Well said Ed, REH
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Weick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Brian McAndrews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 10:23 PM Subject: Re: Crumble and despair in our education policy > Brian, I saw your response to Keith and agree with the impact that > Thaterism, Reaganomics and politicians of that shade of the spectrum have > had. And yes, Snobolen also demonstrated that you can't put the small > business mind in charge of major social programs and expect good results. I > don't know how the teachers in the public system do it. My wife, daughter > and I have just returned from a music evening at my daughter's high school. > My daughter is in the choir and it performed beautifully, suggesting that > the choir director, a teacher, had spent a tremendous amount of time with > the kids. Judging by how well the various bands performed, their directors, > also teachers, must also have spent a tremendous amount of time with those > kids too. > > My daughter will finish high school next term. She is a very good student > in some subjects but needs a fair bit of help in others. Her teachers have > always made sure she has had that help. Despite being under attack and not > given enough resources, they have done a very good job. Some have left, but > most have hung in, truly dedicated people. > > I think we still have some distance to go before we recognize as a society > that the small business mind may be great at running small businesses, but > does not usually have the scope, dedication or compassion to run something > of societal importance. > > Regards, Ed > > Ed Weick > 577 Melbourne Ave. > Ottawa, ON, K2A 1W7 > Canada > Phone (613) 728 4630 > Fax (613) 728 9382 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Brian McAndrews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Ed Weick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 5:13 PM > Subject: Re: Crumble and despair in our education policy > > > > > > Hi Ed, > > See my response to Keith re what Thatcher unleashed in the UK in the > > late seventies and it has made its way around the world (New Zealand, > > Australia, USA, Canada...) > > Need I remind you of Snobelen's "I will invent a crisis in education" > > which he boasted about in 1995. Well look around. Talk to some damn > > fine teachers,like many of my colleagues, who retired early with > > tears in their eyes because they couldn't stomach what they were > > being compelled to do anymore. Snobelen's manufactured crisis is very > > real and it is symptomatic of the crisis in medicine, nursing... > > > > Take care, > > Brian > > > > > > >Brian, I agree that fundamental reform is needed, and also agree that the > > >money being put back into the public system is not enough. However, > under > > >the present government you're not going to get reform that is in any > sense > > >fundamental and you're not going to get much more money, so you take what > > >you can get and keep working. My wife is on the local high school > council. > > >What she's heard from the local activists is that while they're not > happy, > > >they at least feel somewhat vindicated. It may be smoke and mirrors, but > I > > >would prefer to see it as half a loaf (or less). > > > > > >Ed > > > > > >Ed Weick > > >577 Melbourne Ave. > > >Ottawa, ON, K2A 1W7 > > >Canada > > >Phone (613) 728 4630 > > >Fax (613) 728 9382 > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > > >From: "Brian McAndrews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >To: "Ed Weick" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 11:04 AM > > >Subject: Re: Crumble and despair in our education policy > > > > > > > > >> Hi Ed, > > >> Here is a very different perspective which I support. I see the > > >> Rozanski report as 'smoke and mirrors'. > > >> > > >> Take care, > > >> Brian McAndrews > > >> ---------------------------- > > >> Rozanski validates Tories > > >> > > >> IAN URQUHART > > >> > > >> For anyone looking for fundamental reform in the way our schools are > > >> funded, the report of the > > >> Mordechai Rozanski task force is a huge disappointment. > > >> > > >> Most will focus on Rozanski's recommendation that the government > > >> pour another $1.8 billion into > > >> schools. > > >> > > >> That sounds like a lot, but it is to be spread over three years, or > > >> $600 million a year. Given an over-all > > >> education budget of $14.2 billion, that's an annual increase of just > > >> 3.5 per cent. > > >> > > >> And the government may not even have to spend that much. It could > > >> put the savings from the elimination of Grade 13 - estimated by the > > >> Ministry > > >> of Education to be $100 million - toward meeting Rozanski's target > > >> figure, for a net increase of just $500 million a year. > > >> > > >> That, perhaps not coincidentally, is the figure contained in a > > >> recently leaked memo from Finance Minister Janet Ecker's office. > > >> > > >> "The Premier (Ernie Eves) was musing about maintaining the annual > > >> increase in education funding of $500 million for the next three > > >> years," it said. > > >> > > >> So Rozanski has essentially recommended that the government spend > > >> what it was already planning to spend on education. > > >> > > >> And he has also validated the province's "student-focused funding > > >formula." > > >> > > >> That's the complex mechanism with which the government has > > >> controlled every dollar spent on education in Ontario since it took > > >> the responsibility > > >> away from school boards five years ago. > > >> > > >> Rather than recommend that the funding formula be blown up, Rozanski > > >> calls for some fine tuning. > > >> > > >> His report repeatedly mentions the need for "flexibility" in the > > >> funding of education because the needs and demands differ so greatly > > >> from board to > > >> board across the province. The provincial government "cannot be, and > > >> should not try to be, a micromanager," he says. > > >> > > >> But Rozanski then proceeds to ... micromanage. > > >> > > >> He recommends enhancing "the demographic component of the learning > > >> opportunities grant" to help urban boards with disadvantaged kids in > > >> their > > >> schools; funnelling more money to ex-urban boards through "the > > >> geographic circumstances grant" to keep small schools open in > > > > single-school > > >> communities; creating a new "deferred maintenance amortization fund" > > >> to allow cash-strapped boards to build new schools; and so on. > > >> > > >> Dismissed, in one sentence, is the idea of giving school boards back > > >> the power to levy their own taxes - say, up to 10 per cent of their > > >> budgets, as > > >> recommended by previous task forces. That would ensure the boards > > >> have the necessary money to deal with local priorities rather than > > >> having to look > > >> to the provincial government for a grant to cover every need. > > >> > > >> "I oppose such a restoration ... on the grounds of equity," Rozanski > > >says. > > >> > > >> So, the provincial government will remain solely responsible for > > >> raising money for education and will continue to dole it out with > > >> strings attached. > > >> > > >> It will, in other words, keep on micromanaging the system from the > > >> Mowat Block at Queen's Park (home of the Ministry of Education). > > >> > > >> Rozanski's report disappoints in other ways. For example, he avoids > > >> the sticky issue of how teachers' salaries are determined. Currently, > > >> individual > > >> boards are responsible for collective bargaining with the teachers' > > >> unions, but the province decides how much money is available for pay > > >> increases. > > >> > > >> It is an absurd division of responsibility, and some had hoped > > >> (feared?) Rozanski would recommend a move toward province-wide > > >> bargaining. He > > >> does not. > > >> > > >> Nor does he tackle the problem of excessively large school boards - > > >> one in northwestern Ontario is the size of France - that make local > > >> decision > > >> making difficult, if not impossible. > > >> > > >> Instead, he recommends that the "minister of education review ... > > >> the education governance structure." > > >> > > >> It is, in brief, a safely bureaucratic report. > > >> > > >> That is not surprising, because Rozanski, president of the > > >> University of Guelph, was heavily dependent on the Mowat Block > > >> bureaucracy for his > > >> research and information. He commissioned no independent research. > > >> > > >> No wonder, then, that the government embraced his report. > > >> > > >> "I am pleased that Dr. Rozanski has confirmed that our > > >> student-focused funding formula is an effective way to foster > > >> excellence and bring fairness for > > >> all students," Eves said yesterday. > > >> > > >> Rozanski has given Eves and the Tories what they wanted: He has > > >> bought them time on the education file to get them through the next > > >> provincial > > >> election, expected in 2003. > > >> > > >> Fundamental reform will, apparently, have to wait until after that > > >election. > > >> > > >> For in the long run, the status quo - a centralized education system > > >> run entirely out of Queen's Park - is untenable. The same problems > > >> that > > >> prompted the government to appoint Rozanski -deficits, inadequate > > >> funding of different sectors, school closings and so on - will raise > > >> their ugly > > >> heads again in a few years' time. > > >> > > >> Additional articles by Ian Urquhart > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> FAQs| Site Map| Privacy Policy| Contact Us| > > >> Subscribe| My Subscription > > >> > > >> > > >> Home| GTA| Business| Waymoresports| > > >A&E| Life > > >> > > >> > > >> Legal Notice:- Copyright 1996-2002. Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. > > >> All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or > > >> republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly > > >> prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star > > >> Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our > webmaster > > >form. > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> >Even the right leaning Globe and Mail appears to believe that one way > to > > >fix > > >> >a vital but crumbling public service is to put some money into it. > From > > >> >today's editorial page: > > >> > > > >> >"Rozanski's prescription > > >> > > > >> >Thursday, December 12, 2002 - Page A24 > > >> > > > >> >Mordechai Rozanski has just done for education in Ontario what the > > >one-man > > >> >royal commission did last month for Canadian health care. Reporting > to > > >the > > >> >provincial government, he argued that a lot more tax money be spent: > > >roughly > > >> >$2-billion a year, on a $14-billion system, by 2005-06. But not > without > > >> >strings; in particular, he wants the system to account more > transparently > > >> >for its spending. > > > > > > > >> >He makes a good case that a high-quality education system requires a > high > > >> >level of public investment. "Britain and other jurisdictions came to > this > > >> >realization," he says. A footnote points to an essay asserting that > > >former > > >> >British prime minister Margaret Thatcher challenged the schools in > the > > >1980s > > >> >to improve by instituting new tests and standards, but did not > provide > > >> >support for teacher training or address inner-city needs. The result? > > >> >Conflict and demoralization. > > >> > > > >> >Much the same happened in Mike Harris's Ontario. A rigorous new > > >curriculum, > > >> >new provincewide tests, publication of results, more equitable > funding of > > >> >school boards -- all are sound policies. But much went awry in > > >> >implementation. The funding remained stuck at 1998 levels; Dr. > Rozanski > > >> >would add $1.08-billion just to keep up with student growth and > > >inflation. > > >> >Expected savings from amalgamating small boards did not help rich > boards > > >> >whose funds were siphoned off for poor boards. Teacher training > suffered. > > >So > > >> >did special-education pupils. > > >> > > > >> >The result has been a series of strange goings-on, in which > school-board > > >> >trustees in Toronto and Ottawa broke the law by passing deficit > budgets, > > >and > > >> >the province (now Ernie Eves's Ontario) appointed a supervisor to > take > > >over > > >> >and cut costs. All this while Dr. Rozanski was hard at work, about to > > >> >recommend that the money be put back and more added. > > >> > > > >> >Dr. Rozanski, who was presumably not chosen by the Tories for being a > > >> >wild-eyed radical, embodies the virtues of Canada's public schools. > The > > >> >child of immigrants, he became the president of Ontario's University > of > > >> >Guelph. Public schools gave him, in his words, "the promise of a > future." > > >> > > > >> >That promise does not come cheaply. In education, unlike medicine, > > >Canadians > > >> >have a choice: They can opt for the private alternative. And they > have > > >done > > >> >so. Between 1995 and 1999, private-school enrolment grew by 40,000 in > > >> >Ontario, rising to 103,000. The public system, with an enrolment of > 2.1 > > >> >million, must be protected; it remains the key to social progress and > > >> >mobility. > > >> > > > >> >Wisely, Dr. Rozanski insists that school boards, principals, teachers > and > > >> >other staff be accountable for using their resources effectively, a > point > > >> >never fully embraced by trustees. For instance, more flexible and > > >beefed-up > > >> >grants for local priorities and for inner-city children should > receive > > >> >greater public discussion and there should be follow-up reports on > what > > >has > > >> >been achieved. > > >> > > > >> >And he has found a way out of a shameful box on special education. > > >Absurdly, > > >> >auditor Al Rosen criticized the Ottawa school board for offering > separate > > >> >classes for special-education students, a criticism made not on > > >pedagogical > > >> >grounds but because the board could not afford to bus them to those > > >classes. > > >> >Yesterday, the province said its first action would be additional > > >financing > > >> >for special-ed, including transportation. > > >> > > > >> >Ontario needs to be fiscally responsible, but it has promised parents > > >better > > >> >schools. It is appropriate to begin the rebuilding with those most in > > >need." > > >> > > > >> >Ed Weick > > >> >577 Melbourne Ave. > > >> >Ottawa, ON, K2A 1W7 > > >> >Canada > > >> >Phone (613) 728 4630 > > >> >Fax (613) 728 9382 > > >> > > > >> >----- Original Message ----- > > >> >From: "Keith Hudson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >> >Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2002 3:14 AM > > >> >Subject: Crumble and despair in our education policy > > >> > > > >> > > > >> >> Charles Clarke, the present Minister for Education, is seriously > > >proposing > > >> >> that head-teachers should have the power to fine parents whose > > >children > > >> >are > > >> >> skipping school. > > >> >> > > >> >> The proposal has only just been released this morning. It will, of > > >course, > > >> >> die a death almost immediately because it's more than a step > towards > > >the > > >> >> sort of totalitarianism of Communist USSR or Nazi Germany but, > > >> >> nevertheless, it's yet another indication of the depth of despair > that > > >> >> politicians in the present Labour government have about the > > >fast-crumbling > > >> >> state education system in England. > > > > >> > > >> >> Keith Hudson > > >> > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > >- > > >> >-- > > >> >> ------------ > > >> >> > > >> >> Keith Hudson, General Editor, Handlo Music, http://www.handlo.com > > >> >> 6 Upper Camden Place, Bath BA1 5HX, England > > >> >> Tel: +44 1225 312622; Fax: +44 1225 447727; > mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >> >> > > >________________________________________________________________________ > > >> > > >> > > > > > > -- > > ************************************************** > > * Brian McAndrews, Practicum Coordinator * > > * Faculty of Education, Queen's University * > > * Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6 * > > * FAX:(613) 533-6596 Phone (613) 533-6000x74937* > > * e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * > > * "Education is not the filling of a pail, * > > * but the lighting of a fire. * > > * W.B.Yeats * > > * * > > ************************************************** > > >
