HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-05-13, Page 35Wooden gives comments on discussion paper
Curriculwn will be the key
to changes in secondary
education, said South Huron
District School principal J.L.
Wooden.
Wooden was commenting
on a discussion paper
released this month by the
Ministry of Education. The 8 -
page tabloid newspaper
crammed with type, outlines
101 recommendations to
'revamp the existing
secondary school system.
One of the most obvious
changes suggested, is the
elimination of grade 13.
There is no suggestion
though, Wooden notes of
dropping the information
contained in the fifth high
school year. All the work
currently done in the five
years between grades 9 and
13, will be done in four years.
The principal said he was
not sure if the rationale to
get rid of grade 13 is good.
While there is no question the
PLAN PROGRAM
A celebration of the
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Tapestry Singers from
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from ancient to modern
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eight singers who are in-
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such organizations as the
Canadian Opera Company
was formed under the ar-
tistic directorship of Wayne
Strongman to perform more
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changes could be done,
Wooden believes it implies
curriculum changes as far
back as grade four.
The report, while
primarily dealing with
secondary schools "overtly
states", Wooden says, a
kindergarten to grade six
system, and a grades 7 to 12
system.
Courses would still be
offered at general and ad-
vanced levels in high
schools.
This would force students
to make choices earlier.
Increased levels of difficulty
in school work would be
passed down to the lower
grades and students would
have to choose advanced or
general courses in grades 7
and 8.
Wooden pointed out, the
report recommends in-
creased course counselling
and minimum course times
for grades 7 and 8.
The ministry would have
an enormous amount of work
to do on the curriculum to
accomplish this change the
principal said. The local
boards do not have the
resources necessary for this
detailed curriculum work.
Connected with this is the
elimination of the grade 13
level high school diploma.
Under the credit system a
grade 12 diploma is granted
upon completion of 27 credit
courses. A grade 13 diploma
is received after an ad-
ditional six advanced
credits.
With alterations to the
credit system, the new high
school diploma would
require the equivalent of 30
credits, placing it
somewhere in between the
existing diploma levels.
The credit system, Wooden
said, basically did away with
the packaging of courses,
that is courses that should be
taken together to provide the
student with a major in a
subject area.
The report recommends
packages can be tntroduced
by schools to tailor the
courses to specific regions.
The report deals heavily
with technical education and
advises use of community
facilities to establish co-
operative education plans.
South Huron students are
already taking part in work
experience programs.
Technical students will be
getting detailed transcripts
of their courses which
outline to a potential em-
ployer the technical skills
learned.
While the report outlines
proposed systems, some,
like the work experience are
already being used.
Another already in the
schools is the Ontario
Assessment Instrument Pool
(OAIP). This consists of
collections of test items
corresponding to school
subject.
There is no indication in
the report however that
indicates a return to
departmental exams
Wooden said. It will give
teachers an idea of what they
should be teaching.
The report also Iooks at the
demographics of Ontario
schools. It notes enrollment
will decline throughout the
1980s.
But it notes, comparing
high school students with
their 1950s counterparts,
more students are staying in
school. This is partially due
to the levels of courses
available Wooden says, as
people can now take courses
at their own level of dif-
ficulty.
A student may not make it
through high school taking
advanced mathematics, but
can find general courses
understandable and useful
Wooden explained.
Except for the grade 13
issue, there is not too much
controversy in the report, he
said, stressing the needs for
curriculum changes.
Regardless of the fate of
the rest of the report he says,
the curriculum rec-
comendations are good.
The ministry should be
sure of the implication of
implimenting the change
from grade 13 and be ready
to alter the curriculum of
public school courses to
mesh in with a new four year
high school, the principal
said.
If implimented, Wooden
said this would be the fourth
major restructuring of the
secondary school system
since he began teaching.
The discussion paper is
being handed out to high
school students across the
province.
The recommendations are
far reaching, Wooden says,
and he doesn't think the
general public will recognize
AN Ott LOG CABIN = Todd Witherspoon assembled a
miniature log cabin and won a first prize in the recent Stephen
Central School history fair. T -A photo
REVERSAL DAY — Students Jeff Greb (seated) and Phil
DeHaan were principal and vice-principal for a day at South
Huron District High School, Thursday. While their teachers
went to classes, students took care oftheroutine administra-
tion, taught classes, and acted as janitors.
READING OLD GRAVESTONES — Students at Precious Blood school took their history
lesson outdoors to study grave markers at St. Peters cemetery. Elizabeth Hogan and Joy
Parent study an old stone.
UNDER PROTEST — Ron Bogart's entry in Saturday's frog race drew protests from other
contestants as it appeared to be rather unnatural, especially with a hose attached to it.
Bogart, right, is shown competing with Jim Darling while Bill Brock judges the efforis of their
frogs. T -A photo
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the implications to the entire
school system.
The paper is a report of the
Secondary Education
Review Project, set up in
April 1980, by the Minister of
Education, Bette Stephen-
son. It was compiled on the
basis of about 600 sub-
missions from organizations
and individuals.
If you wish to comment on
the opinions or proposals of
the discussion paper it is
requested you write before
June 30 to: Secondary
Education Review Project,
Ministry of Education,
Mowat Block, 17th Floor,
Queen's Park, Toronto, M7A
1L2.
A MAD SCIENTIST —
Scientist at Thursday's
School.
Tom Oke played the part of the Mad
variety concert at Usborne Centro)
T -A photo
The brimmed straw fedora
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Thechunky bangle
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MAY 22 and 23
An interesting and enjoyable !-day Family festival,
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FRIDAY, MAY 22
7:00 p.m. Band Organ on street, and Hullett Central
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10:00 p.m. Klompen Feest street Dance in Downtown Clin-
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SATURDAY, MAY 23
1:00 p.m.
Giant parade through downtown Clinton, six
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3:15 p.m. Official Opening of the Klompenfeest by Dr. H.
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4:45
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5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Monster Chicken Barbecue in the Clinton Park
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A COMPLETE PROGRAM OF EVENTS will be shown in a
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