The election is upon us! PCE has produced and disseminated a quick 9 question education survey to most candidates of all parties. Some have already responded, while others appear hesitant. We had trouble reaching independents and Green party members. Please print this up so you have it if door knocking candidates appear, go to an open house or the local riding offices and ask all your riding candidates to complete it, or call your local candidate and encourage them to respond to our email. Please send all completed surveys to me at [email protected] (with your name, the candidate’s name and riding association area, and party affiliation) . I will begin listing responses at our website on April 20, 2015, and continue to add responses up until election day. We need to start voting for individuals who respect parent choice in education!
Word Document: Candidate Survey 2015 Alberta
Parents for Choice in Education is a non-partisan, non-profit, citizens’ organization that advocates for quality education through maximum parent choice. As you may know, Alberta Education is introducing a new approach to education under the name “Inspiring Education.” Thousands of parents have expressed concern about this initiative, and how it impacts specific subjects such as mathematics. Many have expressed concern about parental choice being diminished in Alberta. Please let us know the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statements below. Your responses will be posted at www.parentchoice.ca.
- Alberta’s education laws should respect Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that “Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children”.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- The Alberta Government should enhance parental choice in education by supporting the full diversity of differing schools and programs, and by rejecting a “one-size-fits-all” approach to curriculum, teaching methods, school culture and other aspects of education.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- Alberta’s laws should continue to respect the right of parents to educate their own children at home, using resources and curriculum of their choosing, to meet the standards set out in the current Home Education Regulations. Homeschooled students should have the same access as all other Alberta students to enrolment in career and technology, dual credit post-secondary, and other education enhancement options (such as sport and second language courses).
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/ no response agree strongly agree
- The Alberta government should provide equitable funding for a wide range of educational choices, including public, Catholic, independent, charter schools, alternative schools, online and aligned homeschools within the public system, and traditional independent homeschooling. Education dollars should follow each student into which ever school setting parents may choose.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- ‘Inspiring Education’ will reduce genuine school choice by mandating a homogenous enquiry (“discovery learning”) model on all schools, and reduce the quality of education, as ‘Inspiring Education’ has the stated intention of redesigning curriculum to greatly reduce the number of knowledge outcomes in core subject areas. The Alberta Government should therefore reconsider its plan to impose ‘Inspiring Education’ on all Alberta schools by 2016.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- Schools should not have to use or follow ‘Inspiring Education’. Instead, schools should have the freedom and autonomy to use their limited education dollars on alternative curricular models and educational enhancements (e.g. sport, the arts, foreign language, etc.), so long as education outcomes are met by the students.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- Standardized assessments (Provincial Achievement Tests) and grade 12 Diploma Exams help to maintain consistent standards between schools, and provide a level playing field for post-secondary entry and the awarding of scholarships. The Alberta Government should reconsider its decision to abolish Provincial Achievement Tests.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- The Alberta government should respect the local autonomy of each school to decide on and implement the best way(s) to achieve a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment. For cultural, health, safety and other reasons, parents should have the right to be fully involved in the development and implementation of proposed student activities and clubs at the schools attended by their children.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree
- Alberta’s laws should allow parents to work cooperatively with teachers and principals to determine the culture, behaviour expectations, and learning environment of the schools attended by their children. Controversial political, social, religious or cultural organizations should not be permitted to create or run student groups inside Alberta schools without the prior knowledge and consent of parents.
Strongly disagree disagree undecided/no response agree strongly agree