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Once Upon a School
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Book Chat
jan@peopleforeducation.com
October 4, 2009
Not so long ago I chanced upon a tv interview with Sarah Vowell. She was talking about her new book The Wordy Shipmates and she was funny and intriguing enough that I picked up the book. Not only has she written a number of books, she is also the voice of Violet in the animated film The Incredibles and contributes regularly to the This American Life on Chicago Public Radio
Although I was reading for amusement, information and stories, once again I bumped into education!
The Wordy Shipmates is about the Puritans in the 17 century and Sarah Vowell's childhood in the 20th century and life now in the 21st. The book is a delightful flow of ideas and customs that weave through the narrative of American life. Education was there at the beginning
...Continue....
Join the conversation at Book Chat
Events
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Roundtable Breakfast Meeting: Education
November 12, 2009 from 7:45am to 8:45am – Toronto, City Hall
Maintaining Quality in Education: Can it be Measured? The Canadian Urban Institute is hosting a breakfast meeting featuring Annie Kidder, Executive Director of People for Education. A rich legacy...
Organized by Canadian Urban Institute | Type: breakfast, discussion
Here you are in our online community... now what?
Transforming Schools for the 21st Century
Is it possible to collectively build a new vision for public education?
Schools haven't really changed since the industrial revolution. Public education has the potential to transform lives - but is it living up to that potential? Schools at the Centre is an innovative strategy to develop new education policy ideas from the ground up, and build public excitement about a forward-thinking vision for our schools.
We'd like to spark some new conversations!
Find out more.
Find out what people are telling us!
About us: What we do, why we do it!
Sometimes people wonder who and what People for Education is. They wonder if we have a hidden agenda, or if we are secretly in league with other organizations. Sometimes the questions about the organization just come up as a matter of course, other times they come up because people don’t agree with either our actions or our positions on issues.
It’s the beginning of a new school year, so it’s probably a good time for a quick update on what we do, why we do it, how we’re funded, and what our overall goal is.
Click here to read more.
Blog Posts
School Information Finders, new education Bills and elementary curriculum reviews
I'm going to try and keep everyone updated at least once a week about all the goings on in education - and maybe with bits of gossip from the front. We go to a lot of meetings and there are lots of plans afoot in education - Bills that are going to mean big changes to the way boards work, potential changes to curr… Continue Posted by Annie Kidder on October 17, 2009 at 6:00pm — 11 Comments
Read our e-news!
In this issue:
• Annual conference filling up - register now to guarantee a space!
• Why pay taxes - a great article
• What's a good parent engagement policy?
• Single sex schools - what does the evidence show
• Youth competition
Discussions
Online Discussion Netiquette 5 Replies
Once you've read these guidelines, you'll feel confident to begin sharing your ideas, views and information with others in our online community. Lurk for a While Hanging out and just reading the m...
Started by People for Education in Netiquette. Last reply by Sheila Stewart Sep 26.
Cost Effective Communication with Parents...What's Your Style?? 23 Replies
Hello everyone, This is my first post, so I hope I am doing it right. I have been mulling over ideas about how our school could create a more cost effective and environmentally friendly communicat...
Started by Lisa Bradt in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Gay Stephenson Nov 4.
Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's? 26 Replies
Thanks People for Education for posting the ministries request for responce on draft Parent Engagement Policy. What I am upset over is why the PIC chairs weren't sent this info and invited to respo...
Started by Gord Wyse in General. Last reply by Cathy 1 day ago.
Getting rid of EQAO 159 Replies
Any feelings about doing away with EQAO? This has become a monster tail wagging the dog of education. If the Ministry is looking to save money (given these lean days) then eliminating EQAO would be...
Started by Frank Loreto in General. Last reply by Beth Doubt Nov 2.
Athletics In Our Schools 11 Replies
I am the CSAC chair of a JK-8 catholic school in North York, last spring questions and concerns started arrising fro parents about athletics, more specifically the way try-outs were happening, some...
Started by Michelle Andreoli in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Cathy Oct 29.
Is the Elementary Curriculum "overcrowded"? 9 Replies
Great to hear about the province-wide consultation being conducted by the Working Group on the Elementary Curriculum. From the consultation paper: "The working group was appointed by the Minister o...
Started by Sheila Stewart in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Sheila Stewart Oct 22.
School Council Membership restrictions 15 Replies
We are currently debating the eligibility of 2 members of our school council. One is a supply teacher within our board who might supply in our school once/month, if that. Another member is a lunch ...
Started by Sue Casselman in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Sheila Stewart Oct 21.
Bill 177 enters second reading this week - what will it mean? 7 Replies
Hi, this piece from rabble.ca is right to the point of what Bill 177 could do. Democracy Deleated with Bill 177 October 5, 2009 - 2:22am This week Bill 177 entered it's second reading. For those w...
Started by Norah Fountain in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by Norah Fountain Oct 14.
Full day kindergarten in Ontario 16 Replies
Hello people. I'm hoping it's possible to have a discussion about the full day kindergarten program, as proposed by Charles Pascal. See the Ministry of Children and Youth Services website to read ...
Started by ZS Worotynec in Post your questions about school or education here.. Last reply by ZS Worotynec Nov 2.
Where do kids have lunch? 5 Replies
It is the first year my son goes to school. It is a little upsetting learning that there is no cafeteria inside the school. The students have their lunch on the floor in the hallway. Is it the same...
Started by Fay in General. Last reply by Cathy Oct 9.
Please give us feedback on this community space!
Do you have ideas, suggestions, questions or some constructive criticism to offer?
Please tell us what you think!
Just send Gay an email! gay@peopleforeducation.com
Read the highlights from our school council survey!
This year, People for Education piloted a new survey for school councils.We received over 500 responses, and 95% of the school boards in Ontario are represented in the results. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Click here to read the school council survey highlights.
Read more in our Annual Report on Schools.
Every year we release an annual report on schools.
About
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online meet-up at conf...
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Less Testing: Educati...
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Special Education
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Consultations, curriculum, confusion and conferences
The province wants to hear from parents and community members about the elementary curriculum (they just forgot to publicize the consultation); Bill 177 is going to undergo two days of public hearings in Toronto; and the Ministry hired a market research company to survey parents about the School Information Finder on the Ministry of Education website.
There have also been some fairly cranky meetings with the Provincial Education Partnership Table about the Information Finder, and all four provincial parent groups wrote a letter to the Minister of Education clarifying their concern about the Finder being described as a tool for "parent engagement."
Next week - more consultations on the Information Finder, maybe there will be news about the province's plans for all day early learning and child care and we'll be putting the finishing touches on the agenda for our November 7th provincial conference.
THINGS WE LEARNED
Hugh Mackenzie, economist and People for Education board member, has written a wonderful column: Can we have an adult conversation about taxes.
Debate flourishes in Toronto over idea of new all boys school. Read the news:
Research shows single-sex schools are not the answer.
Single-sex classes score big, Toronto Star.
All-boys schools foster ‘achievement culture' , Globe and Mail.
School plan calls for boys-only classes, Toronto Star.
New research shows the value of work-experience programs in Canadian high schools.
Oct 1st:
Happy World Teachers' Day!
To read about some wonderful teachers, click here.
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