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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-01-20, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1993. Holistic learning thrust of Transition Years The Transition Years will bring big changes to Ontario schools. This is the who, why, what, when and where these changes are. The Transition Years is the first area of education being tackled as part of the Ministry of Education's major review of education in Ontario. The Transition Years is the term used to describe grades 7,8 and 9. The Grade Nine Program The following courses will comprise 5/8 of the grade nine program. Science Math English Canadian Studies French The following courses will comprise 3/8 of the grade nine program. Physical Education Health Guidance Keyboarding Arts Design and Technology Family Studies By Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot There seems to be one word in the mouths of educators, trustees, parents and grade eight students these days—destreaming. Destreaming is actually part of a major overhaul of grades 7,8 and 9 known as the Transition Years. But its the part that's creating the most controversy because its totally changing the way Grade 9 students are taught. Like any major change, people are leery of it, says Deb Homuth, the Huron County Board of Educa- tion's Transition Years coordinator. She's been hosting parent infor- mation nights on the subject for the past several weeks to answer ques- tions on the subject. Not surprisingly, parents have packed into the high schools to learn about the change. Ms Homuth says there are two issues that keep popping up: how grade nine students will be evaluat- ed and assessed and, how will teachers be able to teach both the bright and the challenged in one class. Ms Homuth has answers to both concerns. Regarding evaluation, students will be graded, but differently than before. "Traditionally, students were assessed heavily on content," she says. "Now we're working toward a balance." The balance means students will be graded on three criteria: content (what you have to know), skills (how you learn) and essential stu- dent behaviour (responsibility, cooperation and attitude). Based on their mastery of these three criteria, students will either fail or be streamed into basic, gen- eral, advanced in grade 10. "What's also important is that students will be looked at as indi- viduals," she says. There will still be exams and report cards. The other concern, that of meet- Basically, the overall change is taking an integrated approach to learning with an emphasis on forms of knowledge and the dynamics of learning rather than focussing n subject areas. In other words, offering a core program reflects a holistic, rather than a compartmentalized view of subject matter and student develop- ment. As part of this integrated ing the needs of all students in a class, will be addressed by teachers themselves. "Teachers will have to focus on the individual's needs and develop strategies to teach all children," she says. There's no question this means more work for teachers, she says. "We're asking people to change and learn new skills and that equates to work." Already, in-service for teachers has begun and the Ministry of Edu- cation has provided the board with $15,000 to teach the teachers. Destreaming teaching will moti- vate all students, believes Ms Homuth. "In the past, students had a label of being advanced, general or basic but there was often a mismatch between the label and the way the DEB HOMUTH approach, students will no longer be streamed into basic, general or advanced levels once they reach high school. This is what's being called de-streaming. Instead, they'll be in class group- ings with students of mixed abili- ties. Teachers will be required to learn new teaching strategies to teach both the bright and challenged stu- dents in the class. kids actually were." Though parents and educators are worried the bright students will become bored and the challenged overwhelmed, Ms Homuth said the reverse is true. "If students don't have labels and the same goals are held out for everyone, students will rise to the occasion more often than not," she says. However, the needs of special needs students will still have to be met, she acknowledges. Schools will still have to offer special classes for special needs Despite a gloomy outlook, trustees should act like winners and not losers said Huron County Board of Education Chair Bea Dawson in her inaugural address Jan. 11. "As I look to 1993, the future looks even more bleak than a year ago," she said. 'The ability of Huron County taxpayers to pay has lessened as we observe papered over store fronts, worker lay-offs and farm crops still in the field." "To add to this dismal situation, Provincial Treasurer Floyd Laugh- ren announced that transfer pay- ments for the next two years will be capped at the same level as received in 1992, and not the two per cent increase promised last Jan- uary for 1993 and 1994." She went on to say the board must introduce new programs as part of the Transition Years which means extra costs for training teachers and a full-time coordinator to implement the transition. Junior Kindergarten will be another expense, she added. But she also touched on some positive aspects of the board. One of them was the changes Transition Years would bring to students. "A positive action, I feel, is that basically one-third of their evalua- Students will be graded based on three criteria: content, skills and essential student behaviour. Tradi- tionally, students were graded pri- marily on content. Based on their grade nine perfor- mance, students will either fail or be streamed into basic, general or advanced grade 10 courses. By restructuring the Transition Years, the Ministry hopes to address issues where it was students, classified as such because they are either very bright or very challenged by academics. Once the destreaming is in effect, Ms Homuth hopes to see the same enthusiasm for destreaming that was exhibited by parents of stu- dents at South Huron Secondary School. The school did a pilot pro- ject on destreaming which was suc- cessful. "Parents of those students are overwhelmingly supportive of destreaming and even volunteered to speak to other parents about it," she reveals. tion will be based on accountability or responsibility, e.g. being on time, integrity, attendance, respect for others, personal health and well being. I personally feel this will help prepare students facing chal- lenges unparalleled by any other period of history for their future education and the world of work." Other positive points include upgradings at Vanastra, Hullett Central Public Schools and Seaforth District High School. "To help us achieve our goals in this present gloomy outlook, we have a MPP Liaison Committee to keep our MPP aware of our con- The Huron County Board of Edu- cation plans to purchase three new school buses at a cost of $163,550:70 if the Ministry of Edu- cation will give them grant money. The board received three tenders: $174,269.49 from Capital Bus Sales, $168,204.75 from Pearson Bus Lines and $163,550.70 from MacNab Bus Lines. The MacNab tender was accepted. The busses are all 72-passenger size. * * * Trustees were informed the kindergarten class at Hullett Cen- believed the education system could do a better job. These include student retention (in subjects and in schools), equity (between races, cultures, genders and perceived levels of ability), partnerships between parents, teachers and students, communicat- ing clearly what students have learned and why this knowledge is essential and a need to prepare stu- dents for a workforce in a new cen- tury. These changes will take place in all Ontario high schools beginning in September 1993. The transition will be phased in over a three-year period. The Ministry of Education has committed $2.75 million for Tran- sition Years implementation throughout the province. The Ministry of Education's objectives for the Transition Years are: *distinguishing what is "critical" that a student learn in Grade 7,8 and 9 from what is "desirable" *using a variety of evaluation techniques *increasing three way collaboration between parents, teachers and students *determining appropriate in- school services for exceptional adolescents *delaying the important decisions about course levels until students have tried out high school for a year *ensuring consistency between what is expected of a student in grades 7,8 and 9 From the HCBE's The Transition Years's pamphlet cerns and difficulties," she said. "We strive to work closely with other boards and the county and municipalities. She then read a poem entitled 'How to Tell a Winner from a Loser' and encouraged everyone involved with education in Huron County to be winners. "If everyone endeavors to be a winner, I am positive we can con- tinue to realize an education for our youth which will continue to evolve and meet the demand of our changing society, a global economy and technology challenges at affordable costs." tral Public School has been split into two classes. At the December board meeting, a delegation of concerned parents requested the split. The personnel committee reviewed the request and based on a staffing formula which requires kindergarten classes be split once 26 students- are enrolled, split the class. *** Trustees passed a recommenda- tion to authorize the chair, vice- chair and treasurer of the board to Continued on page 15 Destreaming completely changes Gr. 9 cf)tobse of education Be winners, says HCBE chair HCBE will buy 3 buses