to the teacher’s union in the form of mandatory union dues, not all of which is used for the purposes of professional development or collective bargaining. Perhaps cutting that profit is an area of potential saving we need to explore?
As for choice, here is a question I would like us to explore. Nova Scotia is a global leader in distance education. Why isn’t urban choice a good thing for rural schools? If we had choice, urban students could be enrolled in world beating distance classes delivered from almost empty rural schools, giving them and their neighbouring communities, a fighting chance.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
A gift of reading
It's our last day before our Winter break. The students and staff have worked really hard this semester, and everyone is looking forward to a well-deserved vacation. I'm thrilled to share this good news story as we head into the Christmas season. Enjoy!
Rhonda
We're so fortunate to have support from all areas of the community. From businesses that donate auction items to our fundraising events to corporations that make significant gifts, they all help us help students with learning disabilities.
On Thursday, we received another gift. Manulife Financial has donated $5000 to Bridgeway in support of our new library. This gift will help us buy not only books, but the assistive technology some of our students need to help them read.
Manulife's giving program is employee driven. The Halifax office puts out a call for volunteers every year, giving selected employees the opportunity to "pitch" a charity of their choice. We were very fortunate to have been represented by Alison Baker, Manulife employee and parent to two wonderful young men who also happen to be Bridgeway students. She talked about the difference our school has made for her sons and the small library we've established to help make our school feel like any other.
With her support, our school was chosen as one of three charitable organizations that Manulife Financial in Halifax will be supporting this year. Their donation will be well used. With it, we'll buy books for kids who have discovered a love of learning. For those who struggle, we'll invest in technologies that will make reading easier.
On behalf of all of our students, families and staff, we'd like to say thank you to Manulife and its employees for your support.
Joanne Keigan, Manulife Financial Vice-President of Group Operations, presents a cheque for $5000 to Lucinda Low, Founder and Executive Director of Bridgeway Academy.
Rhonda
We're so fortunate to have support from all areas of the community. From businesses that donate auction items to our fundraising events to corporations that make significant gifts, they all help us help students with learning disabilities.
On Thursday, we received another gift. Manulife Financial has donated $5000 to Bridgeway in support of our new library. This gift will help us buy not only books, but the assistive technology some of our students need to help them read.
Manulife's giving program is employee driven. The Halifax office puts out a call for volunteers every year, giving selected employees the opportunity to "pitch" a charity of their choice. We were very fortunate to have been represented by Alison Baker, Manulife employee and parent to two wonderful young men who also happen to be Bridgeway students. She talked about the difference our school has made for her sons and the small library we've established to help make our school feel like any other.
With her support, our school was chosen as one of three charitable organizations that Manulife Financial in Halifax will be supporting this year. Their donation will be well used. With it, we'll buy books for kids who have discovered a love of learning. For those who struggle, we'll invest in technologies that will make reading easier.
On behalf of all of our students, families and staff, we'd like to say thank you to Manulife and its employees for your support.
Joanne Keigan, Manulife Financial Vice-President of Group Operations, presents a cheque for $5000 to Lucinda Low, Founder and Executive Director of Bridgeway Academy.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Cuts to education - a call for calm
The calls for some perspective on the funding cuts to education continue. A measured opinion was offered in this Saturday's Chronicle Herald by Paul W. Bennett, the founder and director of Schoolhouse Consulting. He has graciously given us permission to share his thoughts here.
What’s behind funding crisis in N.S. schools?
By PAUL W. BENNETT
The Chronicle Herald - Sat, Dec 11, 2010
Our public schools and their students, or so we are told, are now under threat in Nova Scotia. Since the Education Department asked the eight provincial school boards to prepare for deep budget cuts in late October, elected trustees and top educrats have been in a tizzy. The infamous cuts will supposedly "devastate" the entire system by forcing the closure of 70 schools, costing 2,000 teachers their jobs, and slashing special education services to the bone.
Listening to the official mouthpieces of the province’s school board members and administrators, one might think Darrell Dexter’s NDP government has gone completely crazy. Digging more deeply into the critical financial state of the system and crass education politics yields a different answer.
Nova Scotia’s school system is facing a serious financial crunch for which it is little prepared. With the province’s alarming annual deficit and $13-billion debt, most reasonable Nova Scotians know that budget reductions are coming in the biggest spending areas: health, education and social services.
The Education Department’s current "planning exercise" is a legitimate attempt to not only change the annual education funding game, but to shake up a rather closed, insular system. Nova Scotia public education shows all the classic signs of "producer capture." It is the producers of education (educrats and teacher organizations), not the parents or taxpayers who really control the system.
Education Minister Marilyn More may now be learning this fact first-hand. Merely proposing serious reductions threatens what St. Francis Xavier University political scientist Peter Clancy correctly identified as the "core interests" of education: senior administration, school boards and the teachers’ union.
What are the facts? The NDP government’s initial proposal is to examine the impact of reducing education spending by $196 million over the next three years because of provincewide declining enrolments. The reason: The province is facing a further drop in Primary to Grade 12 school enrolment of 11.5 per cent by 2014-15 and the system is losing 3,000 students a year.
School boards reacted to the proposal by seizing upon the most potentially damaging scenario. It started in Chignecto Central regional board when chair Trudy Thompson expressed "shock" and claimed it meant "a devastating cut of up to 22 per cent" in education spending.
Mr. Dexter is standing firm — insisting "the cuts" come "first from administration" and, if at all possible, "not the classroom."
Not everyone is bamboozled by the "fear factor" blitz. A very astute group of Antigonish County parents known as Save Community Schools spotted something missing from the Nova Scotia School Boards Association’s tale of "a thousand cuts." There was not a single reference to cutbacks to school board administration, even though, in the premier’s words, "the first place the boards are to look for savings is in administration."
Within the Strait regional school board alone, Save Community Schools contends there is "fat" at the top of the system. Between 2004 and 2010, administrative costs for "regional board management" have risen 39 per cent, far faster than inflation and investments in student services or classroom instruction (plus seven per cent). They also note board-related governance expenses jumped by 24 per cent over this same period.
The Strait board is one of the province’s most cash-strapped boards, facing staggering enrolment declines. But even here, administrative expenses are increasing by about five times the rate of investments in student instructional services.
The Antigonish County parents are asking the right questions. Why are boards targeting the core areas first with cuts? Their actions are "telling" when it comes to "the priorities of school boards" in the province.
In championing the cause, the NSSBA is out to spook the parents whom they purport to serve. In the last round, a Public School Coalition spearheaded by NSSBA claimed they were out to "Save Grade 2" and mounted a flashy effort to sway public opinion. The current campaign amounts to the Big Scare, featuring what AIMS president Charles Cirtwill has aptly dubbed the Classroom Cuts Horror Show.
It’s hard to outsmart parents like those behind Save Community Schools. Spooking voters is not recommended for school boards whose legitimacy is being called into question. And provincial politicians backing the Big Scare had better be careful in choosing their bedfellows. The real tragedy is that Nova Scotia public education has serious structural issues and the current nonsense threatens to postpone the inevitable.
Paul W. Bennett is director of Schoolhouse Consulting, Halifax, and author of The Grammar School (2009).
You can also follow Paul W. Bennett on his blog: http://educhatter.wordpress.com/
There was a terrific editorial in today's Chronicle Herald as well - check it out: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorials/1216958.html
What’s behind funding crisis in N.S. schools?
By PAUL W. BENNETT
The Chronicle Herald - Sat, Dec 11, 2010
Our public schools and their students, or so we are told, are now under threat in Nova Scotia. Since the Education Department asked the eight provincial school boards to prepare for deep budget cuts in late October, elected trustees and top educrats have been in a tizzy. The infamous cuts will supposedly "devastate" the entire system by forcing the closure of 70 schools, costing 2,000 teachers their jobs, and slashing special education services to the bone.
Listening to the official mouthpieces of the province’s school board members and administrators, one might think Darrell Dexter’s NDP government has gone completely crazy. Digging more deeply into the critical financial state of the system and crass education politics yields a different answer.
Nova Scotia’s school system is facing a serious financial crunch for which it is little prepared. With the province’s alarming annual deficit and $13-billion debt, most reasonable Nova Scotians know that budget reductions are coming in the biggest spending areas: health, education and social services.
The Education Department’s current "planning exercise" is a legitimate attempt to not only change the annual education funding game, but to shake up a rather closed, insular system. Nova Scotia public education shows all the classic signs of "producer capture." It is the producers of education (educrats and teacher organizations), not the parents or taxpayers who really control the system.
Education Minister Marilyn More may now be learning this fact first-hand. Merely proposing serious reductions threatens what St. Francis Xavier University political scientist Peter Clancy correctly identified as the "core interests" of education: senior administration, school boards and the teachers’ union.
What are the facts? The NDP government’s initial proposal is to examine the impact of reducing education spending by $196 million over the next three years because of provincewide declining enrolments. The reason: The province is facing a further drop in Primary to Grade 12 school enrolment of 11.5 per cent by 2014-15 and the system is losing 3,000 students a year.
School boards reacted to the proposal by seizing upon the most potentially damaging scenario. It started in Chignecto Central regional board when chair Trudy Thompson expressed "shock" and claimed it meant "a devastating cut of up to 22 per cent" in education spending.
Mr. Dexter is standing firm — insisting "the cuts" come "first from administration" and, if at all possible, "not the classroom."
Not everyone is bamboozled by the "fear factor" blitz. A very astute group of Antigonish County parents known as Save Community Schools spotted something missing from the Nova Scotia School Boards Association’s tale of "a thousand cuts." There was not a single reference to cutbacks to school board administration, even though, in the premier’s words, "the first place the boards are to look for savings is in administration."
Within the Strait regional school board alone, Save Community Schools contends there is "fat" at the top of the system. Between 2004 and 2010, administrative costs for "regional board management" have risen 39 per cent, far faster than inflation and investments in student services or classroom instruction (plus seven per cent). They also note board-related governance expenses jumped by 24 per cent over this same period.
The Strait board is one of the province’s most cash-strapped boards, facing staggering enrolment declines. But even here, administrative expenses are increasing by about five times the rate of investments in student instructional services.
The Antigonish County parents are asking the right questions. Why are boards targeting the core areas first with cuts? Their actions are "telling" when it comes to "the priorities of school boards" in the province.
In championing the cause, the NSSBA is out to spook the parents whom they purport to serve. In the last round, a Public School Coalition spearheaded by NSSBA claimed they were out to "Save Grade 2" and mounted a flashy effort to sway public opinion. The current campaign amounts to the Big Scare, featuring what AIMS president Charles Cirtwill has aptly dubbed the Classroom Cuts Horror Show.
It’s hard to outsmart parents like those behind Save Community Schools. Spooking voters is not recommended for school boards whose legitimacy is being called into question. And provincial politicians backing the Big Scare had better be careful in choosing their bedfellows. The real tragedy is that Nova Scotia public education has serious structural issues and the current nonsense threatens to postpone the inevitable.
Paul W. Bennett is director of Schoolhouse Consulting, Halifax, and author of The Grammar School (2009).
You can also follow Paul W. Bennett on his blog: http://educhatter.wordpress.com/
There was a terrific editorial in today's Chronicle Herald as well - check it out: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Editorials/1216958.html
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Cuts to education funding - a smarter way?
Listening and reading the many media stories on cuts to education this week have left me feeling slightly overwhelmed. Doom and gloom predictions of massive layoffs, cuts to special education programs, school closures... You name it, we've heard it. There's no doubt that Nova Scotia needs to tighten it's fiscal belt, but let's start looking for a smarter way to do it. Here is my two cents.
Rhonda
We've been blogging about the impact of cuts to education since the provincial government asked Boards to start planning for a 22% budget trim. The Nova Scotia School Boards Association weighed in on Tuesday, with predictions of 70 school closures, 4000 job losses, 200 fewer school buses and massive cuts to programs. I heard a spokesperson predict an end to supports for students with special needs, a sentiment echoed yesterday by opposition MLAs.
Will there be a one-time budget cut of 22%? Probably not. Will 4000 people lose their jobs? Probably not. But the government has made it very clear that cuts will be coming, and they will be deeper than anything we've likely seen before.
Rather than continuing to speculate about the impact of those cuts, maybe it's time to start thinking differently about the way we deliver education. Maybe we should adopt a business model for education that gives families the power to decide where, and how, their children will be educated. Maybe we should start developing specialized schools that can cater to the various learning needs of our kids. Instead of closing schools, we could allow them to become "Centres of Excellence" in Arts, Applied learning, learning disabilities, etc.
Why don't we take a look at Alberta's model of School Choice. In that province, parents can choose from a mix of public, Catholic, Francophone, private and charter schools. If parents choose to step outside of the public system to an accredited private school, they still receive funding support. In fact, the province of Alberta has supported this freedom of choice since 1967, and today, they will fund 60-70% of the cost of tuition to families who choose to move their student to a private school that meets their needs.
Charter schools in Alberta are public, non-profit organizations that offer enhanced learning options, and they're FREE. There are schools for english as a second langugage, at-risk youth, arts immersion, science, indiginous teaching, music, gifted students, leadership, etc.
Nova Scotia is already offering some choice to parents with their support of the Designated Special Education Private Schools in Nova Scotia. Students with learning disabilities who are accepted to one of those schools and who meet the funding criteria are eligible to receive $7100 in tuition support per child. A bargain, considering the cost of educating the same student in the public school system with added support resources is much higher. Still, those funds are restricted to a few who meet criteria, and have recently been capped at four years. We can do much, much better, but it's a start.
Does school choice save money? Get on Google and you'll find no end of opinions on both sides of the debate. But why can't we take a look, figure out what DOES work and create a Made in Nova Scotia solution?
A few more voices
Kudos to the Equal Education Association of Nova Scotia and Choice Words (search for them on Facebook) for staying on top of cuts to funding. Here are a few of their comments, posted by their members in response to to an article in today's Chronicle Herald:
EEANS:
Obviously there is a lot of manoeuvring (or is that manure) going on here.
1. The government lays down a target that is far too much in too short of a time so that a cut of half that amount will leave the public feeling thankful. There is ample published evidence that literacy is directly related to economic output and health care. So much so that a very small increase in national literacy skills relates to BILLIONS of improvement in Canada's GDP. Is this government really so short sighted to sell out Nova Scotia's future?
2. The boards jump to the conclusion that they need to close schools. To close a school takes 3 years under the current regulation, so it’s moot. Of course any mention of consolidating boards is not publicly considered.
3. Lastly those arguing against the cuts are quick to assume groups like special needs students will be the target. When it comes to reducing services we need to yell loud and long that accommodating special needs is guaranteed under the Charter and upheld by Supreme court ruling. The structure of school boards, management positions, the IB program, band class, and football programs are not.
If we are going to throw about claims of cuts, let’s talk about what is really achievable and will strengthen the education system and therefore the province for the long haul!
Choice Words:
If our children don't get the proper education in school, how on earth does the government/Education system expect them to get decent well paying jobs once they are out of school. Guess the government wants them to go on Assistance and live week to week on hardly anything!
It is about time that the Government is standing up and saying something about Education, and that they are concerned about it! As a parent of a child with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities I am also VERY concerned about this, because I know what is going to get hit hard with these cuts...it is most likely going to be Special Need support services/Resources/EPA's etc. This part of the Education system is already seriously lacking, and only those who work with these children or those who have children with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities would know how bad it is. Just hope more Government officials will make it a priority to stop making HUGE cuts to our Education System! Our kids deserve the best education, with the best resources/services there are out there to ensure they will be able to get a well paying job. Our children's education and future is important, will you stand up and speak out?? I have been speaking out now for awhile, and plan on continuing to do so! Please come on over to "Choice Words" facebook page group, it is a advocate/support groups for families of children with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities who are trying to make a difference!
Rhonda
We've been blogging about the impact of cuts to education since the provincial government asked Boards to start planning for a 22% budget trim. The Nova Scotia School Boards Association weighed in on Tuesday, with predictions of 70 school closures, 4000 job losses, 200 fewer school buses and massive cuts to programs. I heard a spokesperson predict an end to supports for students with special needs, a sentiment echoed yesterday by opposition MLAs.
Will there be a one-time budget cut of 22%? Probably not. Will 4000 people lose their jobs? Probably not. But the government has made it very clear that cuts will be coming, and they will be deeper than anything we've likely seen before.
Rather than continuing to speculate about the impact of those cuts, maybe it's time to start thinking differently about the way we deliver education. Maybe we should adopt a business model for education that gives families the power to decide where, and how, their children will be educated. Maybe we should start developing specialized schools that can cater to the various learning needs of our kids. Instead of closing schools, we could allow them to become "Centres of Excellence" in Arts, Applied learning, learning disabilities, etc.
Why don't we take a look at Alberta's model of School Choice. In that province, parents can choose from a mix of public, Catholic, Francophone, private and charter schools. If parents choose to step outside of the public system to an accredited private school, they still receive funding support. In fact, the province of Alberta has supported this freedom of choice since 1967, and today, they will fund 60-70% of the cost of tuition to families who choose to move their student to a private school that meets their needs.
Charter schools in Alberta are public, non-profit organizations that offer enhanced learning options, and they're FREE. There are schools for english as a second langugage, at-risk youth, arts immersion, science, indiginous teaching, music, gifted students, leadership, etc.
Nova Scotia is already offering some choice to parents with their support of the Designated Special Education Private Schools in Nova Scotia. Students with learning disabilities who are accepted to one of those schools and who meet the funding criteria are eligible to receive $7100 in tuition support per child. A bargain, considering the cost of educating the same student in the public school system with added support resources is much higher. Still, those funds are restricted to a few who meet criteria, and have recently been capped at four years. We can do much, much better, but it's a start.
Does school choice save money? Get on Google and you'll find no end of opinions on both sides of the debate. But why can't we take a look, figure out what DOES work and create a Made in Nova Scotia solution?
A few more voices
Kudos to the Equal Education Association of Nova Scotia and Choice Words (search for them on Facebook) for staying on top of cuts to funding. Here are a few of their comments, posted by their members in response to to an article in today's Chronicle Herald:
EEANS:
Obviously there is a lot of manoeuvring (or is that manure) going on here.
1. The government lays down a target that is far too much in too short of a time so that a cut of half that amount will leave the public feeling thankful. There is ample published evidence that literacy is directly related to economic output and health care. So much so that a very small increase in national literacy skills relates to BILLIONS of improvement in Canada's GDP. Is this government really so short sighted to sell out Nova Scotia's future?
2. The boards jump to the conclusion that they need to close schools. To close a school takes 3 years under the current regulation, so it’s moot. Of course any mention of consolidating boards is not publicly considered.
3. Lastly those arguing against the cuts are quick to assume groups like special needs students will be the target. When it comes to reducing services we need to yell loud and long that accommodating special needs is guaranteed under the Charter and upheld by Supreme court ruling. The structure of school boards, management positions, the IB program, band class, and football programs are not.
If we are going to throw about claims of cuts, let’s talk about what is really achievable and will strengthen the education system and therefore the province for the long haul!
Choice Words:
If our children don't get the proper education in school, how on earth does the government/Education system expect them to get decent well paying jobs once they are out of school. Guess the government wants them to go on Assistance and live week to week on hardly anything!
It is about time that the Government is standing up and saying something about Education, and that they are concerned about it! As a parent of a child with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities I am also VERY concerned about this, because I know what is going to get hit hard with these cuts...it is most likely going to be Special Need support services/Resources/EPA's etc. This part of the Education system is already seriously lacking, and only those who work with these children or those who have children with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities would know how bad it is. Just hope more Government officials will make it a priority to stop making HUGE cuts to our Education System! Our kids deserve the best education, with the best resources/services there are out there to ensure they will be able to get a well paying job. Our children's education and future is important, will you stand up and speak out?? I have been speaking out now for awhile, and plan on continuing to do so! Please come on over to "Choice Words" facebook page group, it is a advocate/support groups for families of children with Special Needs/Learning Disabilities who are trying to make a difference!
Friday, December 3, 2010
On literacy, learning and the economy - Part 2
There has been no shortage of opinions shared this week on education. From columnists to public policy think tanks to politicians, everyone is sharing their two cents what big cuts to education budgets might mean for the system. Now it's our turn.
Rhonda
Let’s start with last week and the Premier’s State of the Province address, which I promised to write about within a few days of my last posting. (Yep, took a little longer than I thought..) At that speech, hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Premier laid out the province’s plans to support education and skills development as part of the jobsHere economic stimulus strategy. We know that our workforce is the most educated in the province, but we also have significant challenges when it comes to literacy and numeracy skills (see Valerie Payn’s information in our last blog post). So Nova Scotia is making the commitment to improving the skills of adults who are unemployed or underemployed, several of whom are probably living with learning disabilities. That made me feel good.
Unfortunately, that feeling only lasted until the Premier was asked a question about education. Specifically he was asked what he would do to support our youngest learners develop the skills they need NOW so that we’re not facing the same skills deficits in the future. (Gee, I wonder who could have written that question?) The answer was not encouraging. The Premier, who appeared to be quite uncomfortable, could only say that Nova Scotia school enrolments are declining by 3000 students a year and education budgets can’t keep increasing. He didn’t say they’d be cut, but the writing is on the wall with the current directive to provincial school boards to plan for a 22% budget reduction over three years.
So where does that leave us, or specifically, our kids? In jeopardy of NOT mastering essential skills like reading (see a related posting - Literacy – A Call to Action). If we take any necessary cuts out on the frontline of education, that removes the resources and supports our kids need in the classroom: teachers who have a manageable workload and can meet the needs of their students; adequate resource support for our struggling learners; and music, art and other creative forms of expression that allow our kids to show us their strengths in an environment that otherwise demands conformity.
Kudos to Marilla Stephenson of The Chronicle Herald for making the link to education and the economy in her column, Education is the fast road to get kids out of poverty. She wrote about two studies that came out this week on the impact of child poverty. Her call for an approach focused on education made me want to stand up and cheer. In her words, education, “has been, and always will be, the road out of poverty. Starting when the children are young makes a whole lot of sense.” Amen.
Rhonda
Let’s start with last week and the Premier’s State of the Province address, which I promised to write about within a few days of my last posting. (Yep, took a little longer than I thought..) At that speech, hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Premier laid out the province’s plans to support education and skills development as part of the jobsHere economic stimulus strategy. We know that our workforce is the most educated in the province, but we also have significant challenges when it comes to literacy and numeracy skills (see Valerie Payn’s information in our last blog post). So Nova Scotia is making the commitment to improving the skills of adults who are unemployed or underemployed, several of whom are probably living with learning disabilities. That made me feel good.
Unfortunately, that feeling only lasted until the Premier was asked a question about education. Specifically he was asked what he would do to support our youngest learners develop the skills they need NOW so that we’re not facing the same skills deficits in the future. (Gee, I wonder who could have written that question?) The answer was not encouraging. The Premier, who appeared to be quite uncomfortable, could only say that Nova Scotia school enrolments are declining by 3000 students a year and education budgets can’t keep increasing. He didn’t say they’d be cut, but the writing is on the wall with the current directive to provincial school boards to plan for a 22% budget reduction over three years.
So where does that leave us, or specifically, our kids? In jeopardy of NOT mastering essential skills like reading (see a related posting - Literacy – A Call to Action). If we take any necessary cuts out on the frontline of education, that removes the resources and supports our kids need in the classroom: teachers who have a manageable workload and can meet the needs of their students; adequate resource support for our struggling learners; and music, art and other creative forms of expression that allow our kids to show us their strengths in an environment that otherwise demands conformity.
Let's hope that our policy makers take heed of the rising tide of voices that are calling for more creative solutions. If you have access to allnovascotia.com, check out AIMS Charles Cirtwell's thoughts on Education in the You Said It feature. Reducing the number of school boards and renting out unused space in half-empty schools were two alternatives he presented. He also laid out a terrific argument for school vouchers – allowing parents the choice to match the needs of their child to the school that can meet them. Sound familiar? Our current Tuition Support program allows parents of children with learning disabilities who qualify to get funding to attend Designated Special Education Private Schools in Nova Scotia. The system costs the province less than it would to keep those same students in the public school system, yet the child gets the individualized programming and class sizes they need. Why couldn’t that system work for everyone?
One last noteKudos to Marilla Stephenson of The Chronicle Herald for making the link to education and the economy in her column, Education is the fast road to get kids out of poverty. She wrote about two studies that came out this week on the impact of child poverty. Her call for an approach focused on education made me want to stand up and cheer. In her words, education, “has been, and always will be, the road out of poverty. Starting when the children are young makes a whole lot of sense.” Amen.
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