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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-06-15, Page 9Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, June 15, 1994 — Page 9 Family Coalition Party of Ontario Parti de la Coalition des Families deI'Ontario EDUCATION REFORM Choice is to education what competition .is to business. It unleashes the pent-up creativity of educators, in response to consumer demands. Just as competition works to improve quality and lower prices of goods and services, so taxpayers will save money when parents are allowed to choose in the education marketplace. Choice is the catalyst that will drive other school reforms -- it will spark innovations in teaching, management and learning. • Moreover, the entire level of society rises when any of its'major institutions strive for excellence instead of mere adequacy, and choice is the mechanism that makes excellence the goal for education. It's Your " CHOICE " As •a nation, Canadian taxpayers invest more money in education, per capita, than any other country except Japan, spending $45 Killion on formal education and $5 billion on adult training annually.* Yet, we have a national drop-out rate, in excess of 30%/e and as many as 38% of Canadians between the ages of 16 and 69 have some difficulty reading.* . *Canadian children have scored poorly in international tests, placing them well below the average for industrialized and emerging nations. • *Government. of Canada Prosperity Initiative • Publicly -funded schools are financed out of municipal taxes • Independent schools are funded by enrollment fees (these parents pay twice): PROBLEMS Low standards in education due to : • little parental involvement • most parents have little influence on • no standardized tests, High cost and unfairness: • high cost (approximately $7,000 per year per pupil), • school taxes not .proportional to income level, i • no competition among schools,', school curriculum, • no incentives for teachers, . • parents utilizing independent schools pay twice, 4 _ • high property taxes, • unless they can afford to pay, parents haveno choice in school selection. THE PARENTS' CHOICE SYSTEM 1. Parents choose the school for. their children (Publicly owned or Privately owned). 2. The Goiernment of Ontario provides a scholarship for each child. , 3- The Government pays the amount of the scholarship to the school selected by the parent. This scholarship is calculated by dividing the current cost of education in Ontario by the total numper,of students:, 4. The amourit1of the scholarship is increased for children with. special needs, according to the type and level of disability. 5. Each privately owned school is free to set its tuition fee. 6. Any excess of tihe tuition fee over the amount of the scholarship must be borne by the parents. i 7. Privately owned schools are free to accept all or part of thescholarship from the Government of Ontario: 8. Privately owned schools are free td accept or reject any applicant, subject to the terms of the law, but receive 5% less in the scholarship amount. . 9. Publicly owned schools must accept every applicant residing in their district. k 10. The Ministry of, Education (MOE) sets minimum requirements to be. certified as a school, including requirements. • • 11. Each school, in addition to minimum requirements, may add to its curriculum. . 12: The MOE continues to certify teachers. 13. The MOE administers standardized tests at grades 5, 8, 10 and 13. The results are sent to the parents and to the schools (It is . their responsibility to' act accordingly). • '14.‘ In view of the increased authority given to schools, the role of School Boards diminishes accordingly. 15. The cost of Education must come from income taxes, not property taxes. 16. The Parents' Choice System must take effect immediately. minimum curriculum ADVANTAGES OF THE PARENTS' CHOICE SYSTEM • schools more responsive to, the needsof•students •. parents are placed in a decision-making role, ▪ healthy competition among schools, • better salaries .for teachers,' • teachers no longer stifled by a bureaucratic environment, • affordable cost of Education, • lower municipal taxes, • quality controls and standard tests across all schools '• more support •for students with special needs • parents may choose the school that matches their values, • no loss of teachers' jobs, • good for teachers, as it puts the, emphasis in education' on'teaching, • • teachers can expect the active cooperation of parents, • taxpayers will receive quality education fbr their tax investment. • reduced gap between who can afford good education -and who cannot, • greater diversity, wider range of specializations and richer development of the talents latent in young people. FAMILY COAI.I.1'ION I'•1R•I'Y OF ONTARIO 4736A YON(E STREET, TORONTO, ONIT.'.t2N 5%Y6 TEL. 14161 224.1168. 1•AX (416) 733-8816 ... \n4�,...x:..., n,...:: nZ..,.... n..,+ h.\, n.::.... n.,.......:'\ �!$3±\ •:. n tt......�,i:\•:\:i..::^1•i •