SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Democracy Inaction

The existence of school boards is often defended on the grounds that they make the education system democratic, since the trustees are elected. Seldom mentioned is the fact that many trustees are former or current educators, or spouses of educators, and some even have ties to the teachers’ unions. In addition, many non-affiliated trustees are quickly co-opted by a very efficient and well-oiled school board machinery. The result is a board of trustees who mostly view their role as representing the school board to the community, as opposed to representing the community to the school board.

The Bluewater District School Board is a case in point. As this article in the Owen Sound newspaper reports, several local action groups are so dismayed by the board’s secrecy and lack of response to very serious allegations, such as bullying and plagiarism, that last month they asked the province’s premier to call an inquiry, but he has chosen not to respond. Now the groups are planning to approach the provincial ombudsman and, if this last-ditch appeal route fails, they will be out of options. Where is the democracy in all this?