The Citizen, 1996-11-13, Page 23SUPPORT YOUR
HOSPITAL
SPEAK OUT NOW!
The future of Clinton Public Hospital is under review by
the Huron Perth District Health Council.
Their study recommendations will be out in late
November.
DON'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE:
- Major cuts to hospital services
- Big reductions in medical/surgical care beds
- Eventual Closures
IF YOU VALUE THE SERVICES PROVIDED
BY CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL, AND
WANT TO BE MORE INFORMED
ATTEND OUR
PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSIONS
PLACE DATE TIME
Clinton Wednesday November 13 8 p.m.
St. Anne's Catholic
High School
Vanastra Thursday November 14 8 p.m.
Recreation Centre
AND FINALLY...
PUBLIC FORUM TO RESPOND
TO THE DISTRICT HEALTH COUNCILS
HOSPITAL STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
(WHEN:) Thursday November 28 8:00 p.m.
(WHERE:) Central Huron Secondary School Clinton
BE INFORMED! GET INVOLVED!
Interested in Volunteering? Call
Clinton Public HospitalClinton Town Hall or
482-3447 482-3997
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1996
Grade 13 ends
beginning 1998
By Jim Brown
Advance-Times staff
Beginning in September 1998,
students entering Grade 9 will be
graduating -from secondary school
after Grade .12.
The four-year secondary school
program was one of the topics
under discussion at the community
forum on education held last
Monday evening at the F.E. Madill
Secondary School library. The
province has launched a substantial
reorganization of high schools.
The four-year secondary school
program will have high graduation
standards for all students, clear
course requirements for students
planning to go to college or the
workplace, improved guidance and
career counselling policies and
programs, expanded co-operative
education and work experience
programs and a new structured
school-to-work transition program.
At the present time, students
require 30 credits to graduate from
Grade 13, but under the proposed
education reform students will need
37 credits to graduate from Grade
12, instead of the current 30 credits.
The time required for a credit will
be reduced to 90 hours from 110
hours.
A four-year program will be
achieved through the full disclosure
on student transcripts (OST) of all
course attempts, will allow time for
transfers and repeats within four
years and there will be an annual,
individual education plan created
by each student, assisted by a
parent or guardian and the teacher-
advisor. Teacher Lynda Elston said
it would be the responsibility of
every student to complete this plan.
The plan will include an
increased emphasis on math,
science and technology, a
compulsory Grade 11 literacy test
and a new secondary school
curriculum.
There will also be recognition of
previous experience and courses
will be able to deal with changes in
post-secondary destination. There
will also be an increase in
community-school partnerships.
Elston said under the proposed
reforms, a student could graduate
with fewer hours of English or
Math.
However, there are a number of
benefits to a decreased number of
years in secondary schools.
Elston said students will have
earlier access to post-secondary
destinations, whether it be
university, college, or the
workplace. However, there was
some concern that students
attending university would require
an extra year because of the
elimination of Grade 13 which
would add to the cost of going to
university.
The Grade 11 literacy test will
make the diploma more credible in
the eyes of the public and
employers. Elston said this would
be good for the students.
A course series organized by the
student will give the student a
greater sense of purpose and
relevance of school to the future.
Transfer courses will give a
student flexibility to change
programs if desired and it will also
01, be easier to re-enter school.
"There will be high expectations
for all students entering Grade 9 to
attain the necessary knowledge,
skills and values for success in
Grades 10 to 12," said Elston.
She added students could "reach
ahead" to take Grade 10 courses
during their Grade 9 year if they
have already achieved the Grade 9
outcomes.
Keeping Grade 9 destreamed is
one of two options under education
reform. Elston said the existing
Grade 9 program would be
modified by introducing eight
subject areas, rather than four
programs, and the grouping of
students for instructional purposes
would be permitted. Students
would pass or fail the whole grade,
but percentage grades would be
given in all subjects.
The second option would be to
introduce a streamed, credit-based
Grade 9 format which is parallel to
the proposed streamed format for
Grades 10-12. Students would pass
or fail on a subject/credit basis.
Elston said a student's curriculum
would be based on their choice of
destination and not on previous
academic success.
Elston said a student could get
zero per cent in music and zero per
cent in French, but they would still
get the credits for arts or French.
The programs for Grades 10
through 12 would be based on
credits and all students would
prepare an annual education plan
for post-secondary destination (for
exceptional students, it would be
integrated with their individual
special education plan). Students
would choose courses based on
interests, abilities and destinations.
There would be increased
opportunities for co-operative
education/work experience for all
students. Those choosing
workplace as a post-secondary
destination should expect co-
operative education/work
experience to account for up to 40
per cent of their program in Grades
11 and 12.
The program in Grades 10
through 12 would consist of
compulsory and optional courses
organized into four series.
Series one would contain content
desirable to all students, such as
physical education and business
studies. Series two would provide
preparation for most college
programs and direct entry into the
workplace. Series three would
provide preparation for university
programs and certain college
programs. Series four would offer
intensive bridging courses which
would help students transfer in
either direction between series two
and three courses if their plans
change and would also help
students re-enter school.
Elston said there would be more
choices for the students depending
on their interests and there would
be more opportunity to transfer
between series two and three.
She said the concerns of business
which want more co-op programs,
have been addressed.
There would be three options for
co-operative education/work
experience.
The first option would be
optional short-term experiences
with the students receiving a full or
half credit. Option two would be
compulsory short-term experiences
for which students received a full
or half credit. The third option
would be compulsory short-term
experiences that are a requirement
for graduation but for which
students do not receive a credit.
Teacher Murray Hunter said the
third option is used in the United
States and includes community
Continued on.page 27