Won’t refuse ‘catch-up’ dollars, but this is no educated solution

On Oct.20, the Ontario’s provincial government announced the “Catch Up Payments” plan. Unfortunately, most parents of school-aged children still haven’t heard about the $200 to 250 dollars available through a simple online application process. According to its press release, the Ministry of Education’s “Plan to Catch Up,” is “to keep students in class learning for the entirety of the school …

Opinon: Learning stream removal requires solid supports

Last week, the provincial government announced that Grade 9 academic and applied learning streaming would end in September 2022. Maybe because I am often repelled by decisions of this government, or maybe because I thought I’d read that they were ending all streaming, my first reaction was: “Say it isn’t so!” Since that original reaction, I now applaud it, if …

Here’s how to get my vote

Since I’m now receiving robo-calls from political candidates, I guess it’s indeed that time again. Politicians, if you want my vote, here’s how to get it. Firstly, focus on issues that you can deliver on, not things that while they may be good ideas, are completely out of your mandate. (And if you do get elected, make sure you deliver …

Expect more, praise less in class

Across Ontario, the academic prowess of schools is being compared and contrasted based on provincial tests in certain subjects. Only one school in Northern Ontario cracked the top 100 of 725 secondary schools across Ontario. In Algoma there was one school ranked in the 200s, and the rest in the 500s. Two schools in Toronto have been noted for their …

Our students should not be schooled in shortcuts and slacking off

Does quantity now trump quality for high school graduates? Does our educational assessment system now pander to the lowest common denominator? I’ve never been a proponent of quantity over quality and perhaps I’m being negative here, but I’m worried. Should we be happy with September’s report from the Ministry of Education that 67 per cent of Grades 3 and 6 …

Get into the back-to-school atmosphere and learn something new

COLUMN: A time of change and new beginnings September, for me, has always been a time of change; a time of learning. Whether grabbing my lunch off the counter, stuffing a duffel for university, or packing my child’s backpack for her first day of school, it is a different bag, but always representing a new beginning, a new opportunity. I …