CORNWALL Ontario – So what is the problem with our schooling in Cornwall Ontario? Is it Liberal governments giving too much of the pie to the mighty teacher’s unions? Is it our drinking water? Our culture?
The Fraser Institute doles out yearly rankings for Elementary and Secondary schools across in Ontario and we’ve slumped again with the exception of Immaculate Conception which was on the list of most improved schools,but still ranked at only 796, improving two years in a row.
Why does nearby Brockville Ontario seem to do a better job of schooling than Cornwall with one of its schools ranked 204?
Cornwall’s ranking in 2012/13
Ranks for 2011/12
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What do you think dear viewers? What can you attribute the slide in ranking of our Cornwall elementary schools?
And with our Premier pushing her governments new sex ed program are our schools really the best place to be educating our young?
You can post your comments below.
Somebody at UCDSB is asleep at the wheel
I can’t believe that people are still buying into the never-ending BS emanating from the Fraser Institute.
Lists like this are open to so much interpretation. It’s the same with “who’s the greatest guitar player?”
Years of teaching left me with the distinct impression that — aside from some exceptional teachers in the classroom and a few sincere educators fighting against the current — the ministry, the boards, bureaucrats, unions, and politicians treat the ed biz like a profitable club… and quite content to simply warehouse our children.
Too many older teachers have given up fighting a system that waters down curriculum and has turned the student and educator dynamic upside down.
Too many younger teachers took on the profession as a last resort following years of ill-chosen university studies in psych, sociology, political science… and generally putting off making sound choices or just going to work.
The unions are become an embarrassment to older organizers and labour leaders who see a greedy bunch of members ready to sell out new hires, too chicken to take a united stand or suffer the loss of a few bucks, too self-interested to look after the future educators of our children.
The politicians and the bureaucrats?
Well they infect the education system in their nooks and crannies, from the Ministry all the way down to the rank and file member. With thinly veiled self-serving motives at the head of their agenda, it is indeed the politician and the bureaucrat that have undermined the imparting and the taking up of real knowledge, and the critical thinking and understanding that make up its foundation.
Simon, what you describe sounds exactly like the school system that I went through in the fifties and early sixties.
It’s not half the school system I went through, that’s for sure.
Each school in order for these results to have merit would have been subjected to the same criteria. Given that that likely occurred the obvious conclusion is that a problem exists not with the students but with the teachers. If the problem rested upon the system than the sampling of the results would not be so inconsistent if teachers skill sets were comparable.
While some here may subscribe to conspiracy theories or outright denial the simple reality is that as with many areas administered by dysfunctional governments the results mirror the effort. We accept mediocrity as if there was no other choice. While teachers may be failing badly for a variety of reasons ultimately the failure rests on the parents of these students who stand idly by allowing the situation to perpetuate. Heads in the sand.
David if the results of this study favored Cornwall nobody would be questioning the results locally. The slide of the last three years over all is very disturbing.
While I’m sure educators are part of the problem, I’m not sure I’d give them the burden of fault. There are many factors including the worsening financial climate of our economy locally. Many of those that move away with their children for economic reasons may tilt the numbers of those remaining.
Economic strife does not rob one of the ability to learn nor does it impact the ability to teach. If this were not true than an entire generation educated from 1929 until the end of the second world war would have been adversely impacted. Instead this group rose above the economic climate and put a man on the moon and the list of achievements can go on for days. Credit where credit is do and broad shoulders for the blame to rest upon. Let us face the simple truth Admin we are a society in denial that searches to find a place to lay the blame a long as that place is not at our own feet. We have become a weak complacent lot and I am not without blame because I am the type that can make a difference and I have chosen not to at the level that I could. No one is void of responsibility. Mankind is a group, not one individual.
Yes David. Poverty, malnutrition and homelessness have absolutely no baring on health or one’s ability to learn. In fact, it builds character and might even give people an unfair advantage over people who are well off and secure. I’m sure there are several studies by the Fraser Institute that back this up.
You are right Furtz economic restriction can and do give birth to building character and in many does provide an advantage over those born with a silver spoon in their mouth because hunger on many levels provides the inspiration for positive change. Besides organizations like Agape ensure that the only people that go hungry are the ones that don’t want to eat. We have an abundance of organizations providing assistance in addition to an extensive welfare system that provides hand outs and benefits to not only people not able to look after themselves but also multiple generations of individuals who take the hand out in place of having to be responsible for themselves.
Too funny, David!
We know of people who came to Canada with only $10. in their pocket back in the 1950’s and they became very prosperous and they were mighty poor in a village in Lebanon. Our friend Robert was born in Lebanon but raised in Africa since his father worked there and they were poor but they learned how to live through frugality and they succeeded very well. Robert owned two homes and sold one and his wife has one that they owned together. Other countries do not have what we have and our Canadians are whiners.
Agape does good work. But due to their bloated and overpaid “staff team” I refuse to donate to them. As well, they’ve had their share of potential conflicts of interest / scandals.
As for welfare it should be used when needed, NOT when you think society owes it to you.
@David
I would have used the “retard” word to describe that ilk. It’s like a mini-Palestine in the east end and other areas. Needy folk brought down by the systemic generational welfare reliance. Nobody tries to help these people because the welfare system wants to grow.
Interesting take Wow!. So your suggestion is that the Liberal government wishes to consume tax dollars (I say Liberal because under the Conservatives the numbers on welfare were greatly reduced only to expand to now over half a million under the Liberals again) expanding the unionized administration and creating the illusion of need? Perhaps you are correct if that is the case Wow! Why else would the Liberals rename their hand out system(as opposed to a hand up) “Ontario Works” when clearly under the current administration it does not.
As for “generational” that is self imposed. I will stop short of saying some do not want to work and simply say that for most it has become easier not to work as a result of a poorly implemented support system. That is the direct result of a system managed as a method of delivering a hand out instead of offering a hand up. Or to be clear and precise it is the direct result of Liberalism.
Check the cold hard facts for yourself. Under a different approach the bloated welfare numbers decreased to approximately 200,000 only to more than double again when the Liberals returned to power. Perhaps Wow! you are correct.
For clarification I was more focused on the human spirit than perceived government oppression.
Wow! said: “Nobody tries to help these people because the welfare system wants to grow.” Now that is laughable. Nobody tries to help these people because they are given handouts. It’s easier for them to collect welfare than to actually look for OR keep a job. Welfare is too easy to get in Ontario.
@David
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That was my meaning.
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@Hugger1
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I think you misunderstand. The bureaucracy is a device by which loberals create their own class of civilian citizens, protected by ridiculous restrictions to ensure lifetime tenure and cash for life. Budgets need to be always ratcheted upwards to obtain more of the dollars needed to bloat bureaucracy further the next year, or lose funding. This is why communism failed. There comes a point where the working people revolt against this oligarchy. It’s coming to the U.S. first when Obama is shot by a troubled mid-western ex-soldier in the next few months. Wynne will likely not survive her terms. Sanity will prevail.
Wow!….Now, I agree with you.