REFERENDUM THREE

Education it is a vital component to all success!  Education starts at birth and never ends, even after death, education goes on via the examination of our history.  Failing to recognize this will be the downfall of all of us, therefore, the AAIM Option plan believes that it is absolutely vital that we get this right, and now is the time to fix or replace a broken system.  Education reform should be the focus of the third referendum.  

This two-question referendum will define the future of the education system.   

WHY?

Thanks to horrible Federal immigration policy, Alberta is no longer the staunch conservative land it once was.  Pragmatism and common sense in the education of our young has been replaced by a so-called progressive agenda, immorality, over regulation and long list bad social policies.  

This referendum will allow Albertans the chance to tap into an abundance of cultural influence.  Combined with “Alberta’s grass roots” principles and a new way of educating the people can be found.   

The current model Alberta uses to fund the current school system continuously fails to meet the needs of the people.  The result is over crowded schools, huge classes sizes and a serious lack of resources.  To correct this, it is proposed that both the organization and the funding models of the current program be scrapped and replaced by an education program that is locally governed and funded from general revenues. 

Doing so would allow government to increase the per student rate, perhaps as much as 50% and provide an opportunity to add new programs to the core curriculum such as law, physical education, human relations and more.   

Regardless of your feeling on this matter, the thoughts of the people must be known.

THE DISCUSSION & DEBATE:

The discussion and debate phase must address how the government can deliver a program to ensure that each and every citizen of Alberta will have easy access to; 

1.  Education that identifies the strong aptitudes of each citizen and focuses the education of each citizen to develop those identified aptitudes. 

2.  Transportation that is free, safe and reliable for any student that requires it. 

3.  Fully funded school programs for lunchroom supervision, books, training aides, field trips, intermural activities, clubs, etc.

4.  Safe and clean education facilities and grounds. 

5.  Education that is life focused, fact based and free of misinformation promoted by an extremist or ideological influence. 

6.  Access to special needs resources and programs. 

The discussion should cover two options.  The current system vs a charter school option.   

CURRENT SYSTEM:   Anyone who has a child being educated by the current public or catholic systems knows what the problems and the benefits are.   Homeowners with and without children are burdened with cost of the current system, demonstrating once again how the current political (party) system fails time and time again to deliver a fair and balanced policy to the people.   Anyone who pays attention to the news knows that party politics and at times the personal ideology of some elected trustees and the ever-present union influence has created a bloated system that costs a lot more than is needed and delivers a mediocre result.

CHARTER SYSTEM:   

The AAIM Option Plan favors the charter school option.   This option however is little known by the majority.  A majority that cannot afford a private / charter school program for their children.  Therefore, the discussion should examine, 

1.  The pros and cons of the current system vs the charter system, 

2.  A cost comparison of each system, 

3.  If the current system can be reformed, 

4.  Would the charter school system be good for all citizens, 

5.  How charter schools have a better record of academic success than the public / catholic school systems,

6.  How would it work?

THE BENEFITS:

1.  A charter school system could offer specialized, career focused programs such as,

   •  Winter sports like hockey, skiing, etc.,   

   •  Horticulture,     

   •  Field Sports like football, soccer, lacrosse, etc.   

   •  Technology,     

   •  Gymnastics,   

   •  Trades,    

   •  Arts & Drama,   

   •  Military,     

   •  Government service,   

   •  Religion, 

   •  Science, biology, physics,  

2.  Each school would have the ability to,  

   a.  Promote their school to attract students from any jurisdiction.     

   b.  Design a curriculum that will allow the student the greatest success in their chosen specialty while learning the core subjects needed for life and career.    

   c.  Take control of the management, the care, use and administration of their own school or school group.    

   d. Be classified as a charity, thereby promoting investment into each school by the community and corporations.    

   e.  Be governed by a parent teacher council with oversight of an education council made up of a principle from each school in the district / riding.   

   f.  Regulate / cap class size.

THE QUESTION: 

Q1: WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE ADOPTED? 

1.  A public-school system that is governed by a Board of Directors.  

2.  A charter school system that is governed by a parent teacher council.

Q2:  HOW SHOULD EDUCATION BE FUNDED?

1.  Keep the current funding model 

2.  Use general revenues.