|
Newsletter of the Organization for Quality Education, September 2001 Issue | ||
|
(exciting news about a cure for learning difficulties) |
||
|
Growing Concern (a cautionary tale for teachers and students in portables) |
||
|
Monopolies and Monopsonies (an eye-opener for teachers worried about school choice) |
||
|
The Lay of the Land (a persuasive essay on the importance of learning about maps) |
||
|
Systematic Improvement (the surprising results of a huge international study on how to improve schools) |
||
|
Girls Just Can’t Get Enough Science(good news for the parents of science-hungry girls) |
||
|
apostrophic Times (more grist for those of us who enjoy being shocked and appalled) |
||
|
Universal Universities (a classic case of good intentions that wreak havoc) |
||
|
a Failing Grade for School Councils(a tongue-in-cheek questionnaire for school council members) |
||
|
The Grade 4 Slump (the solution to the mystery of why grade 4 students fade — and how to prevent it) |
||
|
Choosing Freedom (a modest proposal for universal education tax credits) |
||
|
and lots more - Publications of Interest, What’s New?, Ballot Report, Letters to the Editor, etc. |
||
From the President
Critical Next Steps for School Choice in Ontario
&#The unexpected announcement of a partial tuition tax credit in Ontario’s May budget has transformed the education reform landscape in this province. The issue has apparently split the cabinet, as well as the caucuses of both the governing Tories and the opposition Liberals. While Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty has announced that he will repeal the tax credit legislation when/if elected, it remains to be seen how he maintains this resolve going into the next election given that, in so doing, he risks alienating large numbers of his traditional constituency.
For this reason and many others, there is a need for a quick implementation of the tax credit plan. activating the tax credits this year will encourage parents sitting on the public-independent school fence to make the move to independent schools. This, in turn, should make it less likely that the Liberals will repeal the legislation if they come to power in 2003.
Like any major change, the tax credit legislation presents both major opportunities and threats. There is still a danger that the (yet to be set) conditions attached to the tuition tax credit legislation may significantly weaken its ability to improve the education of all Ontario students. Many of those opposing the tax credits decry the alleged lack of ‘accountability’ of independent schools — a hugely inconsistent criticism given the same group’s tendency to dismiss ‘accountability’ as a ‘right-wing buzzword’ when reformers attempt to apply it to public schools. Others, such as Earl Manners, head of the public secondary teachers union, fear-monger by stating that "some" independent schools are "racist, sexist and homophobic." While the arguments of the tax credit critics are mostly self-serving and hysterical, they do remind us of a real need for care in drafting the legislation.
any time we entrust our children to day-care centres, schools, or in fact any organization, there are real dangers. OQE has recognized this reality from the start of its efforts calling for expanded school choice. Our support for independent school funding has never been unconditional.
In our past position papers and proposals, we have highlighted the need for regulations in a number of areas if independent schools are to be eligible for public support. We have recently updated these suggestions into the following draft list which we are asking our membership to comment on. (Continued)