I’m suspicious of any organization with the word “Coalition” in its title because of the many similar groups out there with that embedded in their name connected to People for Education who, as we all know, are coalitions with the usual suspects who frown on choice and support the blob.

Will be interesting to see how this group weighs in in the run-up to the provincial election.

How it’s actually going to help parents is unclear - perhaps time will tell.

Just read through this group’s mission statement and I stand firm on my post earlier.

From what I’ve read so far this is a “coalition” looking to support MORE gov’t and more bureaucrats instead of those elected by voters - trustees.

Is the NDP behind this group because it’s hitting their notes. 

There logo looks like what hell might look like in a bad “B” movie.

Notice there is no mention of parents.

Seems to be more to this group that’s not yet apparent.

it also occurred to me as I read through their website that this group may be setting up to be SQE’s foil/counter…..like you needed more of those.

Wonder if they’ll be seeing any MOE $$$

Geez Chuck, I hear you.  People actually advocating for fairness and equity for students with special needs - man, the nerve of some people! (Keep digging, I’ll bet you’ll find Doug Little at the bottom of all this!)

The juxtaposition between the use of ‘Quality Education’ between these two groups is extremely interesting.  It reminds me of a study done during the Cold War.  Researchers asked people from both East and West Germany to define terms like ‘democracy’ and ‘socialism’.  Even though both groups spoke the same language and shared a common history, obviously they got two very different views based on the group they interviewed.

Here, SQE defines ‘fairness’ and ‘equity of access’ simply to the ability to opt out and have private choice.  The Coalition defines the same terms as making the system accountable to provide equity of services as is the mandate of the public school system.

How long have you been teaching in Ontario Wayne?
Do you believe that given the size and nature of the province that every school system or board will spend their money in an equal way?

There is nothing equal about education in Ontario and it’s got less to do with money, and more to do with what gets done with that money once its in the hands of school boards.

This group has the earmarks of wanting more oversight by government, when the rest of the world seems to be moving to give individual schools power over their decisions.

Equity in education is a myth. There are more than a few “coalitions” out there Wayne - same mantra.

I don’t think all schools or boards should be equal….that to me leads to more and more bureaucracy and more and more rules made by 22 floors of MOE bureaucrats.

Hey, but let’s keep an eye on this group and see where they lead.

Chuck,

I have been teaching for 25 years.  Do I think it is possible that boards spend their money equally - yes.  Is it likely? No.  Think about the implications of your post - should a special needs kid in Oakville have a better chance at accessing the help they need than one in Timmins?  I believe that it is exactly this disparity that the Coalition was formed to combat.

Furthermore, even given the supports already in place in most Boards, are students getting the help they really need? No.  I regret that Jo-Anne has left.  I learned more about literacy diagnostic testing in our few brief emails than in all the conversations with my colleagues combined.  I remember when we first implemented the Literacy test, we discussed as a group how we were going help those that were struggling.  Some of us were unfortunate enough to venture the opinion that some of the English teachers could go over the material in their classes like we go over the Grade 9 exam in our math classes.  The outraged indignation of the entire English Department was summed up by the head at the time:  “We teach ENGLISH, not LITERACY!”  That message seemed to get through to the Board and the Ministry - we now have more EA’s, literacy support teachers, student success teachers, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Are they really helping the students to cope?  Jo-Anne and Nancy have the answer to that.

“should a special needs kid in Oakville have a better chance at accessing the help they need than one in Timmins? “

That’s equity of opportunity, and is dependent more on the decisions made by those we entrust our children to than it does about money. 

Financial equity is also largely dependent on decisions made - not at board level, but at MOE level who put the policies in place in the first place. The “Coalition” wants
to give more power to gov’t and the MOE and less to elected trustees.

The MORE GOVERMENT mantra is the mating call of the political left.

I am pretty sure that Coalition for Quality Education, starting from the Halton Region. A lot of angst from parents on how the school board makes decisions. There is a lot of high-income, professional people living in the Halton Region, and I am incline they going in on the political as well as structural change, Getting a number of people who are engineers, doctors, lawyers,  high profile business people, and so forth, brings an interesting mix of skills and abilities, to go and do battle with the educrats.They are for a group of parents, more organized, and are using their skills, abilities and knowledge to attempt change by changing the laws, the regulations that prevents services to SE children, as well as other changes related to board. It is the board that prevents services to SE children, as well as being the final word for everything related to the SE child. In order to do that, the MOE needs to brought in the process, either being dragged in or used the carrot approach.

On the site, underneath Ministry Ethics and Issues;
“Canadians believe that equitable education is supposed to be delivered using our taxpayer dollars.

Instead, we now have a system where different programming is provided, trustees can vote in programming based on their own biases and agendas, Minister’s ignore public outcry, votes can be bought and more.

Something seriously stinks in paradise.

We have been reduced to nothing short of the very delivery model we criticize other countries for. We have allowed special interests to get their way through manipulation of elected officials.

Let our provincial and federal governments make the changes needed to ensure equitable education for all.

We will focus on all ministries and provide details as it becomes available:”

http://ccfqe.com/politics-2/ministry-ethics-and-issues/

I see hope here, and not as Chuck has stated more government. In the other sections of the site, the demand of resources, especially in the remediation of the 3Rs. It is what is not being provided, unless one thinks EAs and literacy support teachers is help. Going after the human rights violations being committed daily in the schools, And as Wayne has stated, what is fair about English teachers teaching literacy at the high school level?  They should be teaching English. Should it not have been taught in grade school, literacy and the foundations in reading and writing? 

I think this new group will be a welcome addition, Besides there is some pissed parents in the Peel and Halton regions, and are not very happy campers with the current public education system.

Let’s review Nancy

““Canadians believe that equitable education is supposed to be delivered using our taxpayer dollars.”

Why do they believe that they speak for Canadians?
Equitable in what sense? Opportunity or Financial (discussed above with Wallpaper)

“Instead, we now have a system where different programming is provided, trustees can vote in programming based on their own biases and agendas, Minister’s ignore public outcry, votes can be bought and more.”

Nothing new here. If voters don’t like the decisions trustees make they can vote them out next election. That’s called democracy Nancy. Same for Minister’s.

Oh and those MOE bureaucrats? Tell me that they don’t drum up programs based on their own bias and agenda…because they do.

“We have been reduced to nothing short of the very delivery model we criticize other countries for. We have allowed special interests to get their way through manipulation of elected officials.”

Who is “we” Nancy? They speak only for themselves. Some would say that the Special Needs is a special interest. Would you agree?

“Let our provincial and federal governments make the changes needed to ensure equitable education for all.”

That tells me that this group is looking for gov’t's for all the answers. Again. Let’s find out more - I would NEVER advise another parent to support a group unless more information and links to people with actual names is available.

That the website has no names attached to it is suspicious. What are they hiding?

“remediation in the 3Rs” - come on Nancy. Why not get it right the first time so as remediation is not required.

As for your questions re: Wayne’s comments about “what is fair about English teachers teaching literacy at the high school level? More government intervention will not fix that. Much of that could also vary school to school, board by board.

Nope, I’m on the side of “been there, done that” and “Good Luck” to them.

From the Coalition website:

“Our membership consists of professionals from a variety of backgrounds including consultants, writers, lawyers, teachers, technology specialists, doctors, business leaders, senior citizens, and more.”

Hmmm, doctors ... lawyers ... business leaders - an obvious group of commie sympathizers - best not to trust them.

People for Education can say the same thing Nancy.

Do YOU trust them?

“Hmmm, doctors ... lawyers ... business leaders - an obvious group of commie sympathizers - best not to trust them.”

If it’s all above board their names would be proudly displayed on the site. They’re not. Why not?

Actually SQE is just as impressive - do YOU trust them Wayne?

Do you approve of using children this way?

http://whataboutme.ccfqe.com/what-about-me/

Continue reading kids.

Here’s what I think the real driver for this “coalition” is and I wouldn’t be surprised that the parents for French education weren’t well-represented if not the architects of the coalition. If so, why not just come out and say it.

http://whataboutme.ccfqe.com/discrimination-based-on-language/

Yes Chuck, I used my own child many times, using her work, test results, and describing the emotional fallout of the consequences of delaying the corrective remediation. It is an effective marketing tactic and why the boards and the ministry always uses their students, in photographs. Although I never did used photos; instead I used the hard copies of LA demand writing tests to prove my point. Very effective, bringing the reality into the picture.

On equitable education - is there such a thing?  Each school is different with different needs, and it changes yearly. Some years the demands are more and some years hardly any to taxed the the school resources and funds. Doesn’t a rural school have different costs compared to the one in the city?  Big difference in resources, in my eyes, and yet both schools are treated as the same, as if they have the exact same needs.

I also noted, no names and it will not drive anyone to become a member, especially at the price of $25. Not putting their names down, in my books is a no-no, without putting down an explanation as to why.

I settled for remediation, because getting it right the first time around, is only a fantasy.

I agree that probably the French fraction is pushing it, but they do have a point, the French curriculum is not very good. It needs vast improvement, and French Immersion as well, considering the extra costs.

Chuck,

Do I trust SQE?  I really don’t understand the question.  It’s not like I’m buying a used car from them.

They have never given me any reason not to trust them.  We may not always agree on everything, and there are times when I go over the top in my rhetoric, and I do apologize for that.  But despite that, they have always treated me fairly and held my confidence.  So I have no reason not to trust them.  In fact, they play a vital role in the education debate and I’ve learned a lot by reading these blogs and people’s responses.

If you mean that I ought to be suspicious of their motives - why?  They have made it clear that they feel the only solution is school choice - they aren’t hiding anything, so there is nothing to fear.  Just because I don’t agree with everything they say, doesn’t mean that I don’t think their voice ought to be heard.  One of the biggest problems in education reform is apathy.  The more people voice concern - the more the blob has to listen.

Which is why I welcome groups like the coalition.  The more the better.  People across the political spectrum want change. Talk from all sides of an issue is good, “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Prov. 11:14 Websters Version)  I don’t know what you fear from this group, or why; but certainly that fear is one thing we don’t share.

Using your own and your child’s experience isn’t the same a marketing your child to sell a group, or organization. Those may be stock photos but still the tugging on the heart strings for the purpose of pushing French is a bit much (as Dan wrote about).

“On equitable education - is there such a thing?”

I answered this question and said as much as you did. No it’s not equitable. With over 40 school boards and systems it’s not every going to either.

Wayne, my question to you is actually simple. You’re more than eager to support the new “coalition” knowing little about them than what’s on their website, yet you know plenty more about SQE so based on what you know about SQE do you trust the organization?
Thanks for answering.

Chuck,

What do you fear?  That was my question to you.

Do you think they are going to come into your home and brainwash you and your family?  They are an advocacy group - plain and simple.  I’m not going to be sending them $25 any time soon - so I don’t necessarily welcome them with open arms.  I do welcome open public discussion of educational issues - which they are more than welcome to join.

Instead of simple disagreement, every time a topic is raised that you don’t agree with you elevate it to some sort of communist conspiracy.  You may keep denying it, but that pesky duck is quacking pretty loudly again.

“What do you fear?  That was my question to you.”

Checking your posts and you never asked me that Wayne.

There’s always more to “advocacy” groups than is shared or made public.

I don’t fear them, I don’t trust them to be who they say they are or who’s supporting them.

I would expect that no parent support an organization without doing their own homework on those touting “advocacy” because as we’ve learned in Ontario some parent advocacy groups aren’t really supporting parents at all.

I’m in the same boat at Malkin on this one. Been there and done it myself for too long to do anything but wish them good luck.

Disagreement is allow, isn’t it Wayne? Isn’t that what you just finished writing about?

Speaking of disagreements of late you sure don’t hold back as you’ve countered most of what Malkin’s posted over the last weeks.

It’s ok for you to keep quacking but not anyone else.

Oh, I get it, I get it just perfectly Wainscotting.

Chuck,

You may not have noticed but I was ‘disagreeing’ with erroneous facts and figures.  In your case, you branded them a left wing organization before you knew anything about them.  Nowhere on their website do they advocate more government (in fact, they want an ombudsman to keep the government honest) - but you’ve already tried and convicted them.  You don’t want anything to upset your predetermined view of the world. Trust me Chuck, I get it too.

What I “know” I read off their website. That for the moment is all anyone has to base their opinions on Wayne.

And, their goals do read similarly to all of the other “coalitions” leaning to the left that have sprung up in Ontario.

They write on their website about letting the MOE make decisions, not elected trustees. THAT to me spells more government….not less.

Sage of the classroom that you may be you haven’t lived in my shoes as a parent with kids in the public system for 16 years and have learned lessons based on that experience that led me to SQE (and OQE before that) because they were the ONLY organization that didn’t bulls**t us.

I get you too Wayne. You still need to hope that there is a will to reform the public system from within…..I don’t.

Let’s keep our eyes on this group shall we and see what develops, who’s paying membership and how their politics line up because that’s their strategy.

So many groups have deliberately misrepresented themselves—at a huge cost to our children—that of course we have to proceed with caution when any new group appears on the scene, and for that matter, even keep an eye on organizations who genuinely want to see children’s lives improve:  they may change.

Chuck`s aggressive nature does nothing for SQE.
You become isolated with your tactics.Malkin and Doretta,although seeing no alternative but School Choice because the machine is not changeable,still seek to do what they can to inform parents on what works and what “should be happening"in spite of the fact it does not.

If you want to be an attack dog,you absolutely don`t help them.You need to build support from the inside.

Teachers`s voices are on mute due to the Unions,that`s the first thing to deal with;they want some of the changes SQE stands for as well.The administration keeps all the money for themselves and their pet projects and doesn`t pass it on for the students in the classrooms.I just heard teachers today saying they wanted a magnetic white board for 2 years and they still can`t get one.

It would be terrific to get a survey that is anonymous out to teachers with 10 specific questions they would check off.Being anonymous,you would really get their view. 

We know the problems and the hierarchy is in charge of the peasants (students),revolt needed.