Just a quick post to indicate the transcripts from the Ontario Legislature's standing committee on social policy's two days of hearings on Bill 177 are up on the legislature's website. I had wanted to wait a few days after the Oct. 26 and 27 meeting dates because usually it takes a few days for the committee staff to post the Hansard transcripts of the hearings at the committee level.
Looking quickly at those who spoke, it drew the expected crowd of trustees' association, trustees, parents' groups and other interested parties.
The Oct. 26 transcript is here— HTML or PDF, with the Oct. 27 transcript here— HTML or PDF.
I have not had time to read through the transcripts, but did note the committee will do clause-by-clause examination of Bill 177 on Nov. 16. A few days afterward I will again post a couple hundred words with a link to the transcript.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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6 comments:
This quote from the OPSBA submission will sum up the concern that trustees have, namely that the bill points "to a diminishment of the role of trustees and an erosion of their status as individuals democratically elected to the office as the board of trustees." And from the union perspective, Ken Coran's comments about OSSTF's concern with student achievement being used as a criteria for measuring the success of a board echoes consistent teacher union positions that they don't want their members evaluated on how well their students do (actually, they would probably prefer their members not to be evaluated at all).
Timely post ER - there were some significant wording changes made prior to second reading, so it will be interesting to see what further changes (if any) are made. The real problem with the legislation, in my opinion, isn't what the Liberals are likely to do with it, but what the mini-Harris new leader of the Conservatives might were he to come to power. But I guess that's only a problem if you think school boards are useful structures.
I'm pretty sure that conservatives like the idea of someone in the greater scheme of things taking responsibility for student achievement. I don't see that big bad mini-Harris myth the RetDir sees, although what does it tell us that once again RetDir pulls political spin on an otherwise very informative effort by ER.
Saw these earlier ER and I have to say that I feel that this hearing will not change much to the bones of the Bill.
I found all presentations a bit like eating oatmeal. No one really likes doing it but we know it's good for us so we force it down.
I think the hearings too little too late.
CC
For all the complaints and blame laid at the feet of Mike Harris's government I don't see the Liberals working to underdo many of that government's initiatives, which, oddly enough were initiatives raised first by their previous NDP government.
I sure hope that our RetDir didn't run her/his own board with such a politically left ideology.
Perhaps Ms. RetDir would share with us here her views on who she thinks should be responsible for student achievement?
Can we please stick to the issue folks?
The Liberals have been in power long enough to put Harris to bed for Pete's sake. McGuinty's legacy will speak for itself sooner rather than later I expect.
CC
I must have typed something incorrectly, or perhaps misunderstanding is in the eye of the reader. I actually think that teachers and school boards should be held accountable for student achievement. I also don't have a problem with the Ministry taking over a school board in order to improve student achievement if they can in fact do a better job. Having said that, it will be much harder to fix that problem than it is to fix finances.
And I would appreciate vitriol being poured on my ideas because of the ideas themselves, not because they may have been informed by my experiences in my jobs - as CC said, sticking to the issues would be appreciated.
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