[Harry Lime]

Two quick things.

Poster ^ one thing that hasn't been brought up until now, that is interesting. Supporting both the Catholic and Public school boards. It really does feel like it's basically supporting to streams of administration and little else. Most of the people that I know that have gone through the Catholic system, really had no effect on their belief systems. Church and Home seem like the ideal places for religion.

I was actually wondering, as a result of that comment, whether the new Muslim campus that is being built will also end up as a third wheel of support for the educational system to deal with? Is it purely privately funded? Tax free or not? (I actually have some serious worries about curriculum issues there as well, but no use in derailing the thread)

The second thing that I would like to mention is in relation to the class size issue raised by the OP. Earlier in the year, I was helping a friend set up a classroom in an attempt to sit 36 kids in the two biggest classes. The other four classes sat 32 or less, and weren't an issue, as the class fit 32 chairs and tables. We ended up having to bring in two extra desks to put in front of the doorway (yes, it still opened comfortably) and the extra kids sat at the teachers desk.

One of the classes was a dash two stream, and the rules that the province put in a couple of years ago means that they all had laptops in front of them for each class. My friend is a fantastic teacher, and makes situations like this work, but the the physical and emotional toll regulating a classroom like that is immense.