Greater Victoria public schools thread

well why don't we watch a tedtalk, then discuss?  that seems real reasonable to me.  rather than my junior highschool teacher standing in front of us and talking about a subject he does not really know so much about.

 

especially about topics like technology and economics - that she might not have studied closely in decades.

it's a little hard for your science teacher to throw a cow's eye at you through a ted talk video... or call you out when your not paying attention from a video (i used to have a teacher that would pace the classroom and randomly stare at people just to make sure they were listening)

Why would you send your kids to a French only school?

Intending for them to become politicians?

Certainly no business or economic reason.

I got a huge kick out of parents choosing whether or not to apply for French immersion when my kid first went to school. It was very secretive who applied, who didn't, and why. I believe the main reason is what VW said above. It's basically pseudo private school because of the good ratios of teachers to kids, and the lack of special needs kids. Most parents would never admit it though.  It was a big reason why I DIDN'T want to apply. I didn't want to be hanging around at the hot dog sale with a bunch of opportunistic wanna be private school parents.

Edited by Szeven, 28 April 2021 - 05:15 AM.

My understanding that French only was different than French immersion, but I have no direct knowledge of that.

My kids went to private school and learned Spanish and Cantonese, which seemed a lot more useful than French.

well why don't we watch a tedtalk, then discuss?  that seems real reasonable to me.  rather than my junior highschool teacher standing in front of us and talking about a subject he does not really know so much about.

 

especially about topics like technology and economics - that she might not have studied closely in decades.

Some teachers do this already. It's not a fundamental change in schooling like you're asking for, unless you're saying we should have kids do that for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week for 13 years? 

Your original statement was why do we still do school like we do in the 60s. I maintain we don't. It's changed a lot. Sure, some elements are the same, such as we still have classes, still have one teacher, still have a grade structure of K to 12.

Grading, testing and teach methods have changed a lot. Material of course has changed in nearly every subject (arguably, not always for the better, e.g. 'new' math).

So what are you referring to? You want kids to just have more screen time? 

Mike's how-to video sidebar is pointless too. First off, you may learn some from those videos, but you know full well you learn far more from doing (or attempting to) what the video is about. I watch a few videos on repairing my dryer. Great, gives me the info to get started, but I really learn when I actually do it. Plus, would Mike have been able to follow those videos if not for school teaching stuff like distance and measuring, following steps, critical thinking, solving puzzles...

My understanding that French only was different than French immersion, but I have no direct knowledge of that.

 

My kids went to private school and learned Spanish and Cantonese, which seemed a lot more useful than French.

that is my understanding also.. the french only schools are designed for those who speak french at home on a daily basis, and primary language spoken is french.. at kindergarten your expected to come in already knowing french.. where french immersion a child starts maybe having a basic idea of french or little french and the classes start out learning french alongside English slowly transitioning the class language to french being the main language within the class for all lessons..

Mike's how-to video sidebar is pointless too. First off, you may learn some from those videos, but you know full well you learn far more from doing (or attempting to) what the video is about. I watch a few videos on repairing my dryer. Great, gives me the info to get started, but I really learn when I actually do it. Plus, would Mike have been able to follow those videos if not for school teaching stuff like distance and measuring, following steps, critical thinking, solving puzzles...

So what are you referring to? You want kids to just have more screen time? 

 

.

how about a parallel public or private system where if a gifted high school child wants to "learn ahead" they can take online modules then be tested at school or at a private facility to earn extra points towards university credits or at least accreditation or acceptance?

similarly how about extra learning modules supplied by the school district or province where students having difficulty with one topic or subject can go for extra online study?  and perhaps these topics or subjects can also have different online learning styles than those presented in the classroom.  i think we've all had teachers we can't understand, or we are afraid to ask questions of, or present in a style that does not resonate.  then we go onto another teacher in the very same subject and the learning is somehow presented in a way or style that allows us to understand better with that teacher, for whatever reason.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2021 - 05:50 AM.

Do honor/ AP tracks not exist? What’s wrong with that?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 29 April 2021 - 06:36 AM.

Parkland has started to offer the IB (International Baccalaureate) program.

http://www.parklandib.ca/

The IB Diploma Program prepares students for participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society as they develop intellectually, emotionally, physically and ethically while acquiring skills that will prepare them for further education and life in the 21st century. Universities across Canada and around the world regard the IB program as excellent preparation for university entrance.

It all comes down to the kid and who they associate with. You can IB them all you want but it’s 90% self-determination and aspiration that gets you through school, not programming.

90% parents, 5% kid, 5% teacher IMO. that self-determiniation/aspiration is all parent driven. Kids see successful parent(s), who push them, make sure they do their work, teach them in many other ways at home... that's invaluable. 

IMHO anyways! I do my best with my kids but I'm not perfect. Still very proud of them 

Do honor/ AP tracks not exist? What’s wrong with that?

90% parents, 5% kid, 5% teacher IMO. that self-determiniation/aspiration is all parent driven. Kids see successful parent(s), who push them, make sure they do their work, teach them in many other ways at home... that's invaluable. 
 
IMHO anyways! I do my best with my kids but I'm not perfect. Still very proud of them 

I was told FI kids are taught math in a different way and when they hit regular high school some are a bit bewildered.