Archive for the ‘Education’ Category
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To humanize Muslims, let’s start in the classroom
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
Most Canadian students seemingly go through the education system without ever hearing about the plurality of the world’s histories, cultures, faiths and traditions, including Islam and Muslims… With such omissions, are school curriculums not unwittingly contributing to the dehumanization of Muslims and negating Islam’s place in world history?
Tags: globalization, ideology, immigration, multiculturalism, participation, youth
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
Mandatory e-learning announced by Ford government comes under fire from NDP
Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
“this is not about 21st century learning, this is not about technology; this is about making students take courses online that are now mandatory… This is about removing 10,000 teachers from our classrooms.”… student leaders have already asked the province to back off on making such credits necessary for graduation.
Tags: budget, ideology, participation, youth
Posted in Education Policy Context | 1 Comment »
Mandatory online courses in Ontario high schools raise concerns for educators
Sunday, March 24th, 2019
In a massive shift to digital coursework, Ontario will soon require high school students to earn four online credits before they graduate — a first in North America. But with few details about the move, which begins in 2020-21, critics are questioning the rapid push to so much virtual learning so soon… “Although e-learning classes provide a modernized learning experience for students, these courses are not a good fit for everyone,”
Tags: ideology, participation, youth
Posted in Education Policy Context | No Comments »
Ontario teachers’ union says increased class sizes could result in thousands of lost jobs, vows to fight the changes
Friday, March 22nd, 2019
Ms. Thompson has said that the increases in high-school class sizes would bring them in line with class sizes in other jurisdictions… She has also said earlier this week that increases in high-school class sizes will help students become more resilient, and better prepare them for university and work… Those comments were criticized by educators, who say she provided no evidence to back up her claim.
Tags: budget, ideology, standard of living, youth
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
Why is Doug Ford so mean to children?
Friday, March 22nd, 2019
According to Thompson, larger class sizes will build “confidence and resiliency” in children who must learn to cope in “the world of work.” This despite solid research showing that kids build resiliency through positive and stable relationships. As a result, Twitter erupted with mocking posts using the hashtag #moreresilient. She’s only repeating the lessons being taught in caucus.
Tags: budget, ideology, rights, standard of living, tax, youth
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
We should ban cellphones from classrooms. The research backs that up
Thursday, March 21st, 2019
Our most effective teachers, though, have adopted coping strategies and already utilize some form of check-in and check-out system for devices. The Ontario government’s initiative is more about helping to re-establish purposeful, productive classrooms for the majority of teachers as well as those students struggling in our schools… Classrooms will simply be better places for learning without the constant and distracting presence of the devices.
Tags: rights, youth
Posted in Education Debates | No Comments »
Budget 2019 promotes skills, scholarships and Indigenous student access
Wednesday, March 20th, 2019
… the federal Liberals tabled a budget on March 19 focused on skills, employment and youth, along with other items related to affordable housing, pharmacare and seniors. The budget contains several key items for the postsecondary sector, including a target to create 84,000 new student work placements across the country by 2023… The government has pledged $328 million over five years targeted at First Nations communities through expansion of the Postsecondary Student Support Program…
Tags: budget, Indigenous, jurisdiction, participation
Posted in Education Policy Context | No Comments »
Ford government announces hikes to high school class sizes, but no changes to kindergarten
Friday, March 15th, 2019
The Ford government is boosting class sizes starting in Grade 4 through to Grade 12 while promising no layoffs — though teacher unions expect about 4,500 positions will be eliminated each year over the next four years… Education Minister Lisa Thompson… unveiled a number of education reforms… including a back-to-basics math curriculum, tweaking of the sex-ed curriculum, and a plan to have each high school student take one online credit each year. Class sizes will remain the same from kindergarten to Grade 3, and from Grades 4-8 will increase by one student.
Tags: budget, ideology, youth
Posted in Education Delivery System | No Comments »
Ontario to look into school exclusions of children with autism
Thursday, March 14th, 2019
… families with children in many parts of the country who have intellectual and developmental disabilities are increasingly being asked to pick up children early, start their school day later or keep them home for an indefinite period because of behavioural issues… the Ontario Autism Coalition, which advocates for families, have been calling on the government to hold public discussions on possible legislation and policy changes surrounding exclusions of special-needs students with behavioural issues.
Tags: disabilities, ideology, mental Health, participation, rights
Posted in Education Policy Context | 1 Comment »
Ontario government announces new supports for schools ahead of change to autism program
Tuesday, March 12th, 2019
… the government will subsidize an additional qualification course for teachers on supporting students with autism, but that won’t happen until the fall. Additionally, Ms. Thompson said she is asking school boards to dedicate a professional activity day for teachers on how to support children with autism… Many of these children currently attend school on a modified schedule, and parents have said cuts in funding will leave them with little choice but to send their children to school more frequently, even full-time… “All that this [announcement] does is it dumps the responsibility for autism therapy onto the schools. Teachers are not therapists.”
Tags: budget, disabilities, featured, ideology, mental Health, participation, youth
Posted in Education Delivery System | No Comments »
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