8.3 Past Challenges in Education
(I) Competing Schools of Thought:
Conservative Philosophy - schools should teach students to fit into society and find employment; it should be disciplined and its curriculum should be followed rigidly.
Progressive Philosophy - the curriculum should adapt to the student; students should have more choice in course selection.
(II) History of Canadian Education:
1950s - WWII; traditional > therefore technical/vocation education was lacking during a time of production
(Hope's Education Commission)
1960s - As a result, there were progressive changes in this era: Streaming in gr.9
(Hall-Dennis Report, John Robarts is Education Minister)
1970-1980s - Multicultural Education (result of Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
1990s � Present: Mike Harris cut gr.13 to lessen spendings. Streamed courses are renamed. (e.g. "University-prep" instead of "Advanced")
(III) Educational Models:
Traditional - students should fit the curriculum, negative reinforcement, strict policies, reward system.
- competition
- less thinking/analysis and classroom discussion
Behaviourist - positive reinforcement; teachers act as consultants for student's learning
Marxist Free - teachers and students work together to devise an education plan; no competition