Despite the often heard claim that parents prefer public education, British Columbians are increasingly choosing to send their children to independent schools. Unfortunately for many parents who want their children to attend independent schools, thousands of children end up on waiting lists each year.
education
The Alberta government is about to do something that's going to hurt kids across the province.
Thomas Lukaszuk, Alberta's education minister, says he will end the province-wide elementary school achievement tests "or PATs as they are known" that have been written each year for decades by virtually all of the province's Grade 3 and Grade 6 students.
Given the current fiscal climate -- the BC government's significant deficit ($1.4 billion over the next two years) -- and comparisons with the income of average BC families, now is hardly the time for BC teachers to be asking for more. Rather than give to the demands of the BC Teachers Federation, Premier Christy Clark should ensure the next collective agreement ties teacher pay to performance.