Macbeth captivated students

Recently, I had a chance to see a performance of Macbeth at Racette school by the professional actors of Theatre Prospero and Racette students. I was impressed, not just with the actors but how the children were involved. The students who were selected for parts in the play were so enthusiastic but the students who came out to watch were also captivated. This group has come out to the school 4 times before and said that this is one of their favorite places to come because the students are so well prepared.

The school prepares students weeks in advance by introducing the play in English class so that they have some knowledge of the scene as it unfolds. Macbeth is of course and exciting dramatic play with sword fights, murder and a bloody head in a sack. The students watched the performance from beginning to end in near silence. They loved it!

The Artists in Education grant is being cut. This is truly sad to cut such an effective program. I can testify as a parent and as an educator that this program works. The children were learning and more then that the were enjoying learning. This is a unique experience that can not be replicated with out the talent of the Theatre Prospero actors.

I believe it is time for us to organize our children and teach them that there are causes worth fighting for. We should help them to write to their MLA and the Minister of Arts and Community to protest. It would be a great way to teach them how to have a voice in their local government and might teach them some letter writing skills at the same time.

Expulsion

At the last SPERD board meeting, Superintendent Brodziak indicated that he was in the process of writing a new expulsion policy for the division.

Expulsion and suspension is really the only punishments that schools can give out. While I do recognize the short comings of the practice, it is really all there is to deal with serious problem students.

One of the criticisms is that expulsion is not a solution, turning these problem kids out into the streets just results in gangs and an increase in crime because there is often nobody at home during the day. Agreed, this is a problem. However leaving them in the classroom is also a problem.

Remember we are not talking about kids that are making the occasional distasteful wisecrack in class, we are talking about bullying, threatening, destructive behavior that makes it difficult if not impossible to conduct class. This behavior is often repeated over and over again. The student receives a short in-school suspension or an out of school suspension, in which they are gone from the classroom for a few days but return again with the same attitude, sometimes even worse.

Other students are as frustrated as the teacher seeing disrespectful, mean kids returned to the classroom over and over again. If someone can call a teacher Fu.... B... in the classroom in front of other kids and they are back a few days later laughing about it ... its a problem. I can promise you that they are not treating their classmates with respect. Learning in this environment is difficult.

While it might be true that putting them out on the street is not a solution, keeping them in a classroom is also not a solution. Perhaps it's time for society to get together and try to propose a real solution to the problem.

In the mean time, I hope the policy has some teeth to it.

Sad but true

Draft Education Act 2011 Proposed Framework

Everyone should read this document as it may well become the new Education Act in Alberta. Education and health care are in my opinion the top priorities of our Provincial government. This is a chance to have input.

http://education.alberta.ca/media/6343692/educationactproposeframework.pdf

Increasing school age

One of the proposals of the new Alberta School Act is to increase the age of attendance in schools. Superintendent Brodziak said at the last school meeting that he preferred the system that we currently have, in which students over the age of 18 have to request permission to return. The division can the assess their reasons and accept or deny them.

I am a supporter of free public education for both children and adults, which is available in many countries in the world and therefore is financially manageable (but thats another topic), however I believe that Brodziak is right on this one.

We do have to question why the 21 year old wants to go back to public school. If it is simply to get their high school diploma because they now, as and adult, know the value of education ... then yup they should be back and yes I believe we as tax payers should cover the costs.

However chances are equally good that the 21 year old is there to sell drugs. Nobody wants to say that but its very likely. High school kids and young adults are the main consumers of drugs and as a business person it would make sense to be available to the market.

However, I would take it one step further and question if high school should be mandatory at all. All kids interested in taking school at this level should have to make a similar commitment. If a 16 year old really doesn't want to be in school, then maybe it would be better for him or her to go out and get a job for a few years and decide what they really want. Perhaps it is time to get rid of forced education for choice education.

Dangerous direction

The Education Minister Dave Hancock has been questioned about the governments practice of firing elected school board members and appointing trustees.

http://www.davehancock.ca/2010/11/question-period-school-board-g.html

This is an unacceptable power grab by the provincial government. The threat to all boards is, if you don't do what we say we will fire you. In the transcript available on Hancocks own website he asks "what's the right kind of governance model?"

The right kind according to whom? The people of this province put their voice forward when the elected these people to the school board. Are elections the wrong governance model? It is total and complete arrogance on behalf of our government to think that the people that they choose to appoint are "better" then those that we ourselves choose to represent us. That is not democracy!

This is an outrageous abuse of power and shame on the Alberta School Boards Association for not taking a more aggressive stand. Do not be surprised if there is no voice when they come for you.

Female dominated school board

When you have a problem in your local school - who you gonna call? SPERD board!

Five of seven board members are now women, which is interesting all by itself. I don't know if we have ever had a female majority before on the board but it is a nice change in politics in general. School boards can be a steppingstone into other areas of politics as is evident with Don Padlesky and Steve Upham. Also of course MLA Ray Danyluk began on school board. Both the Town of St. Paul (with no females) and the County of St. Paul (with only one female councillor) are strongly male dominated. I hope that the trend in the school board will filter into other areas increasing female representation in other areas of the political arena.

Quick re-cap

Incumbents Rhonda Lafrance, Maureen Miller, and Ron Rudkowski were returned to office by acclimation.

Raya Looy will replace Don Padlesky who is now on the Town of St. Paul council. Heather Starosielski will replace Steve Upham who won the election for Reeve of St. Paul.

Darrell Younghans easily won against challenger Perrish Tung (the Mayor of Elk Point) and Deb Pederson defeated John Pilipchuk to represent ward B.