Partenaires

 
 

 

 

 

It's unfortunate that Education Minister,Michelle Courchesne did not take into account the findings of the recent Leger poll commissioned by the federation of Quebec school principals.

Bill 88 did not really consider that 92.3 per cent of Quebecers felt that teachers and the heads of schools know what is best for students.

Also it seems that not too much consideration was given to the finding that 80% of Quebecers think that the autonomy of schools would best serve the needs of the students.

On the English side no one is questioning the reason for a Spring Conference of the Quebec English School Boards Association at the Chateau Frontenac, in Quebec City this weekend - if all commissioners attend will cost up to $250,000. And to do what? Answer: To launch yet another forum on school board governance.
(More details: www.qesba.qc.ca) So much for accountability of taxpayer's money....

Then you have the Lester B.Pearson School Board that is presently consulting the community on a proposed revised Code of Ethics. It is nothing more than a code of silence....Read last week's Gazette newspaper article.. (the best way is go to www.acdsa.org - scroll down a bit)...So much for democracy and transparency....What a disgrace!

I am a retired teacher with grandchildren in the public school system. In the past 10 years I have attended and participated, by asking questions, at dozens of school board meetings (sometimes I was "the public") Check the "minutes" at www.lbpsb.qc.ca...

I think Madame Courchesne should put her foot down a lot harder, and to remember that school boards own buildings but the schools belong to the students, parents, teachers, school principal and so on...
I also think that Pauline Marois, leader of the PQ, who created this present structure of school boards and who promised in 1997 to review it, should help out to improve the system....

I am not qualified to speak for the French sector but this negligence, arrogance and extravagance of the English boards must end.

Chris Eustace,
Pierrefonds,QC