Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Fuzz]

I don't think they deserve any praise at all for this. The reason it is a disaster is because they let it become a disaster. And now they are gonna fix it? If they had been on top of this over the decades they were in power, we wouldn't be in crisis and need crisis spending to fill in all the holes, which inevitably costs us more in the long run and deprives students of good learning environments in the meantime. Zero. ####ing. praise. But people vote for this, so I guess that's how they want to be governed. And are happy enough to clap like trained seals after getting pissed on and thrown a towel to wipe it off.

[Superflyer]

The way that Smith put the onus on the cities to permit and approve places for schools makes me curious. Doesn't every new community have a large sign that says Future home of new school? Are these not already set aside for that purpose or are the builders just full of it?
I know the ones around me have those and about 10 years later one of them finally has a school

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

The way that Smith put the onus on the cities to permit and approve places for schools makes me curious. Doesn't every new community have a large sign that says Future home of new school? Are these not already set aside for that purpose or are the builders just full of it?
I know the ones around me have those and about 10 years later one of them finally has a school

It's just her using the moment to exert control, you know, spread some blame around if things go slow, and make sure the people know who to blame when that happens. Just trash that should be expected by now. I don't think she knows how to make an announcement and not point a finger at the same time.

[FlameOn]

They aren't even fixing the problem, it's just making the problem they created less worse. They underfunded schools to the point that we had a province wide 33K school spot deficit for the coming school year and this announcement only addresses 50K new school spots over 4 years. It's barely a drop in the bucket.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

The way that Smith put the onus on the cities to permit and approve places for schools makes me curious. Doesn't every new community have a large sign that says Future home of new school? Are these not already set aside for that purpose or are the builders just full of it?
I know the ones around me have those and about 10 years later one of them finally has a school

Yeah, there are tons of spaces available for schools. Land developers have to set aside a certain percentage of land, and then the public and separate boards divide it up and decide which type of schools go where. Each board makes a priority list and submits it to the government.

One thing we don't have in Alberta is a shortage of sites in places that desperately need a new school...

[TheIronMaiden]

The UCP trying to slap flex seal on the last 5 years of Conservative policy.

[Looch City]

Fixing problems that they created themselves, blame Trudeau, and then watch as your base eats it all up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tried and true UCP formula. It's too bad half this province is too god damn stupid or willfully blind to see through it.

[Geraldsh]

All UCP has is a plan to erect some buildings - no plan for staffing or support structure. When and how will they address those shortages.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

The way that Smith put the onus on the cities to permit and approve places for schools makes me curious. Doesn't every new community have a large sign that says Future home of new school? Are these not already set aside for that purpose or are the builders just full of it?
I know the ones around me have those and about 10 years later one of them finally has a school

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's just her using the moment to exert control, you know, spread some blame around if things go slow, and make sure the people know who to blame when that happens. Just trash that should be expected by now. I don't think she knows how to make an announcement and not point a finger at the same time.

It gets complicated from what I know. Certain land is designated and zoned for specific uses like schools but that doesn't absolve the builders from going through the entire process of public consultation, planning and permitting. There is no blanket zoning or process for handing over a piece of landing and digging a foundation the next day.

In some cases, when school sites go unused for a long time and then come up for development it results in a public outcry. In my community, there was a school site designated in 1971 but nothing was ever built there and the residents used it as a local park and greeen space. In 2012 the city permitted the building of a new school and the local residents were outraged that they were losing their park and a big lawsuit was filed to block the development.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Geraldsh

All UCP has is a plan to erect some buildings - no plan for staffing or support structure. When and how will they address those shortages.

That is what makes me think that is really just a grift to get the precedent set on paying for private schools

[iggy_oi]

Public money should not be spent on building private schools.

If there is a business case to have them built on their own dime with the understanding and agreement that they will be required to follow curriculum guidelines then do that if you’re going to allow a private option.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Sultan

That's a long document that I am sure you haven't read. These are the Alberta rules TLDR.


Provide basic education in a different or enhanced way
follow Alberta's programs of study (curriculum)
have a focus not already offered by the board of the school authority in which the public charter school is located – this could include unique:

learning styles
teaching styles
approaches
philosophies
pedagogies
vocation-based education


Do you still think it public will receive as much as private? We can leave what they teach in future schools. You are happy with the funding, where is it going? It's obviously going to religious school building now which has never been done before. How much will public school funding get in your opinion?

You aware that Charter schools cannot be affiliated with a religious institution and any religious instruction needs to conform to section 58 of the act the same as every public school. These aren’t private religious school. They are also all Non-profits.

Have a read through the handbook if you won’t read through the act.

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/6789...dbook-2022.pdf

Or just read through the list of Charter Schools in Alberta and identify which ones you object to

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_charter_schools

Honestly I think you are confusing the public funding of private schools that charge tuition and the public funding of charter schools that don’t charge tuition. These are two separate issues.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Public money should not be spent on building private schools.

If there is a business case to have them built on their own dime with the understanding and agreement that they will be required to follow curriculum guidelines then do that if you’re going to allow a private option.

It's no different from public money spent building an arena for a private hockey team. It's the UCP capitalist way.

[AFireInside]

Why should charter schools get any money? If people want to send their children to anything other than a public school they can pay for it, period.
That money should go to the public school system and that's it. While we're at it catholic schools should also go away. Make them all public schools, fund them properly, set good curriculum. Stop slicing and dicing where the money goes.

I also don't like the idea that privately operated institutions are getting public money and more autonomy from the public school system and what they can teach. Yes they have to follow the curriculum but they can also add additional programs and philosophies.

This is a joke.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

Why should charter schools get any money? If people want to send their children to anything other than a public school they can pay for it, period.
That money should go to the public school system and that's it. While we're at it catholic schools should also go away. Make them all public schools, fund them properly, set good curriculum. Stop slicing and dicing where the money goes.

I also don't like the idea that privately operated institutions are getting public money and more autonomy from the public school system and what they can teach. Yes they have to follow the curriculum but they can also add additional programs and philosophies.

This is a joke.

Charter schools are public schools though.

[Ozy_Flame]

Charter schools are just public schools with specialized focuses and teh ability to be selective about who they let in. They have independent (unelected) boards that govern them, they take public money, and they can't receive funding through local property taxes.

Do I agree these should be public? No. However, they are, and as such, Albertans have to maneuver within that model. Frankly the 'one size fits all' model can be a bit too strict as well. I think with emerging patterns in society there is a space for specialized cirriculums.

Frankly if they're going to exist, I would like to see charter schools specialize in things like climate science, STEM, ethical entrepreneurship, or agricultural and urban studies.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Frankly if they're going to exist, I would like to see charter schools specialize in things like climate science, STEM, ethical entrepreneurship, or agricultural and urban studies.

They do exactly this right now and more including things like focusing on arts or providing feminist learning environments or teaching liberal arts and so on. What do you think the charter schools in Alberta are focusing on?

Partial list from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_charter_schools):
Alberta Classical Academy Ltd. - Students acquire an academically rigorous and traditional liberal arts education, focusing on classical Western canon art, literature, and philosophy. Offers language instruction in French, Mandarin, and Latin.

Calgary Arts Academy (CAA) - Students learn Alberta Curriculum through Arts Immersion.

Calgary Girls' Charter School (CGCS) - All-female school with a focus on developing a strong sense of self and understanding historical and contemporary gender issues.

Connect Charter School - Formerly called the Calgary Science School. Focus on outdoor education and technology. More instruction time on mathematics, science, and technology, employing a problem-based approach to learning.

Fusion Education Association - Students will be able to choose from the specialized pathways in business and entrepreneurship; animal and health sciences; skilled trades; or pursue an open pathway (blended). Graduates will obtain a high-school diploma, and either 1) a certificate, diploma or up to 15 credits toward university or college diploma or degree courses, or 2) skilled industry training and credential(s) towards an Apprenticeship.

STEM Innovation Academy - Focus on STEM education and digital technologies. Sister school to Stem Collegiate (in Edmonton)

Boyle Street Education Centre - Offers trauma-informed, reconciliation-first education, primarily for inner-city Indigenous youth whose formal schooling has been interrupted. Available programming includes art, cooking, fashion, hairstyling, drama, Indigenous cultural experiences, music, woodworking, yoga, meditation, and more.

[Torture]

We spent millions on Alberta is Calling but didn't prepare for them to answer the phone.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

Why should charter schools get any money? If people want to send their children to anything other than a public school they can pay for it, period.
That money should go to the public school system and that's it. While we're at it catholic schools should also go away. Make them all public schools, fund them properly, set good curriculum. Stop slicing and dicing where the money goes.

I also don't like the idea that privately operated institutions are getting public money and more autonomy from the public school system and what they can teach. Yes they have to follow the curriculum but they can also add additional programs and philosophies.

This is a joke.

Do you hold this view for all publicly funded services?

Like the programs for children with speech delays is funded by the government and delivered by non-profit private companies.

Family medicine is delivered primarily through publicly funded for profit clinics.

What is it about “normal” public education that makes you hold this position.

In my opinion a limited charter schools is likely a benefit where they offer a different service to what the standard public school offers. I don’t think it would beneficial to have them in direct competition though.

[puffnstuff]

If everyone has direct access to a charter school, if they dont pick and choose who they admit, if theres no waiting list...then yes, its a public school, but the access isnt the same, so its not a public school like the rest of them.

And its been a while now, but when one of mine was young and had a hearing issue leading to the need for speech therapy it wasnt provided by a private company. It was done at the Childrens Hospital by AHS staff.