Why Alberta doesn't need school boards
The Calgary Board of Education is appealling a decision by the courts in Alberta. In this decision, the Court ruled that two formerly private schools that have a religious affiliation may become publicly funded charter schools under the Palliser Board of Education (Lethbridge Region). This comes after the CBE denied the request of these schools to become part of the CBE's region.
The CBE wants to deny these schools access to public funding even though the schools meet all the requirements of the provincial government, simply because the political views of the CBE don't like religious affiliation.
The CBE does not raise it's own taxes or decide how to spend money. It doesn't even set curriculum. All of that is done by Alberta Learning (the Ministry of Education). So what does the board do? I don't know. But I think the solution to this problem of the CBE is as follows:
The CBE wants to deny these schools access to public funding even though the schools meet all the requirements of the provincial government, simply because the political views of the CBE don't like religious affiliation.
The CBE does not raise it's own taxes or decide how to spend money. It doesn't even set curriculum. All of that is done by Alberta Learning (the Ministry of Education). So what does the board do? I don't know. But I think the solution to this problem of the CBE is as follows:
- Abolish the school boards
- Have money follow the student to each school
- Allow parents to choose which school their child attends
- Allow schools some leeway in accepting students
- Have each school operate a profit/loss statement to determine capital, maintenance, operating costs.
- Allow each teachers and schools to negotiate on an individual basis as to where teachers work. Do not allow the unions to make mass decisions. Give more freedom to Parent Councils to advise schools on what staffing changes need to be made.
posted by Technical Bard | 12:01
4 Comments:
School Boards are an entire waste of money in all the provinces. They are simply a soft landing spot for people who otherwise fail at politics.
I like this idea. Somebody should do it and then tell us the results. If it is good then lets roll it out across the country.
Alberta can save us all once again from ourselves!
While I do generally support the abolition of school boards (and recent behavour suggests that Alberta Learning does, too), I do havea problem with some of your suggestions.
"Allow schools some leeway in accepting students"
This could produce a system in which some students cannot attend any school.
"Do not allow the unions to make mass decisions."
This is anti-freedom. The teachers have to be allowed to unionise if they want. Similarly, teachers have to be free to operate outside the union if they want.
Ira - if teachers are free to work without joining the union, the union is dead. It has no clout if workers can choose not to join. It's the reason unions fight "freedom to work" legislation. Unionization and free choice cannot coexist.
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