SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

No Fail Policy and the Ivory Tower

It seems that Ontario Deputy Minister Levin’s memo regarding the government’s “No-Fail” policy has garnered a response from Ivory Tower Blues author James Côté and Jon Cowans.  It is a scathing analysis of Levin’s “propagandistic missive” (the authors’ words, not mine):

 “If we are not providing secondary school students with a meaningful and challenging education, is it any wonder that some opt to leave before graduating and others lack the suitable preparation for post-secondary education? If Levin were committed to a full disclosure of the facts, he would be directing the Ministry of Education to address the limitations of the system over which it has a fiduciary duty, not ignore the facts that point to those limitations. A disservice is being done to all by his misinformation.”

Côté speaks from experience and is not the only voice speaking out about lax standards.

In the latest issue of our newsletter, The Forum, SQE reported on the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations survey which indicated that first-year university students are less prepared than ever before.  Incoming students have lower writing and numeric skills, lower maturity, and a belief that good grades are an entitlement.  The OCUFA president noted that the Ontario government has been applauding itself for increasing high school graduation rates but that many of the graduates are inadequately prepared for university.