Glorious Government (or How Does One Possibly Make Governance in Education Exciting?)

Simple.

You don't.

I went and reviewed the class power point presentation on the topic...  Hmm, I think it is safe to say I will not be deriving my inspiration from there.  Perhaps I took brilliant notes and essentially, all I will have to do is copy and paste?  Really?! Does this chicken scratch actually pass for notes?  Where was my head this day? I certainly hope I will compel my future students to jot down something besides the alphabet (oh wait...I think that was supposed to be an equation of some sort?)  I have to start writing legibly.

So I am required to write a blog on governance, and it's going to be dry and lousy because my brain refuses to get motivated.  OH NO!  What are my legions of blog-admirers (Hey Jackie and Michelle!  How's it goin?) going to do?  They have come to depend on me to be able to take even the driest topics and turn them into something marvelous.  Maybe Jackie will forgive me for being so boring if I promise to post my remaining blogs on time?  :)

Okay, so there are a number of angles from which I can consider this topic.  For starters, how about an opinion angle?  I like that.  I'll go for Angle 1:  Lindsay's (Expert) Opinion On Governance of the Canadian Education System.  (I like that even more).  Our system is pretty terrific if you ask me.  Now, I know there will be all sorts of people who will counter that statement with brilliant and well researched arguments, BUT... all Canadians have the right to access a free public school education, and that is way more than most people in the world even dream about.  As for the idea that post-secondary education in Canada should be covered for aspiring students as well, I'm not sure how I feel about that.  Great idea in theory, but is it practical?  Wait, I don't think I'm on topic at all.  Maybe I should try another angle, perhaps one that doesn't involve me and my thoughts?

Alright.  Let's start from the top. 

The Federal Government 

The federal government of Canada provides financial support for postsecondary education and the teaching of the two official languages.  It also provides some funding and support to the provincial and territorial governments.  In addition, the federal government is responsible for the education of Registered Indian people on reserves, personnel in the armed forces and the coast guard, and inmates in federal correctional facilities.


Aboriginal Education
The federal government shares responsibility with First Nations for providing education to children ordinarily resident on reserves and attending provincial, federal, or band-operated schools.  Band-operated schools located on reserves educate approximately 60 per cent of the students living on reserves, while 40 per cent go off the reserve to schools under provincial authority, usually for secondary school. First Nations children living off reserves are educated in the public elementary and secondary schools in their cities, towns, and communities, with the provinces and territories providing the majority of educational services for Aboriginal students.

Minority-Language Education
Canada is a bilingual country, and the constitution recognizes French and English as its two official languages.  The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms defines the conditions under which Canadians have the right to access publicly funded education in either minority language.  Each province and territory has established French-language school boards to manage the French-first-language schools.  In the province of Quebec, the same structure applies to education in English-first-language schools.

Provincial/Territorial Government Role

Public education is provided free to all Canadians who meet various age and residence requirements. Each province and territory has one or two departments/ministries responsible for education, headed by a minister who is almost always an elected member of the legislature and appointed to the position by the government leader of the jurisdiction. Deputy ministers, who belong to the civil service, are responsible for the operation of the departments. The ministries and departments provide educational, administrative, and financial management and school support functions, and they define both the educational services to be provided and the policy and legislative frameworks.

If I may go back to the angle from my perspective, I quite like the idea of each province or territory being responsible for its own education.  I know that there are certain national standards which must be upheld (and rightly so), but there is something refreshing about knowing that each "chunk" of Canada is able to do what is best for its particular needs. 
*(I might not feel this way if I had grown up in say, Saskatchewan or something, where the education system is no doubt far inferior to the one in Manitoba, but since I received the best quality education in Canada, I'm content).

Local Governance

Local governance of education is usually entrusted to school boards, school districts, school divisions, or district education councils. Their members are elected by public ballot. The power delegated to the local authorities is at the discretion of the provincial and territorial governments and generally consists of the operation and administration (including financial) of the group of schools within their board or division, curriculum implementation, responsibility for personnel, enrolment of students, and initiation of proposals for new construction or other major capital expenditures.

Educators (At the School Level)

This refers to maintaining the daily goings-on at school.  The Principal and Vice-Principal are primarily in charge, with the teachers and professional non-teaching and support staff right underneath them. They are licensed by the provincial and territorial departments or ministries of education.

Community Level

There is also the community level, which consists of Parent and Advisory Councils, and the Community Partners that support them.  What is so great about the people described here is that they are volunteers.  These folks are involved because they value education, and care about what is going on in the school system.  They are instrumental in getting things done and raising awareness, among many other things.

Summary
Each and every person involved in the governance of education plays an important role.  While some may have more influence or authority than others, the system wouldn't work very well if any one component was missing.  I'm sure it has its flaws, but I think our system runs relatively smooth, and most people involved feel that it is serving the needs of our population.

Well, that was fun.

*  The writer of this blog wishes to inform the reader that in no way is this statement based on fact, it was merely intended to get a rise out of any Roughrider fans that may be in our midst.