Archive for the 'Education Reform' Category

Public Education on Trial

At the 1987 Future of Freedom Conference in California we discussed education malpractice. I was involved with pursuing the topic: Public Education on Trial.
Below are some excerpts from our brochure:
 
The world is very much as described in Orwell’s 1984.
However, on a small secret island, SANOS, live several hundred people, mostly of the libertarian persuasion. Having detected – […]

“Indoctrination” Laws and Guidelines for Schools

The Gore Global Warming controversies re: truth or otherwise of his film, books, speeches, etc. has at least exposed a lot more food for thought.  To me, the most important outcome so far has been the revealing of the existence of anti-indoctrination legislation in the English School Act, 1996.  How many of our School Acts […]

Education Choice #1 Parental Right

As we hear and read about school choice being the the answer to reforming education performance and satisfaction we need to be aware of some basics.
1. It has always been, except in totalitarian states, the duty of parents to educate their children.

England: It shall be the duty of the parent of every child of compulsory […]

International Education Consumers Talk

I have recently joined, on a free trial basis, a group which involves consumers in education. Their site is: Education Consumers Clearinghouse.
My latest conversation was today with Mona in England, see below:
From Canada, just joining the ECC conversations. Mona’s posting today reminds me of conversations we had at CIDOC, Ivan Illich’s center in […]

Education: Let technology do the teaching?

Education Advisory, the service providing “consumer advice” to parents, sponsored 5 Home Learning Fairs in the 80’s to show how technology and parents could prepare students for the future. The following newspaper article was published in the Vancouver Province, Nov 03, 1985. From this article you will see how Education Advisory was involved in […]

The Fiction of Education Reform

[This review is basically a re-write of a review done in the 80’s. I expect to re-read this book in the future and expect to make further comments. TA]
Book Review
Beyond Public Education, Myron Lieberman, 1986, Praeger
Fact and Fiction of Education Reform
Lieberman’s book could be the starting point for anyone concerned with our public schools. […]

Education Reform Efforts

[Always willing to influence the cause of parent involvement, I keep writing briefs when the opportunity arises. Hoping it’s not a lost cause, my latest brief was in 1999.]
Brief to
The Independent Commission on Public Involvement in
Vancouver School Affairs
Dr. Norman Robinson, Commissioner
By Tunya Audain
September 30, 1999

Overview
My 35 years’ experience with school system tells me […]

On record in the Legislature

[This was published in Hansard, Aug. 17, 1983 (24 yrs ago) when the Social Credit government was introducing Bill 6, Education Finance Amendment Act dealing with tighter controls over school board spending.]
MR. PARKS: I think the people of British Columbia are beginning to understand what the opposition in their protracted debates, not only on […]

Brief on Reform 1985

[TO READERS: Is this 1985 brief (25 yrs ago) still relevant in 2007? Please comment]
Brief to West Vancouver District Review Committee on B.C. Education
Tunya Audain, 85/02/26
I’ve been involved with education systems for about 20 years, having taken my first Education Course at UBC when I was pregnant with my first child, now 19. […]

Education Reform or Futile Exercise?

When the heat is on, governments will often mount in inquiry, or task force, or Royal Commission, or whatever! We’ve seen lots of these in Canada so that an OECD Report in 1976 commented:
These largely seem to be pro forma exercises.
In 1984 in British Columbia it was announced we would have an “overhaul”.
My letter […]