Moving in the right direction
Something’s going on in the classrooms, hallways and head offices of our schools.
Something good.
In communities throughout Ontario, media outlets are asking local school board administrators and local school principals about the latest standardized test results. In some cases not too far outside Muskoka, those principals and head office staff ward off the questions, begging for more time to assess the Education Quality Accountability Office figures released last week.
Not in Muskoka. Here, separate and public school board officials are celebrating the results. In fact, we should all be celebrating.
Despite a provincial funding formula that doesn’t serve smaller, rural schools very well, our schools are proving that our children can get the education they need right here at home.
Provincial funding calculations do a poor job of including the costs of maintaining several smaller buildings where cities can maintain just one large school. Those same calculations don’t provide enough money for rural transportation costs or for the education of our disabled students.
Yet, when it comes to the all-important math, reading and arithmetic, our students are faring well despite the obstacles.
The tests, measuring Grade 3 and Grade 6 reading, writing and math and Grade 9 math, and comparing them to provincial averages, show our students are scoring anywhere from well-above provincial averages, to just above, to at par, to marginally below students across Ontario.
That’s an accomplishment not all that many regions can boast about. And the province insists it’s not about a good year, it’s about the trends, because after all, a handful of students in a small classroom can have a substantial impact on results. But whether your child is a Catholic student or enrolled in area public schools, rest easy.
The trend bodes well. Student scores in both boards have, for the most part, steadily improved year-to-year.
So maybe it’s time to take that rare moment to praise a teacher, principal and any other school staff member your run into.
Whether it’s because of atmosphere, approach to academics, patience, passion or a combination of everything, our schools are doing something right. That’s good news for all of us.
Something good.
In communities throughout Ontario, media outlets are asking local school board administrators and local school principals about the latest standardized test results. In some cases not too far outside Muskoka, those principals and head office staff ward off the questions, begging for more time to assess the Education Quality Accountability Office figures released last week.
Not in Muskoka. Here, separate and public school board officials are celebrating the results. In fact, we should all be celebrating.
Despite a provincial funding formula that doesn’t serve smaller, rural schools very well, our schools are proving that our children can get the education they need right here at home.
Provincial funding calculations do a poor job of including the costs of maintaining several smaller buildings where cities can maintain just one large school. Those same calculations don’t provide enough money for rural transportation costs or for the education of our disabled students.
Yet, when it comes to the all-important math, reading and arithmetic, our students are faring well despite the obstacles.
The tests, measuring Grade 3 and Grade 6 reading, writing and math and Grade 9 math, and comparing them to provincial averages, show our students are scoring anywhere from well-above provincial averages, to just above, to at par, to marginally below students across Ontario.
That’s an accomplishment not all that many regions can boast about. And the province insists it’s not about a good year, it’s about the trends, because after all, a handful of students in a small classroom can have a substantial impact on results. But whether your child is a Catholic student or enrolled in area public schools, rest easy.
The trend bodes well. Student scores in both boards have, for the most part, steadily improved year-to-year.
So maybe it’s time to take that rare moment to praise a teacher, principal and any other school staff member your run into.
Whether it’s because of atmosphere, approach to academics, patience, passion or a combination of everything, our schools are doing something right. That’s good news for all of us.
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