fixing schools using our charter

Mar 3, 2015 by Roman Asmundson

Implementing our charter within schools:

Right To Equal and Fair Treatment

1.In order to create a learning environment that is truly inclusive, teachers and administrators must bear in mind the unique circumstances of each student—in part, ensuring everyone is treated fairly and equally. Should a student lack sufficient study space in their own home, for example, they should be given the opportunity to pursue such a setting during school hours. Different learning styles should also be kept in mind when creating lesson plans and the like, as well as when allocating extra time for tutorials. By nature of the Canadian system, students are wildly different and thus acquire and attain knowledge in wildly different ways. While they should pick up the slack, having support systems in place is important—case studies and labs can be incorporated into curriculums to ensure all learners are accounted for, be they tactile, auditory or visual. Everyone should be given the opportunity to succeed.

2.When punishments are being allocated to students, administrators must be just and considerate. Based on our critique of zero tolerance policies in last week’s blog, one gets the impression that race oftentimes plays a factor in Canada’s discipline policies. It should not need to be stated explicitly that this is wrong—one can easily infer. Unfortunately, there is no way to truly ensure that an administrator is just and equal on all fronts. For this reason, implementing a council type system for major wrongdoings within a school could aid in the elimination of discriminatory punishment. This could be made up partly of peers, as well as teachers who have interacted with the students, and others that are decidedly neutral. By having multiple perspectives present, it is likely that biases will be noticed and shut down.

Right to a Nationality

1.Although generally less intrusive than the daily Pledge of Allegiance found in many American schools, there is an issue to be found within the playing of Canada’s national anthem before the school day commences. While public school system is funded by Canadian and provincial governments, forcing this ritualistic “thank you” of sorts could easily be taken offensively. For one, landed immigrants can and often do make use of Canada’s universal education. Some of these students may not have cultural ties to Canada and find themselves feeling uncomfortable as the song plays. On a more general note, there are likely a slew of students who do not view their standing for their anthem as an epic patriotic undertaking—it is compulsory. Students should be able to choose when, how and to whom love to their country is expressed, if any.

Freedom of Choice

1.When assigning work to be done outside of class, teachers should take into account a persons right to choose. Taking into account that students have different learning styles and preferences, teachers should offer multiple, different types of homework to do. For example, illustrating, writing, or speaking styles of homework instead of just telling all students to write a journal entry. This would allow students more choice in their lives, and would give them the right they deserve. In addition this could also benefit schools, as students would preform better using their own learning style.

Right to Live

1.Students should be looked after at their schools and have their body looked after. To ensure the comfort and needs of students, all public school systems should be supplied with the ability to feed students. Offering free lunches and cold breakfasts would be an essential for this sort of system. Students should have the right to food, and often due to financial or other situations, skip meals. This is unacceptable in any country, let alone one as rich as Canada. Offering students food and drink could also improve marks and the general health of Canadians. Students are able to focus on school better if they do not have an empty belly, and taking the food distribution into the schools hands could ensure that lacking nutrients are included, and that food choices are “healthy”. By ensuring basic sustenance, student satisfaction, and general health would be ensured.

Post comment