Accord Resolution Services

I think it’s important for all of us to realize that our schools and school systems may now be beyond “fixing”! At best, we can work hard to improve them. Here are some ideas. Some many will easily agree with, others would be supported by only a few, but I believe they’re all worth examining. Let’s get outside the box and do some creative thinking:

First, while I understand the thinking that lies behind the concept of “education is a right”, I would argue for making secondary school a privilege — not based on wealth or influence, but based on respect for the system, even with all its faults. Let’s establish a code of behaviour that deals with respect for each other, property, teachers and administrators; completion of homework; attendance; language; and appearance. Let’s then work hard to communicate this expectation to parents and to students. Let’s wor hard to enforce the requirements fairly and equitably, with the kind of “tough love” that is required in all relationships these days. Youth and their families need to see that aducation is in fact a privilege.

Second, let’s throw out the wild theories about “keeping kids interested” when such theories detract from teaching them basics. Let’s focus on the benefits of reading, writing, and performing simple mathematical functions. When was the last time we saw advertisements with basketbal, baseball, or hockey heroes pointing out the importance of specifically being able to simply read, write, or calculate (as compared to simply staying in school and graduating)? The “benefits” of education need to be promoted like breweries promote their beer, the armed forces promote careers, like governments promote vanity license plates — using high quality campaigns!

Third, “balance” the curriculum with music, art and sports, but but don’t let any of these dominate it as has been done in many schools.

Fourth, develop a code of behaviour for teachers including keeping appointments, being easily accessible to provide extra help, etc. In addition, consider a totally different way of paying teachers which incorporates a base salary for a minimum number of classes, with a per class stipend for extra classes and extra-curricular activities. Let those teachers that want to work more, do so. Bring the performance aspect of teaching into the 20th century (let alone the 21st) by introducing “performance pay” based on acheiving goals, objectives, and/or results. Introduce a regulated province-wide salary schedule.

Fifth, return to the teaching profession the right to discipline within guidelines, the right to refuse to have certain students that do not adhere to the code of behaviour in their classrooms, and the right to assign as much homework as necessary to achieve success. In turn, prevent teacher unions from having the right to strike, but allow them the right to resign en masse and to make their livelihoods elsewhere. Slavery was abolished many years ago in North America, but it’s also wrong to be able to hold students and parents hostage for economic and working condition gains.

Sixth, review the funding approach to education. Why do we have a national Health Care program, a national Pension Plan, a national Welfare Program, a national Security Program, etc. but only a provincial education system? Is not education just as vital and critical for all Canadians?
Why all the duplication in the provinces and territories? Why all the duplication in all the municipal levels? I believe there’s some economies of scale that can be achieved. If we want to start somewhere, let us start with moving towards a fully provincial system.

Seventh, keep religion out of schools if you must, but at least recognize that in one respect atheism is also a religion and to allow someone to propagate it by freely expounding their stand and/or taking shots at those that disagree with them without consequences, while ridiculing or preventing others from propegating their belief system, is in fact the highest form of prejudice. At the very least recognize the fact that some students and their families do have faith in God and be careful to not allow the system or its employees to prevent them from sharing their experiences with their friends. These days, for many, with what is happening in society, the family, the youth scene, etc., it is the only thing they can hang on to with certainty — regardless of what anyone else may think!

Ken B. Godevenos, MBA, CCP, CHRP
Accord Resolution Services Inc.