Tutorial: Is School Choice Beneficial?
YES: "The Reformation of
Brenley Devlin,
The
author of this article is convinced that the school system "is out of
kilter". Educational reforms, such as enlarging the range of school
choices available to families, are recommended due to a "full blown crisis
in school system". He thinks that the range of choice is currently
insufficient and support should be increased. He points out in the article that
a system that provides one kind of education through public schools is too
confining, and unacceptable.
Without
choice, families are forced to accept the decisions of the school whether or
not they agree with them. Schools are failing due to lack of competition
between them, choice remedies this situation by adding the element of
competition, forcing schools to strive to better themselves in order for
students to choose that educational facility. Holmes says that the central
problem is the system. It is his belief that people can point their fingers at
educators, but in reality there is no easily identifiable group or person that
can be blamed, for it is just the system as a whole.
He
also makes a good point in stating that a greater degree of choice has been
made available in provinces that have had some of the highest rankings in
interprovincial comparison testing. Also explored in the article is the idea of
vouchers being used. A voucher would help everyone financially and let them use
this voucher of money towards any school of their choice. This could cause
potential problems though, with a sharp differentiation of schools on basis of
ability to pay.
Holmes'
goes on to say that the portion of Canadians that agree with having all schools
equal cannot even agree among themselves what that school system should entail.
Therefore, developing a common and homogeneous culture in schools would prove
to be more of a difficult task than having a widen range in school choice.
In
conclusion, Holmes' makes the statement that choice is a right in a pluralist
democracy and choice in schools will essentially make the teachers happier to
teach and the students happier to learn in such environments. As a result of
this, low-quality schools will not be able to survive, strong schools will
develop a stronger sense of direction and the level of education will gradually
improve.
Guiding Questions
1. Do you feel that Canada's school system is in
the throes of a "full-blown crisis in education"? Why or why not?
2. Do you agree with Mark Holmes' stand point
that choice is necessary for education?
3.a) Would you like to see a wider range of
choice here in Ontario?
b) What
other kinds of choices would you like to see implemented here?
4. Would a voucher system help the financial
situation or create more of a distinction between classes of people?
5. Do you believe that there is one person or
group that can be blamed for the problems with the school system?
6. Would choice in a school system simply take
the responsibility of the results of the school system off school officials and
onto the parents making the decision?
7.a) Do you believe that all schools should be
equal and there should be no choices made?
b) If
so, how should this form of schooling be decided on, and moreover, who should
take part in deciding it?
Definitions
·
Charter
Schools: Schools that operate within public system but
have degree of independence unavailable to other schools. Currently only In
Alberta, but being considered elsewhere.
·
Cleaver:
A heavy, broad-bladed knife or hatchet used especially by
butchers.
(...Governments may take a cleaver to the
educational system because...)
·
Laissez-faire:
An economic doctrine that opposes governmental regulation of
or interference in commerce beyond the minimum necessary for a free-enterprise
system to operate according to its own economic laws. (unions, laissez-faire capitalism...)
·
Monolithic:
Constituting or acting as a single, often rigid, uniform whole.
(...system of monolithic comprehensive
schools)
·
Monopolistic:
adjective
- having exclusive control over a commercial activity by possession or legal
grant. (...major theme in this book has been the
strong monopolistic or quasi-monopolistic control...)
·
Propagation:
Multiplication or increase, as by natural reproduction.
(...including the propagation of it's own
educational world-views...)
·
Secular:
Not bound by monastic restrictions, especially not belonging to a religious
order. (...students in regular, secular schools...)
·
Unbridled:
Free from restriction or restraint. (....an
unbridled educational establishment...)
·
Voucher:
A specified amount of money given to all families intended
for use to purchase a spot in any school desired. (... Vouchers, they
say,would lead to a sharp differentiation...)