Alberta Politics & Government Thread 4.0

[Fuzz]

Didn't Smith already put in her own version a year or so ago? Maybe it's more limited than this, but I recall it limiting cabinet communication and the like.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DJones

Most other jurisdictions don't follow strict one size fits all philosophies on education and funding.

Like sure, there's no reason the government couldn't replicate Renfrew and fund it appropriately and put someone in charge that knew what they were doing. Aside from it going directly against the core idea of equal education. Only reason Charter schools get a pass is because they get equal funding.

There's nothing stopping the government from having 4 or 5 different education streams with different goals, funding, and curriculums. That's a completely self imposed limitation that will inevitably fail the kids who that will never work for. Same with school fees. You can have people pay school fees that are related to your children. That's normal in most countries.

Ok, cool, so you admit that it could be done in a public, publicly funded system, and the barrier is "equal education", something you apparently came up with.

Inclusion is not just about learners with special needs. It is an attitude and approach that embraces diversity and learner differences and promotes equal opportunities for all learners in Alberta. Alberta’s education system is built on a values-based approach to accepting responsibility for all children and students.
Every learner has unique needs. Some learners have profound and ongoing needs and others have short-term or situation-based needs. This calls for flexible and responsive learning environments that can adapt to the changing needs of learners.

https://www.alberta.ca/inclusive-education


From my understanding the goal is to make outcomes as even as possible, not give every kid the identical equal education.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ok, cool, so you admit that it could be done in a public, publicly funded system, and the barrier is "equal education", something you apparently came up with.



https://www.alberta.ca/inclusive-education


From my understanding the goal is to make outcomes as even as possible, not give every kid the identical equal education.

Equal education is simply each student gets the same curriculum, funding, and classrooms. It's a core tenant of how we run public schooling.

The alternative is generally called specialization or streamed education. In Europe they'd identify the kids and put them in an appropriate school. That being a Renfrew type school within the public system. Same for high schools. Trade stream goes to this school. University stream goes here. It's all public meaning government funded, all the schools just aren't identical.

So yes, its entirely possible for public schools to become specialized. It's a choice we made decades ago to not do that.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DJones

Equal education is simply each student gets the same curriculum, funding, and classrooms. It's a core tenant of how we run public schooling.

The alternative is generally called specialization or streamed education. In Europe they'd identify the kids and put them in an appropriate school. That being a Renfrew type school within the public system. Same for high schools. Trade stream goes to this school. University stream goes here. It's all public meaning government funded, all the schools just aren't identical.

So yes, its entirely possible for public schools to become specialized. It's a choice we made decades ago to not do that.

Please read the link, that's not how it works.


Streamed education is an idea I support, if done well.


You say we made a choice decades ago, but no one says we have to keep failing in the same ways just because a decision was made in the past.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DJones

Equal education is simply each student gets the same curriculum, funding, and classrooms. It's a core tenant of how we run public schooling.

The alternative is generally called specialization or streamed education. In Europe they'd identify the kids and put them in an appropriate school. That being a Renfrew type school within the public system. Same for high schools. Trade stream goes to this school. University stream goes here. It's all public meaning government funded, all the schools just aren't identical.

So yes, its entirely possible for public schools to become specialized. It's a choice we made decades ago to not do that.

*tenet

There are specialized schools in Alberta. My kid student teaches at one. Years ago, in my former life I subbed at another.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Please read the link, that's not how it works.


Streamed education is an idea I support, if done well.


You say we made a choice decades ago, but no one says we have to keep failing in the same ways just because a decision was made in the past.

I wasn't referring to inclusive classrooms. That's a somewhat related bad policy but not what I was talking about. More an extension to the extreme of a bad idea.

And ya, if they completely changed course and drastically changed the foundation of our education system. That would allow schools like Renfrew to exist in the public system. But that's not happening at all, it's not even a discussion. If anything the trend is to go even further, I wouldn't be surprised if charter schools get killed off in the near future. Other people's kids having a different learning experience seems to drive people crazy.

Which is why the idea of copying Renfrew philosophy into the public system is a dead idea

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by DJones

The alternative is generally called specialization or streamed education. In Europe they'd identify the kids and put them in an appropriate school. That being a Renfrew type school within the public system. Same for high schools. Trade stream goes to this school. University stream goes here. It's all public meaning government funded, all the schools just aren't identical.

You don't have to go across the pond to find examples of this. Manitoba's public school system is like that, particularly in high schools. I went to the University-entry high school in my area, while about 10 minutes away there was a trades-focused high school a few of my friends went to (of whom I was a bit jealous of because they had an auto shop for the Power Mech. course I wanted to take). Hell, there is a literally a school in Winnipeg named 'Technical Vocational High School' (or colloquially, Tec-Voc).

[DJones]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You don't have to go across the pond to find examples of this. Manitoba's public school system is like that, particularly in high schools. I went to the University-entry high school in my area, while about 10 minutes away there was a trades-focused high school a few of my friends went to (of whom I was a bit jealous of because they had an auto shop for the Power Mech. course I wanted to take). Hell, there is a literally a school in Winnipeg named 'Technical Vocational High School' (or colloquially, Tec-Voc).

Quick google didn't tell me much. How does it work? They get a curriculum exemption? Additional funding?

Just found schools get property taxes directly instead of it going to the province first. That would likely explain it, definitely gives more flexibility to larger schools in Winnipeg