A rant… (which may offend some, but I make no apologies). I am both dumbfounded and disgusted with the news that only fifty-one percent of Island students graduated with academic math and academic English last year. What the heck is happening on PEI?! How is it possible that MORE THAN HALF of Island students did not graduate with essential academic skills that are prerequisites for post-secondary education? What about previous years, what are the numbers like for other recent graduating classes? I understand that the English Language School Board is implementing changes to the curriculum, which, obviously are needed…although for many recent graduates, it is clearly too late. I don’t believe that the ESLB is solely responsible for this issue though. The government needs to increase and not decrease funding in education; teachers need to communicate with parents and caregivers when they have concerns about their students; parents need to help their kids—find tutors, turn off electronics, review homework, stop justifying poor marks on a ‘learning disability’ (I know, yes, some students genuinely have learning disabilities but there is no way that 49% of our recent grade 12 graduates had learning disabilities); students need to feel empowered enough to ask for help, and they need to understand the importance of getting an academic education… (I’m sure I could list a hundred more things that could improve students’ learning and marks; however, I will stop there). I hope everyone is dumbfounded and disgusted with the news that only fifty-one percent of Island students graduated with academic math and academic English last year. I hope everyone makes any effort he/she can to help change that percentage—either with government, in the classroom, or at home at the kitchen table with their kids. -- End Rant --
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 21:22:59 +0000