Our public schools are in danger of collapse, and if they do, we will all pay the price.
Healthy public schools are essential for a healthy economy and creating informed citizens. But we are neglecting our schools in a perversely malicious way: making impossible demands on them, strangling them financially, creating trivial changes for the sake of ideology, avoiding necessary changes, and just plain ignoring them.
Our society has undergone radical shifts in everything from family structure to demographics to where and how families and children spend the majority of their time. Canadian schools, first developed in the context of the family farm and small town, have struggled to respond to the massive shifts that have taken place in how children are living their lives outside of the classroom walls.
There are two major contexts in which preschool learning occurs for many children: the first is the family, the second is early learning and child care programs.The objective of this review is to determine the current state of knowledge about the effects of these types of programs on early childhood learning and development, and then to recommend directions for future Canadian research to expand this base of knowledge.
NB: to view this report, look down the provided CCL webpage for the link to the Early Years Review
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)
Recent analyses suggest that the drop in voter participation is largely the result of precipitously low election day turnout among young voters. Why? Are young Canadians too cynical? Busy with other forms of political expression? One answer that does find some support is that young people are less engaged in and knowledgeable of current political issues.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)
Students in rural Canada are falling behind their urban counterparts. These adverse educational outcomes limit the range of employment options available to rural youth and reduce the talent pool available within rural economies. What can be done?
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)
The knowledge requirements of Canadians’ jobs are growing rapidly. Despite the successes of Canadian schools, a gap remains between the demand for workers with strong literacy and numeracy skills and the supply of Canadians who possess them.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning )
Canadian cities—now home to 80% of Canada’s citizens—offer economic, educational and cultural opportunities, but also face problems related to equity, maintenance of social cohesion, and civic engagement. Pioneered in Europe and Australia, the creation of “Learning Cities” recognizes that optimal social and financial well-being occurs under conditions that favour lifelong learning for all.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)
The workplace of the 21st century requires certain skills that employers find are in short supply. Recent research suggests that a learning strategy called knowledge building can help students acquire and develop these skills.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning)
The Composite Learning Index is a practical measurement tool that can help Canadians identify their community’s strengths and weaknesses when it comes to fostering the best possible environment for lifelong learning. The CLI results offer community leaders and decision-makers a unique and valuable opportunity to help shape how their community can achieve the economic and social benefits that come from lifelong learning.
(Source: Canadian Council on Learning,published in both English and French)
This report by the Canadian Council on Learning examines many of the factors that contribute to successful lifelong learning—from early childhood, through the school years and into adulthood. It also takes a special look at the link between health and learning, and at the learning challenges faced by Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
(NB: published in both English and French)
