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‘Education Reform’ Category

  1. State of Parent involvement in schools

    April 27, 2015 by Tunya

    The State Of Parent Involvement In Schools

    Today I found my talking notes for a workshop I led at a conference — Stereotyping and Discrimination in Education — Nanaimo, BC, Nov 13, 1976 (39 years ago). It was co-sponsored by the local teachers’ union and Malaspina College, with funding from the Office of the Secretary of State (Ottawa).

    My topic concerned parent involvement in education of their children. We had a handout to aid discussion. These are some of the items:

    Q: Are there conditions in the formal education system that could be detrimental to the education of children, and which parents should know about, and take a part in correcting?

    A: Yes, parents should be concerned about the following:
    – 1) teacher union/school board collective bargaining
    – 2) student suspensions
    – 3) student records, student labeling, mislabeling
    – 4) vandalism, “disrupted” youth, alienated youth
    – 5) stereotyping of parents
    – 6) “innovations”, experiments, psychological and pseudo psychological techniques
    – 7) down-grading of the basic skills
    – 8) absence of meaningful standards, evaluation, assessment
    – 9) lack of parent participation in education
    – 10) teacher education often unrelated to the realities of the classroom
    – 11) poor information services, little two-way communication between the system and consumers (parents, students, public)

    Q: Are there ways that parents can be more involved?

    A: Yes, here are a few suggestions:
    – 1) formation of parent or school advisory councils in every school
    – 2) useful information services, genuine two-way communication

    Q: What is the basic minimum each parent should expect now in their child’s school?

    A: 1) Easy, comfortable access to the child’s school, teacher and principal
    2) All information the school has on the child, all information on the programs child involved in
    3) No negative effect or reprisal to the child because of parent’s involvement

    Are parents any better off now, 40 years later? Seems like parents still have a very shallow role in school affairs generally and with regard to their own children.

    [published as comment on Educhatter, 27 April '15)

    Category Education Reform, Parent Tribal Memory, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  2. Accelerate the transformation !

    April 25, 2015 by Tunya

    Accelerated BC Education Plans
    An education conference in BC, Jan 29th heard David Albury, a UK consultant, proclaim:
    “This is a pivotal moment for BC . . . if we can continue to work together in this way we can build on how far we've got and really accelerate and sustain this — we'll achieve what nobody else has yet achieved and that is to transform the system across the whole province . . . to enable all young people to have the skills and knowledge to be successful in the 21st Century.”


    We’ve noticed the frenetic urgency that seems to permeate so much of the literature and planning for these 21st Century Learning transformations. What’s the rush? Where is the field-testing for these radical imperatives? Shouldn’t we be concerned — since we’re dealing with tender minds and hearts of the young — that proper protocols are in place as safeguards against amateur applications? Just what is this future that is being projected that requires these “competencies” of collaboration and communication for upcoming careers and college? Is there actually some global convergence happening that so many nations have to get on board — US, AU, NZ, UK, Can, etc.?


    Like having a magical cataract operation in both eyes I think I see what’s up! There IS a celebration to happen next year, in Washington, DC, to commemorate 100 years of the “progressive project”. AND, to top it off, it is also the centennial celebration of John Dewey’s 1916 pivotal book, Democracy and Education.


    With 15,000 attendees just wrapping up the 2015 AERA (American Educational Research Association) conference in Chicago here is the ANNOUNCEMENT of the 2016 event —http://www.aera.net/EventsMeetings/AnnualMeeting/2016AnnualMeetingTheme/tabid/15861/Default.aspx


    The theme will be — “Public Scholarship to Educate Diverse Democracies”.
    We know, indubitably, that “peer review” and “research” done by like-minded partisan members should not be taken seriously, nor be considered “evidence-based”. But, it’s disconcerting how “research” and foundation papers are ground out as objective truths and are used to influence policies and programs as proofs of effectiveness or need.


    Well, WE ARE to prepare not only for these centennial celebrations — AERA and Dewey — but also for the positioning of “research to inform civic participation, engagement and organized action.” Pretty presumptuous, eh? Awareness and skepticism should be our response.

    Category Education Reform, Opinions in media, Parent Tribal Memory, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  3. Mean-spiritedness & politics-as-usual

    April 12, 2015 by Tunya

    Mean-spiritedness Or Responsiveness — What Guides School Decision Making?

    The decision by the Nanaimo School Board to designate a K-7 elementary school as Departure Bay Eco Academy does not come without political overtones.

    In a statement to the press Board Chairman, Steve Rae, said, “We're hoping this kind of thing draws kids back from the private system.” Thus one must wonder if this move was based on educationally sound principles or adopted as a recruiting tool to boost enrollment.

    Unfortunately in BC right now, if one follows the social media, we would note a persistent undercurrent of activism trying to undermine the rather harmonious relationship currently in place between the public and independent systems in education.

    This Nanaimo decision reminds me of what happened in Maple Ridge School District 15 years ago.

    In their effort to appear responsive the Maple Ridge school board decided to survey parents as to their preferences. The survey form clearly stated the results would “help plan the future direction” and listed 10 choices including “other” or “None of the above”. The models listed were:

    – Traditional (emphasis on basics, discipline, parent involvement)
    – Progressive (children learn by discovery, less emphasis on grades)
    – Environmental
    – Self-directed (emphasis on independent learning)
    – Fine Arts (e.g., music, art, drama)
    – Skilled trades
    – Sport academies
    – Technology academies

    When the results were released a month later the media headlines picked up on the leading result — Support for traditional school. The tally was 63% for traditional, 53% for fine arts, 32% for sports academies, 31% for progressive, and 28% for environmental.

    But the politics soon kicked in. The “progressive” school of thought (the predominant philosophy operating in BC public schools) rallied against the conventional parent point-of-view (which is generally your back-to-the basics, traditional expectations) and guess what? It was an environmental school that was the new program!

    It is really too bad that parent choice and voice are so dismissed by those who push a totalitarian progressive approach. In Nanaimo it was parental choice of private schools that was the target. In Maple Ridge it was the parent voice showing a preference for traditional schooling that was skillfully thwarted.

    I think it’s time that the provincial government, through new laws, provided a level playing field for all parents in BC. There should be a uniform code of behavior that applies equally to both the public school sphere and the independent.

    There is a little known clause in the Independent School Act that forbids the practice, promotion or fostering of “social change through violent action or sedition”. In simple terms sedition is the subversive undermining of the peace and authority of the established social order. It’s time that the Public School Act had a similar clause applying to the 89% of schools that are public. Families should not be under constant bombardment from activists who would deny education alternatives in our free province of BC!

    Category Education Reform, Parent Tribal Memory, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  4. Sedition, Mean-spiritedness in school decision making ? ? ?

    March 24, 2015 by Tunya

    Mean-spiritedness Or Responsiveness — What Guides School Decision Making?
    The decision by the Nanaimo School Board to designate a K-7 elementary school as Departure Bay Eco Academy does not come without political overtones.
    In a statement to the press Board Chairman, Steve Rae, said, “We're hoping this kind of thing draws kids back from the private system.” Thus one must wonder if this move was based on educationally sound principles or adopted as a recruiting tool to boost enrollment.
    Unfortunately in BC right now, if one follows the social media, we would note a persistent undercurrent of activism trying to undermine the rather harmonious relationship currently in place between the public and independent systems in education.
    This Nanaimo decision reminds me of what happened in Maple Ridge School District 15 years ago.
    In their effort to appear responsive the Maple Ridge school board decided to survey parents as to their preferences. The survey form clearly stated the results would “help plan the future direction” and listed 10 choices including “other” or “None of the above”. The models listed were:
    – Traditional (emphasis on basics, discipline, parent involvement)
    – Progressive (children learn by discovery, less emphasis on grades)
    – Environmental
    – Self-directed (emphasis on independent learning)
    – Fine Arts (e.g., music, art, drama)
    – Skilled trades
    – Sport academies
    – Technology academies
    When the results were released a month later the media headlines picked up on the leading result — Support for traditional school. The tally was 63% for traditional, 53% for fine arts, 32% for sports academies, 31% for progressive, and 28% for environmental.
    But the politics soon kicked in. The “progressive” school of thought (the predominant philosophy operating in BC public schools) rallied against the conventional parent point-of-view (which is generally your back-to-the basics, traditional expectations) and guess what? It was an environmental school that was the new program!
    It is really too bad that parent choice and voice are so dismissed by those who push a totalitarian progressive approach. In Nanaimo it was parental choice of private schools that was the target. In Maple Ridge it was the parent voice showing a preference for traditional schooling that was skillfully thwarted.
    I think it’s time that the provincial government, through new laws, provided a level playing field for all parents in BC. There should be a uniform code of behavior that applies equally to both the public school sphere and the independent.
    There is a little known clause in the Independent School Act that forbids the practice, promotion or fostering of “social change through violent action or sedition”. In simple terms sedition is the subversive undermining of the peace and authority of the established social order. It’s time that the Public School Act had a similar clause applying to the 89% of schools that are public. Families should not be under constant bombardment from activists who would deny education alternatives in our free province of BC!

    [newsstory here http://www.nanaimobulletin.com/news/297057261.html?fb_action_ids=10152705813416437&fb_action_types=og.comments ]

    [

    Category Education Reform, Obstacles, Parent Tribal Memory, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

  5. Education — Coercive? Totalitarian? Fascist?

    February 25, 2015 by Tunya

    [People familiar with the field of education know that among the leading lights speaking up for less coercive styles was John Holt. His books in the 70s showed intense sympathy for students — How Children Fail, How Children Learn, etc. I talked with Holt in ’72 and wrote up this meeting here: https://gaither.wordpress.com/2011/02/17/john-holts-conversion-to-home-education/
    As I keep updating information, and finding old files, I recognize there are dark sides to this industry that need focus. This update about John Holt’s fears will be included in a book I’m working on. TA]

    John Holt’s Prophetic Voice

    It’s 2015 and in most of the Western World — particularly UK, US, Can, Aus & NZ — the education field seems to be infected with something called “transformation to 21st Century Learning”. In the US it’s called Common Core with similarities shared with other countries — shift to competencies such as collaboration, critical thinking, enquiry learning, constructivism, etc. — generally away from skills and content. Part of this move is because of technology — why teach knowledge when it’s just a mouse click away?

    Whatever is indeed happening — few really know because so much is untested — yet being implemented in wholesale ways. Some critics express the opinion that these “paradigm shifts” are being imposed by stealth and without common consent. Fads come and go in education but this time there’s a coercive streak that’s just beginning to be talked about.

    In all the writing about John Holt and his mission to help parents and students toward meaningful learning it was rarely mentioned that he had an underlying concern about totalitarianism. Sure, he promoted non-compulsory education, learning centers, home education, alternatives, etc. But for their own sake, not as escapes from fascism!

    But Ron Miller, in his book — Free Schools, Free People, 2002 — mentions that “Holt explicitly suggested that the alienation bred by authoritarian education could well ‘prepare the ground for some native American brand of Fascism’ “.

    Noting that so much of Common Core and the rest of 21st Century Learning depends so much on central control it is enlightening to read Miller’s impression of Holt’s “prophetic voice” in forecasting ”an efficient social machine managed by a privileged elite. Holt foresaw the coming of the New World Order, and he did not like what he saw.” (pg 89)

    Without getting the book, you might be able to get a 6 page magazine article off the Internet or from a research group that is entitled — John Holt: His Prophetic Voice, Education Revolution, Autumn 2002, pg 28-33.

    Today, I truly intended to just update information on this thread, but felt that this aspect of Holt’s mission should be brought forward because I also perceive this cultural hazard. In the article I wrote in 1987 that I provided a link to in the above story I warned about the “predatory state”.

    The link to my article — Home Education – The Third Option doesn’t work, but can be obtained at: https://independent.academia.edu/TunyaAudain#

    To get Parent Rights and Their Children’s Education (1977) — http://www.parentsteachingparents.net/page/3/?s=parent+rights

    Category Book Reviews, Education Reform, Uncategorized | Tags: | No Comments

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