Poste - Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children

Nova Scotia:
• As part of the citizenship areas of learning,
graduates will be able to assess environmental
interdependence in a local and global context. In
order to graduate from high school, students
must complete one credit in global studies,
global geography or global history.
• Studies in biology in Grades 11 and 12 educates
students about the nature of science and
technology so that they know about the
significant impact of biology and associated
technology on society but also the limitations. In
addition, a course in oceanography is offered as
an integrated approach to science. 153
Ontario:
• The new science and technology curriculum,
introduced in 1998, has a Life Systems strand for
Grades 1 through 7, which includes examination
of the characteristics of living things, growth and
change in animals and plants, habitat and
communities, ecosystems, and the effects of
human activities and technological
innovations. 154
• Grades 7 and 8 geography encourages students
to examine: the various ways in which resources
are used, the impact technology has on natural
resources, and sustainable development. 155
Quebec:
• The redefined 1997 educational policy includes
an emphasis on environmental education. 156
• Consumer studies address the repercussions of
individual consumption and participation in
improving the environment. 157
Saskatchewan:
• The natural environment is addressed
throughout the curriculum, from social studies to
biology. 158 Science study from Grades 1 to 10
includes examination of animals, plants, food
chains, human impact on the environment,
ecosystems, populations, essential characteristics
of life, ecological regions of Saskatchewan, water
quality and the greenhouse effect. 159
H O W D O E S C A N A D A M E A S U R E U P ?
91
Parental Involvement and
Alternative Forms of Education
Role of Parents
The role of parents in their children’s education is becoming
increasingly important in Canada. For example, Manitoba
organizes annual forums for parents to examine how
curriculum is developed160 and Alberta allows parents to
choose where their children will be educated within the
Edmonton public school system. 161 Parental input has been
implemented with the establishment of school councils. For
example, Yukon school councils include parental and
Aboriginal representation and are responsible for many
personnel, programming and administrative matters. 162
In Ontario, an 18-person Ontario Parent Council was
introduced in 1993, mandated in part to oversee the role
of parent councils at the school level. 163
While there is general agreement about the desirability of
greater parental involvement, there is some concern with the
trend to decrease the power of school boards and increase the
role of parent school councils. School councils’ influence is
affected by the attitudes and support of principals and board
officials and the expertise and commitment of council
members. 164 Research on school councils in Newfoundland,
Alberta and Ontario identified a strong need for training and
support. 165 It is unknown whether governments will invest in
the required training and support to develop these bodies. 166
In the 1992 Canadian Education Association survey about
Aboriginal education, almost two-thirds of the sample (290/
458 schools or 63.3 percent) did not respond to the question
about the need for parental and community involvement.
This may indicate that most Aboriginal parents are not
participating in the education process. However, the
remaining 168 schools in the survey described a variety
of ways parents can become involved, such as tribal/
community-school liaison, parental advisory committees,
volunteer programs, local school board representation and
regular parent-teacher meetings. 167
Alternatives to Public Schools
Education legislation allows for alternatives to public
schools, such as home schooling, independent schooling
or charter schooling.
Home Schooling
Home-based education is legal if parents provide
“satisfactory” or “equivalent” instruction. The Canadian