1114 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

I’ve got nothing but good things to say about private schools (I sent my kid to one from pre to grade 12).

 

The Fraser Institutes rating has little to do with the school in Bella Bella, but certainly reflects that the local social structure from which students come is under a challenge that doesn’t prioritize education as highly as it should. A lot of that is on parents, not teachers. 
 

That’s the rub - these ratings may have more to do with regional, parental,and local culture and issues, and not very much to do with the quality of education being offered. 

 

 

AGREE!    But don't they help identify where we should triage better resources?   

 

I do not want poor outcomes for Bella Bella!

[Mike K.]

Both our kids had mostly a wonderful experience in French immersion k-12. Big difference? Motivated parents.

French immersion is a little known secret level of education that offers a much higher standard, generally, than regular schools in the public system.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’ve got nothing but good things to say about private schools (I sent my kid to one from pre to grade 12).

The Fraser Institutes rating has little to do with the school in Bella Bella, but certainly reflects that the local social structure from which students come is under a challenge that doesn’t prioritize education as highly as it should. A lot of that is on parents, not teachers.

That’s the rub - these ratings may have more to do with regional, parental,and local culture and issues, and not very much to do with the quality of education being offered.

Sone charter schools that even operate in the very same building as regular schools - so they have the same catchment and thus the same parental and local culture and economic classes - do substantially better than regular schools. The reason, they eject misbehaving kids back to regular schools. It’s very underreported how a few disruptive students in each classroom can bring an entire class or school down. Robbing the other 90 or 95% of students of a quality education.

[Blair M.]

It’s very underreported how a few disruptive students in each classroom can bring an entire class or school down. Robbing the other 90 or 95% of students of a quality education.

Yes, I agree completely.

 

Further to Mike's note above regarding French Immersion, I also know folks who send their kids to Catholic Schools, but who aren't Catholic (Catholic schools don't do any sort of check).

Catholic Schools are also less than half the cost of an inexpensive normal private school, but possess all the same benefits in terms of the quality of education offered.

Edited by Blair M., 24 January 2025 - 10:34 AM.

[lanforod]

The local Catholic schools do prioritize Catholic students (and give them a discount on tuition if they are active parish members), so there might not be a 'check' per se, if you want to get higher up waitlists its a big help.

[Blair M.]

Yes, for clarity I should have just noted that you don't have to be Catholic to go to a Catholic school.

 

For Catholic schools, your best bet is to get your child in at the pre-school and/or kindergarten level, with the stated intent that they're going right through to Grade 12. 

The space that child occupies in the Catholic School System is essentially "reserved" all the way from pre-school and into Grade 1 through Grade 12.

There are also provisions in finding space for younger siblings of children already attending, although not with an iron clad guarantee of enrolment right off the bat in Grade 1.

 

It can be difficult to get a child into the Catholic School System for the first time going into a later grade though, with time on a wait list almost guaranteed.

Edited by Blair M., 24 January 2025 - 01:27 PM.

[LJ]

Sone charter schools that even operate in the very same building as regular schools - so they have the same catchment and thus the same parental and local culture and economic classes - do substantially better than regular schools. The reason, they eject misbehaving kids back to regular schools. It’s very underreported how a few disruptive students in each classroom can bring an entire class or school down. Robbing the other 90 or 95% of students of a quality education.

Charter schools in the US can draw students from any catchment, the parents receive the funds and they can go to any school they wish. The upside is that schools that do well get sustained enrolment which encourages other schools to do better. The downside is some people don't use the funds entirely for education.

[LJ]

Arizona will open an AI powered charter school later this year, in place of teachers students will get 2 hours of core instruction by AI...

 

https://www.azcentra...es/78028937007/

[Victoria Watcher]

When the British Columbia government fired the Greater Victoria school board last week, it effectively made police liaison programs mandatory in schools while failing to provide a factual basis for the decision, the B.C. Human Rights commissioner said in a letter. 

 

Kasari Govender said in the letter to Education Minister Lisa Beare and Public Safety Minister Gary Begg that failure to fund research into the matter is contrary to the government’s human rights obligations “and undermines its stated values to combat racism.” 

 

The letter, dated Monday, came after Beare fired the entire elected board of the Greater Victoria School District last Thursday over its refusal to allow police in schools except in emergencies. 

 

 

https://www.timescol...firing-10183851

 

 

Govender said that it is “past time” for funding of research into police in schools, and that an evidence-based policy is more effective and likely to avoid bias. 

 

She said the debate on police in schools has been “muddied by misinformation and misunderstandings, fear-mongering and tenuous claims about the relationship between the program and children’s safety have proliferated.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The commissioner says there are “significant gaps” in evidence supporting school police liaison officers and there is not enough research to say definitively whether police presence in schools keeps young people safe and thriving.

 

Govender says it is “past time” for funding of research into police in schools, and that an evidence-based policy is more effective and likely to avoid bias.

 

The former board of the school district said its ban on police was based on reports that some students and teachers — particularly those who are Indigenous or people of colour — did not feel safe with officers in schools.

 

https://www.vicnews....-firing-7800926

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 05 February 2025 - 01:13 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

But Nika Jurcic, Quw’utsun Secondary School council president said with everything the new school has, it’s also surprising what it’s missing. The high school’s halls are completely absent of any lockers.

“A lot of students have been concerned about it,” said Jurcic, a Grade 12 student. 

Students started a petition to bring lockers to the new school. But according to Cathy Schmidt, board of education chair for the Cowichan Valley school district, lockers don’t fit there.

“We actually don’t have the wall space to fit lockers,” said Schmidt.

 

 

https://cheknews.ca/...erpass-1237990/

 

 

What kind of a high school does not have lockers?    

 

 

EDIT:   apparently they are not very popular.

 

 

 

“Somewhere along the line our students generally felt there wasn’t a high need or high demand for lockers,” said Principal Scott Gengler. When Gengler started as the school’s principal 10 years ago, 9th graders were assigned lockers but rarely used them. Now, all students are able to request a locker if they want — but only about 100 do so each year.

 

https://www.k12dive....tecture/707649/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 February 2025 - 02:34 AM.

[Mike K.]

Weird. They were essential, or felt like they were.

Maybe kids aren’t carrying around heavy books any more. Maybe break-ins are occurring nowadays.

[Barrister]

We used lockers for coats and boots and winter gloves,

[Barrister]

They should have fired the Human Rights Commissioner at the same time. A complete wack job.

[mbjj]

That's my old high school. I don't know where kids put their coats, wet umbrellas, PE gear etc. Maybe they don't have text books but don't they do any writing on paper any longer? 

[Matt R.]

Weird. They were essential, or felt like they were.

Maybe kids aren’t carrying around heavy books any more. Maybe break-ins are occurring nowadays.

My kids aren’t all that far removed from HS but yeah, lockers weren’t super popular even then and kids just carried massive backpacks full of heavy books.

[Matt R.]

That's my old high school. I don't know where kids put their coats, wet umbrellas, PE gear etc. Maybe they don't have text books but don't they do any writing on paper any longer?

Lots of kids don’t get changed for PE anymore either.

[mbjj]

My kids aren’t all that far removed from HS but yeah, lockers weren’t super popular even then and kids just carried massive backpacks full of heavy books.

Early back trouble, lol! Seems crazy to me. One time I was on crutches and carrying a few books was hard enough. And no PE gear either I see. Wow. How can you properly participate in improper clothing? 

[LJ]

Early back trouble, lol! Seems crazy to me. One time I was on crutches and carrying a few books was hard enough. And no PE gear either I see. Wow. How can you properly participate in improper clothing? 

All the games they play are electronic.

[Matt R.]

Early back trouble, lol! Seems crazy to me. One time I was on crutches and carrying a few books was hard enough. And no PE gear either I see. Wow. How can you properly participate in improper clothing?

It’s fine when every day wear is casual athletic wear. Most of them just sort of sulk around anyways.

Nothing wrong with carrying some weight from class to class if you use both straps either.

[mbjj]

All the games they play are electronic.

A sad commentary for sure. I really enjoyed PE.