Established in 1993, The Learning Partnership is a national charitable organization dedicated to championing a strong public education system in Canada through innovative programs, credible research, policy initiatives, executive leadership and public engagement. Since its inception, more than 4.5 million students and teachers have participated in one or more of The Learning Partnership’s programs, including Take Our Kids to Work™, Welcome to Kindergarten™, Change Your Future and Entrepreneurial Adventure.
Posted by Veronica Lacey, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership. For more information on Veronica and The Learning Partnership click here.
Invest in public education
In the wake of the Drummond Report and on the eve of both our provincial and federal budgets, it’s time to focus on what is really important to our province and our country: maintaining Canada’s economic prosperity and enviable international reputation. To do this we must continue to invest in our public education system – not compromise it.
The Drummond Report recommends eliminating 70 percent of non-teaching positions in Ontario, including settlement workers, educational assistants, guidance counsellors, librarians, and psychologists -- the very supports all children, but especially new Canadians and vulnerable children, need for a successful educational experience.
By 2017, there will be 7.6 million immigrants living in Canada – 22.2 percent of our entire population! The children of these new arrivals are an incredible resource for Canada. In years to come, they will be part of our workforce -- workforce that must possess advanced digital literacy skills and be able to innovate, create and adapt. Without such workers, Canada will not be able to compete with emerging economic giants such as India and China. We also want these young people to be proud citizens of an informed, fair and equitable society that embraces diversity and champions democracy.
Acting upon the recommendations of the Drummond Report to cut non-teaching positions will seriously compromise our public education system and, yes, our ability to compete in an increasingly competitive global economy and maintain our envied civil society.
As seen in The Sault Star, Monday March 26, 2012
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