An ‘A’ for sch

SCHOOL choice is the
key to reforming
Canada’s troubled pub-
lic school system, says a
new study released
recently by the Fraser
Institute.

s how four
countrics have improved their
public school systems by giv-
ing parents more choice in
their children’s education.

“International — evidence
suggests that public vouchers,
private vouchers, and charter
schools offer plausible answers
to the problem of declining
academic achievement among
Canadian students and public
frustration with the Canadian

_ education system,” says the
study’s author, Claudia
Rebanks Hepburn.

The study fitids that the
introduction of voucher pro-
grams and charter schools
have produced — significant
improvements in student
learning and parental satisfac-
tion wherever they have been
introduced.

These policies bring greater
responsiveness of schools to
parental concerns, greater
awareness of educational issues
among the general public, and
a more dynamic, innovative
and equitable education sys-

tem.
“Canadians are spending
three times more on public
cdacation, in real terms, than
they were 30 years ago,” s
Hepburn. “Bat despite smaller
classes and better paid, more
highly-cducated teachers
Canadian students are achi
ing less than their parents’
generation did. More mon
has not made a differen
What's needed is a new strate-
*

BY.

The study outlines an
approach to education reform
that is new to Canada but has
proved successful in” other
countries, The study’s findings
suggests thar real reform must
begin by examining the very
definition of public education.

“International — evidence
suggests that public education
should be funded and facilirar-
ed by the government, but not
necessarily supplied by it,”
Hepburn says.

Charter schools and educa-
tion vouchers put the supply of
education in the hands of par-
ents, principals and teachers —
the people who know the stu-
dents best. Everywhere charter
schoois and vouchers have
been implemented, education
has improved.

Charter schocts improve
education by introducing
choice, accountability, and
competition to the public sys-
tem.

In both the United Srates

and New Zealand, these inde-
pendent public schools have
won the approval of principals,
as well as parents and teachers,
been dubbed the
ch and development
centres for education.

thavier school students are
greater academic
gress than their peers,
largely because their schools
more innovative and
focused, and are more respon-

sive to their students’ needs.
In Denmark, Sweden, New
Zealand and the United States
vouchers have brought inde-
pendent schooling within the

grasp of the poorest families,
In doing so, they have not
only satisfied the needs of the
students who use the vouchers

place for all students.

Voucher programs have
demonstrated three facts
about education. .

First: a significant minority,
of lower-income families wel--
come ihe opportunity to move *
their children out of public
schools that are not meeting
their children’s needs...

Second: students who use
vouchers demonstrably: learn...
more than they would have if
they had stayed ‘in public”
schools. we

Third: public “schools -
respond to vouchers by.

See Choice page 30.

~ Meals - Weekly housekeeping
. _ Us hour security monitering
~ Profussionalty supervised activities

~_Bus transportation for shia ping &

& planned outings

Season's Greetings from the beset bagel

Celebrate the holiday season

and support The Harvest Project during the

1999 Festival of Lights!

70 Christmas trees will be lit up along Dundarave, Pier.
from November 29, 1999 to January 2, 2000.

Opening Ceremonies .

~ Monday, November 29th 5:15 pm, Dundarave Pier Seawall

The Carol Ships Parade of Lights

is making 13 visits to Dundarave this December!
"We would like to make your Christmas party a success.
Please call Shawa Drake or Molly Kiefer at 922-1414.
to arrange a company or family festive gathering at

the beach

DUNDARAYE

proge

PIER

150 25th Street, West Vancouver

922-1414