For my 200th post at Eatmorecords.com, I thought that I would write down some of my thoughts after reading Janet Steffenhagen’s article in the Vancouver Sun titled ‘B.C. announces plans to modernize education system’.

And I quote, “British Columbia is promising more choice for students, speedier assistance for those who struggle and policies that allow them to bring smartphones,tablets and other electronic devices into the classroom”.

I encouraged by Steffenhagen’s opening paragraph summary of (dis)honourable Minister of Education Abbott’s plans. It means that he is willing to give the education system more money to implement these lofty goals. That means that he willing to give school boards the money to create school wide wireless networks so that smart phones and tablets are useful. That means that means that he is going to give under privledge students said tablets and smartphones so that they have any equal chance to be success in this picture of the new education world.

Abbott does not want us to “lose students in Grade 9, 10 or 11 because somehow we don’t connect with them on what their real passions are.” That means that all of the support workers that have been laid off will be re-hired and that Abbott will give more money to the education system to hire specialist and resource teacheres to help identify those students that are being lost and “pushed down too few pathways without understanding their interests and talents”. That means Abbott will give money to re-open all the auto shops and wood shops that have been closed due to budget cuts. And most importantly he will be giving the education system money to help reduce the class size so that teachers will be able to have more one on one conversations will all the students in their classes.

Like all politicians, George Abbott is announcing plans to change the education system. He is doing his best to created headlines that make it seem like he and his ministry are doing their utmost best to be the leaders of change. Lets us not forget that one of their most revolutionary ideas, BCeSIS, has been a waste of millions of dollars, and that funding for the public education system is being reduced annually while private education funding is rising.

As with any opinion there are bias but I really question whether the people in charge of the Ministry of Education have the puclic students best interest at heart. I wonder the last time any of them were a classroom teacher (if they ever were!). I wonder if there are lobby or special interest groups promising people in the ministry perks if they help to implement ‘change’ (Don’t pretend that these kinds of things do not happen. It is no coincidence that the creator of BCeSIS sold the company right after the province fully adopted the program and the new owners said that there will be no updates or support for the system.)

George Abbott used to be a teacher. He taught at a college where it is a pay to learn system. Maybe that is his vision for the public education system. Maybe he wants those who can afford tablets and smartphones to have the choices and those who can not afford such luxuries to have their talents and interests determine for them. Becuase that is what happening to our public education system.

I welcome change. I welcome digitized learning. But at who’s expense? Is the goal virtual class rooms? If it’s not because if that is the case, we will have a generation of really computer and internet savvy students with too few social and behaviour skills. It’s already beginning to happen. Believe me, change has already started.

Here is a link to the original article.