Clever, and Pluralistic, Rednecks
September 22, 2006 · By Tom Cerber
The Economist notes the success of Alberta public education. It also notices that Alberta school boards do more than others in Canada in providing a plurality of schools, including religious schools (e.g., Edmonton has a Hebrew school, Lethbridge has a Christian school):
Alberta’s students regularly outshine those from other Canadian provinces: in 2004 national tests, Alberta’s 13- and 16-year-olds ranked first in mathematics and science, and third in writing. And in international tests they rank alongside the best in the world: in the OECD’s 2003 PISA study, the province’s 15-year-olds scored among the top four of 40 countries in mathematics, reading and science (see table).
Elsewhere in Canada, especially British Columbia and Ontario, dissatisfaction with public-school standards is increasingly driving parents to pack their children off to private schools. Over the past decade, the proportion of students in such schools has risen by 20% in Canada as a whole, and double that in Ontario. But the private system does not have the same appeal in Alberta, where some 80% of parents say they are happy with the public schools.
We all know Albertans are smarter than everybody else. But part of that success is due to the the pluralistic approach education providers bring.
Have you taken a look at the rural / urban divide on this data Tom? I think you will find it interesting.
Where is it available?
There have to be more Christians Schools in Alberta than the one in Lethbridge.
Da Zing: Just to clarify, I’m discussing Christian and other types of schools that fall under the authority of public school boards, not private schools. So, Lethbridge has one Christian school in its public system and Edmonton has four.
Almost all of the PISA data analysis can be found on the Statistics Canada website. Just type PISA into the search function on the main page.
Here is an example:
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/En.....21125b.htm
Thanks Tom.
A few years ago in Ontario someone proposed Christian schools under the authority of public school boards. But the proposal had the tone of “Let’s keep those pesky Christians under our watchful eye.” It was also in reaction to the tax credits for private schools.
Da Zing: I get the impression Alberta school boards aren’t as controlling as those Ontario ones. In fact, it’s ironic that it’s been the Calgary School Board that excludes religious schools on the basis it doesn’t want the pesky religious folks. Those that includes, like Edmonton and Lethbridge, don’t seem to generate any complaints about keeping an eye on them (at least none that I know of).
Quite so, Tom. I think Da Zing has been living down east too long. There’s actually a whole civilized world out here in which religion is accepted and welcomed as a normal part of life, and Alberta is part of it. Only the very young and the outright bonkers carry on like Ontarians.
“I think Da Zing has been living down east too long.”
That may be, but my best friend for the last 4 years is an Albertan. Unfortunately he just left town this morning, and won’t be coming back, except to visit. Watch out for signs of me turning into a liberal.