In 2010, when the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development's (OECD) released its 2009 PISA results, the big story was that eight of the top ten performing systems were Asian. Almost everyone overlooked the strong performance of Canada: sixth overall and the highest English-speaking and French-speaking nation in the world. The four…

The Canadian Education Association, originally called the Dominion Educational Association, was established 120 years ago and held its first annual meeting in Montreal in July 1892, at a time when free and compulsory public education was just gaining a foothold in Canada. The pivotal role of public education has always been to reflect the values…

Music helps to bring out the best in young people. It nourishes self-esteem and keeps them engaged. The starting point for any good school program is the teacher, whether that program teaches English, math, science, history, arts--or music. So why is it that, at the elementary level, we have so many generalist classroom teachers--with no…

Teacher knowledge involves a complex network of inter-related domains, including cognition; differences in learning strengths for primary and secondary school students; social and emotional development across the life course; motivation; language acquisition and socialization; curriculum design and assessment; and classroom management. In…

Education provides the basic knowledge and skill sets that enable individuals to gain employment. In today's world of increasing globalization, there is a need for skilled workers who can move quickly and easily across national borders. Globalization is real and important. It drives economic change, but its influence goes far beyond economics. As…

If people really want to make a difference in the lives of those living with war or poverty, globally, the single most important thing that they can do is to support education. This support is not limited to initiatives that promote education at the primary and secondary levels in developing countries, but is also directed at Canadian students of…

School and classroom structures designed to meet the needs of the industrial past cannot "maintain the temperature required for sustaining life." Recent learning sciences research findings compel educators to invent new learning environments better suited to meet the demands of the 21st century. These new learning environments require…

A close read of studies of children's development says that remarkably large numbers of children mature successfully despite exposure to poverty, war, violence, family dislocation, cultural genocide, sexual abuse, physical injury, mental illness, loss of a parent, loneliness, hunger, neglect and the numerous other crimes one commits against…

Set down here are the basic principles behind community schools and how they are developed. (Editor)

A rationale alone is not enough - the school for the "in-betweeners" must also develop its own organization, program and instructional strategies if it is to be successful. (Editor)

Argues that excellence in education arises from understanding and meeting the learning needs of students. Discusses a holistic view of school functioning in which staff work together to create a consistent learning environment by defining common fundamental beliefs about learning and the essential elements of teaching. 5 references. (SV)

The author puts forward a plea for an expanded pluralist school system which would encourage a more supportive public attitude and a greater tolerance for others' values. (Editor)

Proponents of standards-based reform claim that student achievement testing increases accountability and allows for greater instructional consistency. Performance across schools, boards, provinces, and even countries internationally can be compared and contrasted with the aim of identifying exemplary teaching practices. Teachers can also use…

Two high school principals describe opposing school philosophies. In one school the student is encouraged to learn independently while at the other both teacher-student rapport and cognitive learning are of equal importance. (AF)