In the most recent election in B.C., people spent a lot of time talking about how private schools were ruining our public education. We need to stop blaming parents for choosing the best education the can for their child, and look at why many families are making the choice. Click here to find more information. Conversely, CBC radio has been facilitating an ongoing discussion about the need for an overhaul of our education system, specifically around the failure to support the needs of all children.
Locally we are currently researching the growth that our community publicly funded independent schools have experienced in recent years. Let’s be clear, we do not believe there to be any private schools in Nelson-Creston, but many community schools that get varying degrees of public funding – all of which have to meet the same curriculum requirements. If ensuring a good education and social inclusion is the goal of a public education system and many people are leaving the mainstream model, could we look at a different model?
Each child as having ‘special needs’ and building a system that holds them at the heart, rather than continuing to try to react to kids falling outside the systemic norm? Recent SelfDesign conference keynote speaker Shelley Moore discusses here how bowling can change education.
Learning that is child-centric in its design could move us away from trying to have children learn in a homogenous environment and remove the impossible ask of our educators and mentors to cater to too many different needs without the resources.
If ensuring a good education and social inclusion is the goal of our public education system, why wouldn’t we look at each child as having ‘special needs’ and building a system that holds them at the heart, rather than continuing to try to react to kids falling outside the systemic norm? An education system that is child-centric in its design could move us away from trying to have children learn in a homogenous environment and remove the shame of asking for staff to cater to too many different needs without the resources.
We have learned that SelfDesign uses the principles of Universal Design for Learning that “… calls for creating curriculum from the outset that provides: 1. Multiple means of representation to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge,
2. Multiple means of expression to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know, and
3. Multiple means of engagement to tap into learners’ interests, challenge them appropriately, and motivate them to learn.” (Wikipedia)
How about we treat each child as an independent learner recognizing they all have their own ‘special needs.’ Needs could be broadened to include family values/choices along with fostering a child’s curiosity and way of learning. SelfDesign is one provincial program that allows for home learning with a lot of support. What if this program became more the norm? What if we looked at our schools as community centres that we would like to see flourish with lifelong learning?
What if families are given education dollars to spend as they wish, on the programs that they want their children to experience? What if each child had a local educator assigned to them that would help families plan their child’s education? What if all cultural, religious and other special interest education models were added to the list of offerings to students?
An international model that could be made to work here is that of Finland. Political will is a major hurtling block that the BC Greens hope to help jump, as parents realize more is possible for their children and participate in advocating for more community determined public education.
Political will is a major hurtling block that the BC Greens hope to help jump, as parents realize more is possible for their children and participate in advocating for more community determined public education.
Contributors: Nicole Charlwood & Vanessa Kuran, Nelson, B.C.
