Progress Report 2008: Education

     

When your child starts talking about what they want to be when they grow up, their hopes become your dreams.

You believe anything is possible, because you believe in them.  But you’re both counting on public education, too.  It all starts on the first day of school. 

You’re starting a journey that begins with story time and singing along …

Moves on to reading lessons and band practice …

Through to Shakespeare and calculus …

And then it’s on to bigger challenges.

In Ontario, the recipe for success is there.  The Ontario government is investing in publicly funded education like never before.  Test scores are up, class sizes are down and the graduation rate is up. 

School repairs have made for a better atmosphere — a $4.8 billion program has meant new windows, new roofs and heating, more lighting and some brand new buildings.

So, the system is performing better.  And that’s good.   “We want to make public education, the very best education,” is how Premier Dalton McGuinty sums it up.

But as a parent, you don’t just worry about the system improving.  You want to know that your child is making progress.  Let’s face it — things have changed since your mom sent you packing off to school.  Today, we don’t just leave education to the educators.  Parents are important partners.

“I want to know what my children are learning and see how they handle the material.  I don’t want to wait for the report card to find out how they’re doing”

Michele Galloway, Parent and School Council Chair, Lakeshore Discovery School
Greater Essex County School Board

Smaller class sizes mean that your child is getting more individual attention in the early grades.  You can build on that by reading at home.

From kindergarten through Grade 12, across school boards in Ontario, innovative programs are focusing on character development. You can add to that by listening to your child, adolescent or teenager and sharing your life lessons. 

Students can customize their learning experience with the Specialist High Skills Major. They can preview a career they’re interested in while earning their secondary school diploma.

Every high school student in Ontario now has access to a student success teacher.  If your teenager is struggling, there’s someone who can talk to both of you.

“Being involved allows parents to spend more time with their children, as well as raise questions and issues they may have about the schools or the system. It can also be a lot of fun. It has made me a better role model for my children and I have met some of the most wonderful and inspiring children and adults through my participation,” said Aimee Gerdevich, parent and chair of Ontario’s Provincial Parent Board.

In the end, students, parents and teachers all share the same goal.  The last day of high school should be filled with the same hope, optimism and love for learning as that first day of kindergarten.

If we succeed in that, our children will be equipped to make their own dreams come true.