Australian educational supporters have resisted the inclusion of private/church school in the definition of public education. Private and church school supporters , certain state school teacher organisations, and their supporters, academics, think tanks, the Press and others, have attempted to change the definition of public education in Australia. To date, they have not succeeded.

Unfortunately, Canada appears to have succumbed.

Examples:

The following quotes appear to reveal the destruction of parts of the public education definition accepted in Australia and the United States of America:

1.     We invite you to look at the Alberta Teachers Association website. In  Alberta, public education refers to both public and separate schools ( Australia knows such separate schools as private/ church schools).  See Statement, on their website  at www.ab.ca/

 2.    Statement of Ontario politician: In a competition for votes in the forthcoming election on October 10, 2007,  Premier Dalton McGinty under the heading Ontario Premier vows to protect Public Education,  vowed to protect a publicly funded education system...

He said that it was in the public's best interest for Ontario to continue funding public education as it exists today. In Ontario the Roman Catholic schools are included in the public system and are defined as 'public education.'

The opposition, progressive conservative leader, said that he would set up a Committee to make recommendations on how Ontario's public school system could become more inclusive of faith based schools.

3.   A pressure group named People for Public Education, are looking towards the October 10, 2007 election campaign in Canada. According to their web page, this group are working together to support public education in Ontario's English, French and Catholic schools. People for Education is a group of parents from both public and separate schools ( Catholic) in Ontario working together to support public education. Their mission statement declares that public education is the foundation of a civil society. They define public education as a fully publicly funded education system that guarantees every child access to the education that meets his or her needs. DOGS note that  they are not talking about public education in the Australian sense of the term.

 4.      The Canadian Education Association states on their website that they are 'linking, listening learning and leading since 1891.' the Canadian Education association works together with all organisations that share their values in building vital public education and learning systems fundamental to democratic and civil society.  They stand for strong, vibrant, publicly funded education and learning systems as the cornerstones of a democratic society characterised by equity and diversity.

 Membership of the Canadian Education Association includes the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta; Canadian Catholic School Trustees Association; Canadian Home and School Federation; Canadian Teachers' Federation ;Ontario Catholic Schools Trustees Association; Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.

 In another document headed 'Our Work is Guided by Principles,' DOGS note that they refer to publicly funded education as the foundation of a strong pluralistic and democratic society. They do not define 'public education' per se.

The public education system that they are talking about, is publicly funded education which includes private/church schools.

 5.       The Canadian Teachers Federation on its website declares that for over 80 years they have defended the rights of teachers. They also advocate for a strong public education system in Canada. Speaking nationally for teachers, they states that their vision is that every child in Canada will have access to a strong, quality, publicly-funded education system equal to or better than any other education system in the world.

They declare that their mission is to be the unified voice of teacher organisaton in Canada to advance the cause of public education. Their values include universality, access to quality public education as a human right.

However, it is interesting to note that included in the list of members organisations, we discovered the Ontario English Catholic teachers' Association.

DOGS would appreciate it if  the Canadian Teachers' Federation or any member tell us what public education means to them. if a Church school Teachers organisation can be one of the members.

 Ditching of the Fundamental Definition of Public Education in Canada?

Can anyone in Canada support the definition of public education in the following Public Education Acts ?:

1.    An Act respecting Common Schools, 15 May 1865. which provided for free, non-sectarian public schools...Schools to be conducted upon non-sectarian principles and schools open to children of persons of all denominations.  or

2.     John Ralston Saul's much promoted, 1872 British Columbia An Act Respecting Public Schools  ( No. 16). According to this second, 1872, Act, under the side heading 'All Schools non-sectarian,'

 All public Schools under the provisions of this Act, shall be conducted upon strictly non-sectarian principles. The highest morality shall be inculcated, but no religious dogmas or creed shall be taught. All Judges, Clergymen, Members of the Legislature and others interested in education, shall be school visitors.

John Ralston Saul

DOGS have read thousands of words on public education in his work, but are left wondering about what he really means by the concept. Does it include church schools run along denomination lines?  Does it include sectarian schools?

AUSTRALIANS BEWARE!

LOOK AT WHAT HAS CHANGED IN CANADA SINCE THE 1860S AND 1870S IN RELATION TO THE DEFINITION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION?

IS THIS WHAT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH,  POLITICIANS, ACADEMICS AND THINK TANKS  HAVE IN MIND FOR AUSTRALIA?