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Lorna Costantini Parents as Partners welcomes People for Education at Edtechtalk Monday Oct 19, 2009

Monday October 19, 2009 at 9:00 PM EDT Jacqui Strachan, Gay Stephenson, People for Education Tanya Weiner Ottawa Carleton Assembly of School Councils and Ross Button Upper Canada District School Board will join show hosts Lorna Costantini, Cindy Seibel and Matt Montagne in a discussion about communicating with parents using websites and ning networks. You can join the show in the chat room by logging in at www.edtechtalk.com/live If yo… Continue

Added by Lorna Costantini on October 17, 2009 at 10:35pm — No Comments

Annie Kidder 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

Added by Annie Kidder on October 17, 2009 at 6:00pm — 11 Comments

Lorna Costantini Did you know 4.0

The need to collaborate and think out of the box is solidified when you listen to how we need to respond to a classroom with out walls. I continue to find the Shift Happens series a learning curve. Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod have released their latest version. The dilemma for school boards is how to keep up with the ever increasing cost of technology.… Continue

Added by Lorna Costantini on September 30, 2009 at 10:05pm — No Comments

Rick MacIvor new thoughts?

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/index.htm Continue

Added by Rick MacIvor on September 30, 2009 at 4:13pm — No Comments

Sam Oh Neill The Purpose of Schooling

“Institutions become dysfunctional when they do not accomplish the purposes for which they were created. Schools were created to be places of true learning, places where the true natures of children would be allowed to grow and flourish. By this definition, there are too many students for whom school is not ‘working." (Reist, The Dysfunctional School,2007) I believe we are grossly mistaken if we believe that "[s]chools were created to be places of true learning, places where the true… Continue

Added by Sam Oh Neill on September 20, 2009 at 2:30pm — 10 Comments

Sam Oh Neill Limiting Value

I would like to put the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) test in the context of an earlier point in my blog. I talked about how the policy structures of public education seem to promote a contented acquiescence to a culture of acquisition which places a greater value on external reward and external signs of personal worth rather than on individual growth. The framework for this value perspective is embedded deeply into our society through a system of economic dependence rooted… Continue

Added by Sam Oh Neill on September 10, 2009 at 8:06pm — 1 Comment

Sam Oh Neill Complexity of Education

I have taken a look at the article and the Report referred to by Gay Stephenson and find it interesting to note that it adheres to the current thrust of government policy in Ontario (and probably other provinces). It goes without saying that a teachers methods are key to student achievement. If this were the only thing to be derived from the report it would not be worth much. The media article from the Star seems to latch on to this conclusion: "The study clearly points at teaching methods, and… Continue

Added by Sam Oh Neill on September 4, 2009 at 12:00pm — 3 Comments

Sheila Stewart Here comes the sun and back to school.

Great news about Ontario’s weather it seems—finally!! Did I hear 24 degrees in Timmins!? Beautiful, sunny weather right now in Thunder Bay too—looks like we are one of the hot spots—high of 23 degrees today and tomorrow! But..….my kids are back at school today for Sept. 1—ouch, of all the years given this past summer’s weather! I guess it’s “time”, but it still seems odd--this early start before the Labour Day long weekend. For those of you with another week for back to school prep or a few more… Continue

Added by Sheila Stewart on September 1, 2009 at 10:41am — 2 Comments

Catherine Minister axes Provincial Parent Voice

Hello - I read today in Moira MacDonald's column that Minister Wynne has axed the provincial parents group. To be honest when I found out that the Minister was expunging the group out of the education act, the writing was on the wall long ago. I don't think replacing the group with regional PICs will change things unfortunately. All that's going to do is move the frustration felt by parents at the provincial level down to regional level. What's really rich, and something that I agree totally w… Continue

Added by Catherine on June 10, 2009 at 8:21am — 13 Comments

Robert Martellacci May Issue of the MindShare Learning Report featuring an exclusive podcast with Education Minister Kathleen Wynne

This month's issue is focused on our own back yard in the wonderful province of Ontario. Checkout our complimentary issue of the MindShare Learning Report--Canada's Premier Learning & Technology eMagazine. www.mindsharelearning.com Continue

Added by Robert Martellacci on May 21, 2009 at 2:06pm — No Comments

Sunday Harrison about this online community, technical problems?

I am having trouble seeing comments that have been apparently left on my page, according to email forwarded from the site. Any tricks to making it work better? Continue

Added by Sunday Harrison on May 13, 2009 at 9:18pm — 2 Comments

Jan Sugerman Book Chat

October 4, 2009 Not so long ago I chanced upon an interview with Sarah Vowell. Sarah is funny. smart and engaging! She was talking about her new book The Wordy Shipmates and she was so intriguing 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… Continue

Added by Jan Sugerman on April 3, 2009 at 9:30am — 7 Comments

Lorna Costantini Director of Education at Niagara Catholic with Laurel Allison Regional School Council Chair on Parent Partnerships

Please join Parents as Partners Webcast on Monday February 16, 2009 at www.edtechtalk.com/live at 9:00PM EST (GMT-5) Show hosts Lorna Costantini, Matt Montagne, Cindy Seibel and CIndy Zautcke will welcome: John Crocco, Director of Education for… Continue

Added by Lorna Costantini on February 11, 2009 at 10:54pm — No Comments

Tony Maxwell Schools as community centres: opening doors

Jacqui, What a fabulous report. I remember when JR Saul spoke two years ago about schools being centres for communities I thought it was right on... I'm glad you guys are highlighting this idea of using schools more...of opening doors for many purposes. Excellent! Tony Continue

Added by Tony Maxwell on January 14, 2009 at 5:36pm — 2 Comments

John Borst Report Calls Online Threats to Children Overblown

There is an article about a report, in today's New York Times which says that "the problem of sexual solicitation of children online ... is not a significant problem." but goes on to say that "the problem of bullying among children, both online and offline, poses a far more serious challenge than the sexual solicitation of minors by adults". One expert is quoted as saying “Social networks are very much like real-world communities that are comprised mostly of good people who are there for… Continue

Added by John Borst on January 14, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Leo Anti Bully

We all know that no matter how hard we let our Kids play and learn, they end up with issues like bullys. This School year Rainbow schools held it's first anti bully day on September 11 2008. Most schools participated and we ran it well. I invite you all to join Next Scool year, anti bully day on the second Thursday of the new school year. Please encourage your school staff, and kids to put something pink on. Thanks Leo Bisson Chair Rainbow schools Parents involvement Children depend on adult… Continue

Added by Leo on January 12, 2009 at 5:36pm — 1 Comment

Jessica Vorstermans Jean Vanier named Nation Builder of 2008 by the Globe & Mail

'Vulnerability brings us together' He comes from an elite Canadian political family, but Jean Vanier shed his privilege and dedicated his life to creating communities where people with mental handicaps can have meaningful encounters with other human beings. His insights and courage have inspired the world. See full article at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081225.wnbvanier1227/BNStory/nationbuilder2008/home Continue

Added by Jessica Vorstermans on January 6, 2009 at 10:26am — 2 Comments

John Borst Web2 Magazine launched

Just received word today from my web-friend johnmac more correctly known as John F. McMullen about the new web-based magazine he launched today. Here is his message:

.. has officially launched -- .. read it .. subscribe (it's free… Continue

Added by John Borst on January 2, 2009 at 7:54am — No Comments

John Borst The other side of ICT: 'collective intelligence'; your digital trail and privacy

I can see parents viewing this development as a positive, just like video surveillance. Check out the article in this morning's New York Times: You're Leaving a Digital Trail. What About Privacy? By JOHN MARKOFF An emerging field called collective intelligence could create a… Continue

Added by John Borst on November 30, 2008 at 10:20am — No Comments

John Borst The future of department store catalogues?

I know this is ning-blog is about education and the interaction of ICT but in a way this fits because it is very cutting edge and may be what our children take for granted within the consumer world they will grow into. Beside the festive season is approaching and we all need a little merriment in our… Continue

Added by John Borst on November 30, 2008 at 1:30am — 1 Comment

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Consultations, curriculum, confusion and conferences

There are many things happening on the education front - some better publicized than others.

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

By reading the news. Send Gay news from your part of the world to post here too!

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.

Latest Activity

Sheila Stewart replied to Deborah Konecny's discussion 'Let's talk more about what we think education is about'
Thanks for posting, Deborah! Yes, it relates well to some of the topics/questions we heard at the conference!
13 minutes ago
Deborah Konecny updated their profile
52 minutes ago
Deborah Konecny updated their profile photo
56 minutes ago
Deborah Konecny commented on People for Education's group '21st Century Schools @ the Centre'
I think it is critical to frame discussions of success around some of the themes that Annie suggested in an earlier post - students, parents, teachers, etc. I also think that it is important to find places where this can be wedded to existing oppo...
1 hour ago
Deborah Konecny joined Gay Stephenson's group
online meet-up at conference
A bunch of us from the online community are planning to "meet-up" at the conference at York University on Saturday Nov. 7th. We can chat at lunch! So let us know if you are coming... we'd like to meet you!
2 hours ago
Deborah Konecny joined People for Education's group
21st Century Schools @ the Centre
Help us to design a broader vision for education in the 21st century!
2 hours ago
Gay Stephenson added a discussion to the group Tech communication help for parents!
Thanks for coming to the workshop! Here is the powerpoint presentation.
Hello everyone, It's Sunday morning after the conference. I had a great sleep last night and woke up so excited about our group. I loved meeting you all, and I look forward to staying in touch as you explore some of these communication tools! And ...
3 hours ago
Evelyn Crosse is now a member of People for Education Online Community
Welcome Them!
6 hours ago
Deborah Konecny added a discussion
Let's talk more about what we think education is about
This morning I was working on a blog entry for the Toronto Development Community Institute. I got on Youtube to search for a piece on Paolo Freire on literacy and oppression. I ended up watching this piece. I think it continues on beautifully with...
6 hours ago
Gay Stephenson Thanks Tanya! We're working now...
yesterday
Cathy replied to Gord Wyse's discussion 'Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's?'
Good points Mike. I have also noticed that many of the parent groups and organizations around the province are made of of mostly parents who are over 40 years old. Where are the younger parents who will take over for the more "seasoned" parents(n...
yesterday
Tanya Weiner updated their profile
yesterday
Tanya Weiner joined Sheila Stewart's group
Less Testing: Education Partners for Less Testing
yesterday
Tanya Weiner Wishing Gay great success at the workshop today! Sorry I'm misssing it.
yesterday
Tanya Weiner updated their profile photo
yesterday
Tanya Weiner joined Gay Stephenson's group
Tech communication help for parents!
Everyone is welcome: this group begins at our conference on Saturday. It's a support group for people who want to learn more about using technology to communicate. How to do stuff here, or to start an e-news listserv, or group & more!
yesterday
Mike Hunt replied to Gord Wyse's discussion 'Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's?'
I concur. What a good idea to engage the media. In our area, Special Education planning committees (SEAC) are supposed to "engage" and consult via "invitation to respond" to "all parents receiving special ed services" but none of the special ed pa...
on Friday
Cathy replied to Gord Wyse's discussion 'Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's?'
After living over 11 years in this province with school councils and governments of all stripes propping up their speeches with the usual parent platitudes, it's a real shame that parents need to chase down and impress upon a minister the importan...
on Friday
Sam Tecle is now a member of People for Education Online Community
Welcome Them!
on Friday
Craig Hurst replied to Gord Wyse's discussion 'Draft "Parent Engagement Policy" not going out to PIC's?'
Call me cynical, but is it possible that the email coming out from the Ministry and the extension of the deadline could have something to do with the opinions expressed in this discussion? Thanks to People for Education for supporting this dialogue.
on Thursday

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