Regarding the letter from the Upper Canada D. S., so many of their trustees (as in all ed. boards) have been purchased by the teachers’ unions that they’re no better to be champions of the students and taxpayers any more than our current Liberal gov’t!

Recently, I read on a newspaper blog, ‘welcome to Canadinski’:  we’re paying dearly for an educational system which we have no say in how it’s run, nor how our children are educated—sigh…

Oh how ironic the Upper Canada District School Board to claimed, “Let us hope everyone remembers we are here to build exciting classrooms to inspire the students in our schools this September and for Septembers to come.”........When in reality the students, parents, communities and the taxpayers are the foot soldiers dancing to the many tunes and agendas of the stakeholders within.

UCDSB is no different in micro-managing students, the parents and communities how, when, where and by whom their actions and behaviours. Why is never explained by the school board trustees, to the students, parents, communities and the taxpayers, and that is why all the stakeholders within the education system are in such a frenzy to protect their right and authority to command the foot soldiers who are not allowed to questions the commanders.

Further down - a letter to the Ministry of Education from the OPSBA
”  The Education Act imposes on Boards the duty to ensure student well-being and success. Implicit in this legal requirement is an obligation to pursue collective agreement provisions that would not in any way reduce supports that provide for student well-being and success, or that would diminish public confidence in our schools.  Our member Boards are committed to that obligation.”

School boards certainly lives up to the legal requirements of delivering an education under the school acts. But what it does not state any where in the school acts, the supports and education services that would constitute an education. Ergo, school boards and trustees are the generals giving out the orders, and public confidence becomes a pretense of what looks like public confidence, but in reality a series of policies, protocols, and regulations to control the actions and behaviours of the students, parents, the communities and taxpayers.

On the Upper Canada site, the policies
http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/aboutus/Pages/bylaws.aspx

Typical in controlling the bottom level, and the bureaucratic red tape and controls on parents.

Example - “RULES APPLYING TO DELEGATIONS”  - to address the school board
http://www.ucdsb.on.ca/aboutus/Documents/BoardByLaws/BoardByLaws_Approved_2012Jun20 AppForm Only.pdf

No different from other school boards, and one can be assure that a delegation of one or more will never be allowed to speak that runs against the goals and agendas of the school district.

Why I laugh so hard, reading the two letters from trustees on Who is in Charge of the School House.

“I have worked with parents who have felt that there concerns have fallen on deaf ears with regard to their child’s educational needs. Possibly communication has broken down between teacher and student, or principal and parent. I have seen these situation completely turned around in a day with a little effective communication, empathy and understanding. “We all have a need to be heard.” I am not totally convinced the bureaucrats in Toronto are in tune with the needs and challenges of smaller rural communities in Ontario.”
http://www.whoisinchargeoftheschoolhouse.com/

“Trustees have a deep understanding of the needs and concerns of their communities and play a vital role in providing leadership for school boards, serving as a forum for community input and sharing the beliefs and vision of the school system. “

In reality, school trustees do everything in their power and authority to ensure the foot soldiers march to their tunes and agendas.

I wonder if local school board trustees even serve much purpose anymore.  What power do they have to influence things given provincial legislation, collective agreements, etc.  I suspect they’re pretty bitter at being squeezed out of what little authority they still think they have.  In the past boards have been played against each other as a negotiating tool; now the provincial government has stepped in.

If trustees were so on top of all of this, why did they let this government straightjacket them with such awful legislation governing trustees?

This didn’t happen over night trustees. Where have you been since 2003?

Too little to late…..you had a chance to take back your schools but you picked the blinding lights and salary increases instead now you want parents to help you.

Bring on school choice and nix school board admin. & bureaucracy completely. Keep elected trustees and elect only those who remember what advocating for local education and accountability.

Thanks for taking the time to write about our initiative. Thanks to those that have taken the time to comment as well. The issues raised all need to be discussed.

I will respond to some of the points raised in time on our blog.

In the meantime, I am interested in your views on “who is in charge of the school house”.  The critiques are welcome; however ideas are needed.

We started this initiative do create debate not because we thought we had the answers.  The system is far from ideal, it needs and can get better.

Greg Pietersma
Chair of UCDSB
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