Today's Lesson

In our experience we have met 2 types of parents; parents looking for the best school (‘best’ based on a set of criteria predetermined well before they speak to us). And - the other type of parent.  Parents who are determined to find the best school for their child.

 

If you are the first type of parent, best of luck to you on your search. We are confident you will find an amazing school (as many do exist) and your child may (or may not) bask in their glow of excellence. Unfortunately, excellence does not breed through osmosis. We believe that one rather, should approach selecting their child’s school with a grain of realism. 

 

Which brings me to the most important question you can ask yourself to launch your search: “What is the best school for my child?”

 

At Wolff Educational Services we conduct needs assessments that breaks this criteria into 3 selection houses. They are the Social, Emotional and Academic Houses of your child’s success and achievement at school. We have broken these houses into realistic criteria based on actual achievement data (the learning skills) and are written in academic language (reflective of curriculum expectations). Once the assessment is completed, it is simply a matter of matching the results (your child's area of strength and need) with the schools that offer programming in these areas. The equation breeds student success and achievement. Its flawless in its design.

 

Parents, education today is comprised of these 3 houses working together in unity and harmony. Students must demonstrate learning in all 3 of these areas in order to be successful. The way the curriculum is taught and learned is not inherent of 20th century practices anymore. 21st century classrooms are much more layered in there design and learning platforms are reflective of differentiated instruction, individualized for your child to demonstrate learning and skills. 

 

Before you begin your school search, know what it is your are looking for. Know what your child's strengths and areas of need are in each area (house) of the learning platforms and how they relate to both the classroom and school. Understand what the classroom does and can do, map the landscape as you would any foreign environment. 

 

And if you feel like you need an education in all things education before you try and map out a route for your child - call us! We can help - however, we will only find the best school for your child….not necessarily what you think is the best school.

 

Until Our Next Lesson……

 

Waiting for a Miracle

Waiting for a Miracle in the wake of a Global Pandemic

 

It’s happened before – Global Pandemic and Divine Intervention…so why not defer to both when trying to decide what to do about Public Education?

 

Carlene Jackson (Interim Director for the TDSB) claimed that barring a miracle – it is very unlikely for schools to open on time and on schedule amidst the global pandemic.

 

I don’t want to sound like a broken record of thousands upon thousands of other parent voices – but really…why did they start visiting these plans so late in the game? I understand and support the wait and see attitude – but where are and were the contingency plans? How are they holding meetings about this now? How was plan A through Z not decided and figured out prior to mid-August? I also understand that the government and the school board collectively have to align with the recommendations of public health and safety and that task is daunting. But quite frankly parents are out of patience. And with a lack of patience comes panic.

 

One of the most devastating results of this era of uncertainty is that parents – not educators, ministers and directors of education – are creating a two tier education system. Learning pods are popping up like wildfire and families are hiring private teachers to come to their home and offer a home school experience, paying for this service out of pocket. Desperate to be able to work from home and scared about the reality of their children missing out on another year of curriculum, parents are problem solving themselves.

 

Obviously this model is flawed – who will write their children’s report card? IEP? Any official ministry document that needs to be uploaded and filed into a central database housing your child’s Ontario Student Record – which you will need to show when applying for private schools, colleges and universities. But again – can parents afford to wait and see on August 19th? Parents need a plan – which is why these larger concerns may be able to be shelved for now. Besides – how can one plan for university and higher education when their years of fundamental skills and essential curriculum are being jeopardized by funding and a lack of resources. Parents are adopting the TDSBs motto of putting kids first – and they are putting their own kids needs ahead of the general populations.

 

This level of uncertainty would never and is not happening in the private education sector – and granted there are factors and justifiable reasons why. The issue unfortunately has become about timing, and unfortunately the government has said many times over that it is time for children to return to school period end of story.

 

And so, parents are left with the brutal choice of deciding between a centralized virtual school vs. a lack of resources required to achieve Toronto Public Health recommendations in TDSB public schools and waiting for them to figure it out.

 

Every year I speak at the Our Kids private school expo. My topic is a hot one – I speak about how to choose the right school for your child. This summer my main area of consultation has been more focussed on how to find the best possible education for your child. Is it at public, private, online or in a non-binding learning pod? I am a huge proponent for public education, I myself have a child in public school…but for the first time this year, I also have a child in private school – and the differences are vast.

 

If Carlene Jackson is waiting for a miracle I hope it’s not a metaphorical the parting of the red sea with private schools on one side of the bank and public education on the other.

 

If you need options for the upcoming school year, please contact us.

Until Our Next Lesson,