News Room
Helping Parents and Supporters of Choice in Education Keep Up With "Current Events"

Wading Into The Uneasy Debate Of Religion, Schools And Public Funding - !!!NEW!!!
Michael Prue announced his plans to run for leader of the Ontario NDP and requested a "grand dialogue" on education in the province. Does NDP support for two fully-funded public systems still make the best sense? Should it be reviewed? Could a single board be more efficient? What of the rights of other faiths?
The Kitchener Record - Jim Coyle - August 11 2008

The Choice Is Yours - !!!NEW!!!
Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions that parents will make. Not only is it a place for academic learning, but it's where friendships are formed, siblings will follow and families spend a lot of their time. Not too long ago, children simply went to their local neighbourhood school. In recent years, more options have emerged such as private schools, distance learning, specialized academies, alternative learning centres and even homeschooling.
Calgary Herald - Bonnie Elgie - August 14 2008

School To Build On Montessori Method - !!!NEW!!!
*About 45 kids will attend a new downtown school in September that combines Montessori method with hands-on activities to stimulate the minds of kids three years old and up. The school's owner founded the school after the school her own child attended closed suddenly and she couldn't find another that suited her family choice.
St. Catharines Standard - Samantha Cragg - July 27 2008

School Closings Moratorium Shot Down -
*Liberal MPP's blame former Conservative government and the popularity of independent schools for declining enrollment in public schools
London Free Press - Paige Aarhus - June 4 2008

Ontario Cuts Funds For Private School French -
*The Ontario government is quietly cutting off funding to most private schools for French-language instruction, a move critics link to fallout from the last election campaign. New rules leave very few independent schools - and no religious ones - eligible for these federally granted funds
Globe & Mail - Jill Mahoney - May 31 2008

Student Tests - And Teacher Grades - !!!Interesting Must-Read!!!
*Public education seems to live in an upside-down universe where student outcomes are not allowed to be connected to teaching
Wall Street Journal - John Merrow (education correspondent for the 'Newshour With Jim Lehrer & President of Learning Matters Inc. He`s also a former high school teacher) - May 9 2008

The Business Of Learning -
*Former Ontario Minister Of Education, John Snobelen, is tired of school administrators ducking their responsibilities. He says that parents expect their kids to learn reading, writing and arithmetic skills in school and they want how their child is doing and how their child`s school is doing. Educators have a responsibility to report fully the state of quantifiable to the people who are paying the bills
The Toronto Sun - John Snobelen - May 4 2008

Rhema Loses Funding For French -
*Private elementary schools are being stripped of french language grants they`ve been receiving from the federal government (given in transfer payment to Ontario) for years. The reason? The provincial government insists that it is committed to building a 'strong, robust, publicly-funded system' ONLY
Peterborough Examiner - Fiona Isaacson - April 22 2008

Homework Is The Result Of Wasted Classroom Time, Not What Parents Want -
*Educators in Toronto have come up with another suggestion for improving the life and learning of school kids....lots less homework! The new homework debate highlights a continuing need for publicly funded independent schools that will provide parents with alternatives such as direct instruction, high expectations with consequences for non-performance and reasonable amounts of well-thought out homework.
The Record - John Bachman - April 19 2008

Tests A Study In Location, Location, Location -
*despite vigorous debate on the accuracy of The Fraser Institute`s Annual Schools Report Card, real estate agents say that prospective home buyers see the local school`s ranking as a top consideration in purchasing a new home
Toronto Sun - Sarah Green - March 30 2008

BC Teachers Consider Strike To End Standard Tests -
*united in opposition, this province`s unions vote to boycott provincials tests which lead to school rankings by The Fraser Institute who publishes them annually
Can-west News Service - March 19 2008

Grits` Faith-based Hypocrisy -
*there is already a Niagara public board school that offers Bible study and chapel before school, and the province pays the bills...
Toronto Sun - Christian Blizzard - March 9 2008

This School Has A Perfect `10` - Schools Succeed For Families!
*students at this private school aren`t required to write EQAO tests, but do them annually to gauge progress - this school is one of 25 ranked first by The Fraser Institute`s Report Card on Schools - and earned a perfect 10
Toronto Sun - Sarah Green - February 17 2008

Segregation Fighter Suddenly Absent - Black Schools OK But Faith-based - NO WAY
*a cautionary tale from Ontario about politicians who pose as fighters against school segregation....sometimes
London Free Press - Lorrie Goldstein - February 4 2008

Give All Parents Educational Choice - Great Article!!!
*why shouldn't black kids have their own heroes as models of courage, strength and wisdom? It won't make them any less Canadian...
Globe & Mail - Thomas Flanagan - February 4 2008

The Fraser Institute - Children First Grants -
*these grants help make private schools affordable for low-income families
Marketwire Service - Toronto - January 2 2008
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School Choice Articles in 2007

Teens Haven't Improved Math, Reading Scores -
Globe & Mail - Jill Mahoney - December 5 2007

Why Our School Don't Get A's -
Globe & Mail - Margaret Wente - November 29 2007

Board Meeting Erupts Over Black School Plan -
Toronto Star - Kristin Rushowy - November 29 2007

Falling Short Of An 'A' -
Globe & Mail - Editorial - November 27 2007

Education Or Segregation? -
National Post - Natalie Alcoba - November 19 2007

Black Only, But Just Don't Use The 'S' Word -
Toronto Star - Louise Brown - Education Reporter - November 10 2007

Creativity Beging With Discipline -
National Post - Robert Fulford - October 17 2007
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Ontario Election 2007 - School Choice Issue Featured

Fear Of 'Those People' -
Ottawa Citizen - Dan Gardner - October 12 2007

School Issue Not Going Away -
Toronto Star - Dan Girard & Louise Brown - October 11 2007

Shouting Fire In A Crowded Province -
National Post - Andrew Coyne - October 11 2007

A Struggle Over Faith -
Toronto Sun - Michele Manel - October 11 2007

Tory's Hard Lessons Make Him Logical Choice For Commission on Education -
Globe & Mail - John Barber - October 11 2007

Expand Educational Freedom Of Choice For All Parents - THIS IS ONE TO KEEP!
Preston Manning and The Fraser Institute, using results from PISA, deliver recommendations to all provinces where the objective is to provide Canada's children with the best education in the world
Globe and Mail - Preston Manning - October 9 2007

Unfairness In Education Funding Rolls On -
Ottawa Citizen - Dan Gardner - October 3 2007

Free Vote On Faith -
Toronto Sun - Christina Blizzard - October 1 2007

Equality In Education - Funding Faith-based Schools - THIS IS THE ONE TO SHARE!
Choice is good but more choice is better - a summary written by the editors of MacLean's Magazine
MacLean's - September 24 2007

Thank Heaven For Religious Schools - They Keep Our Public Schools Honest -
The Province (BC) - Christy Clark - former Minister of Education - September 23 2007

Leap Of Faith -
Toronto Sun - Moira MacDonald - September 22 2007

Fear of Islamic Schools Based On False Stereotypes -
Toronto Star - Editorial - September 20 2007

A Culture Of Educational Profiling -
National Post - John VanAsselt (OACS) - September 18 2007

Defending 'Canadian' Values? -
Toronto Sun - Christina Blizzard - September 18 2007

McGuinty Didn't Do Education Homework -
London Free Press - Rory Leishman - September 15 2007

McGuinty Does 360 On Schools - !!!GREAT ARTICLE!!!
London Free Press & Toronto Sun - Lorrie Goldstein - September 12 2007

Premier Is Staking Political Future On Religious School Funding Stance -
Toronto Star - Ian Urquhart - September 11, 2007

Fund All Faith Groups, Bishops Urge - !!!Catholic Leaders Endorse Funding All Faith-based Schools!!!
The Ottawa Citizen - Joanne Laucius - September 11, 2007

Religious Schools Are Affordable -
National Post - Jack Mintz - September 11, 2007

"My Vision For Ontario" -
National Post - Open Letter From Premier Dalton McGuinty - September 10, 2007

Liberal Ads Target Cash For Religious Schools -
Globe & Mail - Karen Howlett & Shawn McCarthy - September 10, 2007

Pro Vs. Con - Funding Faith-based Schools -
The Toronto Star - September 7, 2007

McGuinty's Indefensible Stance On Schools -
The National Post - Andrew Coyne - September 5, 2007

Liberals For Discrimination - GREAT ARTICLE!!
Ottawa Citizen - Editorial - August 30, 2007

Tories Grab Hot Potato, Again -
Toronto Sun - Christina Blizzard - August 24 2007

You Can't Fund One Without The Others - GREAT ARTICLE!!
Ottawa Citizen - Dan Gardner - August 24 2007

School Funding A Key Issue - McGuinty -
Toronto Star - Rob Ferguson - August 23 2007

Faith-Based School Idea Backward - McGuinty -
National Post - Lee Greenberg - August 23 2007

Religious School Funding To Be A 'Defining Issue' -
Globe & Mail - Karen Howlett - August 23 2007

Premier Rejects Tory's All-Faith Funding Plan -
Toronto Star - Kerry Gillespie - August 21, 2007

Liberal School Plan Is Unstable - !!! Great Article !!!
Toronto Sun - Moira MacDonald - August 20, 2007

Teachers Vow To Support Wynne -
Toronto Star - press files - August 14, 2007

Tory's Proposal Hands McGuinty An Issue - !!! Great Article - Lots of Letter-Writing Ideas !!!
Ottawa Citizen - Eric Dowd - August 13, 2007

Families Caught In Religious Funding Controversy - !!! Great Article Full Of Letter-Writing Ideas - Tell Your Story!!!
Toronto Star - Kerry Gillespie - August 11

Faith-Based School Study Already Exists -
Toronto Star - Anna Morgan - August 5, 2007

McGuinty Pounces On Tory's Proposal -
Toronto Star - Robert Benzie - July 25, 2007

Ontario Tories Unveil Plan To Fund Faith-based Schools -
CTV.ca - On-Line News - July 23, 2007

School Plan Just Might Be A Winner - !!!Great Article!!!
Toronto Star - Ian Urquhart - June 13, 2007

Ontario Faith-based Schools Should Be Funded Like Catholic Schools -
Globe & Mail - Keith Leslie - June 8, 2007

Ontario Parents Suing For Disability Funds In Religious Schools -
Globe & Mail - Jill Mahoney - June 5, 2007

*Ontario's Premier Celebrates Education Week -
-public education...that is!!

School Funding Controversy Stirs Again -
Toronto Star - Ian Urquhart - May 3, 2007

Private Schools Are Good For The Public -
Kitchener Record - John VanAsselt - May 2, 2007

Diverse Choices Give Schools Personal Touch -
Edmonton Journal - David Howell - April 20, 2007

Ontario Boards Need More Competition, Not Less -
Kitchener Record - Malkin Dare - April 24, 2007

Ontario Schools Failing To Meet Pupil Cap -
Globe & Mail - Caroline Alphonso - March 7, 2007

McGuinty Should Ensure Safe Schools -
Kitchener Record - Editorial - February 20, 2007

Fraser Institute Deserves Failing Grade For Report On Schools -
Kitchener Record - Second Opinion - February 20, 2007

Somewhere Milton Is Smiling -
The Wall Street Journal - John Fund - February 7, 2007

School Choice Articles In 2006 - ________________________________________________________________________

New Twist in Long-Running Debate -
Toronto Star - Ian Urquhart - November 18, 2006

2007 Election Underway? -
Toronto Star - September 5, 2006

The Politics of Class Size -
Guelph Tribune - September 1, 2006

School Tax Credit Plan Welcomed -
Hamilton Spectator - February 21, 2006

Tory Pledges Aid On Private School Fees -
Toronto Star - February 20, 2006

Tories Put Harris Days Behind Them
Toronto Star - February 18, 2006

School Choice Articles in 2005 - ________________________________________________________________________

Report Seeks Weaker Ottawa - Provinces Need Less Interference
National Post - October 24 2005

Private Tutoring Is Here
Toronto Sun - July 25 2005

Parents Strike Back Over Work-To-Rule
The London Free Press - June 3, 2005

McGuinty Set To Push Ottawa For More Cash
The Kitchener Record - June 2, 2005

Keys To Unlocking Government Education
89 reporters from 45 newspapers in 10 provinces conducted a national audit in response to a growing concern that civil servants are hindering rather than helping citizens (that's us!) gain access to public information (in other words, we have to advocate for ourselves more often than we may realize!)
The Kitchener Record - May 28, 2005

School Choice: A Debate Ontarians Deserve
Windsor Star - March 7, 2005

Schools Hit By Work To Rule
Kitchener Record - March 3, 2005

Parents Need Voice
Toronto Sun - February 14, 2005

Private School Funding Issue Wounded But Alive
Toronto Star - January 24, 2005

Articles in 2004 - ______________________________________________________________________

Alberta Students Tops Across Canada
Vancouver Sun - December 7, 2004

Today's Lesson: The Parentariat
National Post - October 9, 2004

Lower Income Children Thriving in Independent Schools According to New Survey
A Fraser Institute Study Finds Explores Families' Experiences with the "Children First" Foundation Grants
Canadian Press - September 28, 2004

Expect Integrity, Not Revolution
Andrew Coyne - National Post - September 20, 2004

Politics and Parental Choice in Education
A SPECIAL PEC PUBLICATION
July 19, 2004

Taxpayer group to sue over budget
Gillian Livingston - Canadian Press - Toronto Star - May 21, 2004

How Bill Davis changed face of school funding
Ian Urquhart - Toronto Star - Queen's Park Bureau - May 03, 2004

'They did not listen': Government admits forecast on schools' tax credit was wrong
Heather Sokoloff - National Post - April 21, 2004