In 2010, when the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development's (OECD) released its 2009 PISA results, the big story was that eight of the top ten performing systems were Asian. Almost everyone overlooked the strong performance of Canada: sixth overall and the highest English-speaking and French-speaking nation in the world. The four…

Canadians often assume that what is said about education south of the U.S. border applies north of it as well. However Canada's international rankings are consistently higher than those of the U.S., primarily because of different social conditions (less inequality, less child poverty, etc.) and different educational policies (more equitable…

Enough, for all, forever. These simple concepts provide a starting definition for the complexity of sustainable development and help frame the global search for solutions to the social, economic, and environmental issues that threaten the planet. Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is the contribution that the world's education, public…

In North America, Europe and Australasia, much has been written recently about the place of research in the undergraduate learning experience. What might constitute research-based teaching and learning and why it is important that institutions around the world move forward with an agenda to integrate research into the undergraduate learning…

The growing demand for access to degrees in Canada is well documented. Until recently, Canada has never felt the need to elaborate on the meaning and value of the Canadian "degree" credential because all baccalaureates have been delivered by university or university-type institutions. From the perspective of degree holders, the value of…

In this article, the author discusses the impact of compulsory state schooling in North America. The author stresses that schools are not making kids smarter, more capable or more skilled. The basic aspects of everyday school life have emerged and continue to evolve not as a response to the needs of students, but as driven by institutional needs.…

Proponents of standards-based reform claim that student achievement testing increases accountability and allows for greater instructional consistency. Performance across schools, boards, provinces, and even countries internationally can be compared and contrasted with the aim of identifying exemplary teaching practices. Teachers can also use…

This article argues that excellent schools emerge from the extensive, ongoing, and inclusive conversations among those who participate in the everyday life and work of the school. These conversations focus on the construction of complementary teaching and learning practices. As they persist and mature, they pattern the life and work of a school in…

The critical element in the quest for excellence in education is development and revitalization of the people who directly influence educational opportunity for students--teachers and all those who support, in one fashion or another, the teaching of students in schools, including school-based and district-level administrators. (JHZ)

Governments restrict choice about what students learn within the public school system in the name of improved performance and accountability, but have simultaneously introduced choice among schools by enabling "exit" from the public system. Defenders of public education need to consider how public schools can provide citizens with…

Globalization challenges governments to improve the quality of and access to postsecondary education while limiting their ability to raise revenue. By stimulating savings and expanding student loans and scholarships, Canada can improve access to postsecondary education. Educational quality can be improved through more effective assessment and…

Briefly discusses questions in Canadian education that no one seems to be pursuing: what works, who will lead, why is there so much rant and "can't," how to end the isolation in education, where are the good things happening, and when can we see results? (SAS)

Parents want validation of the quality of education their children are receiving, but education is complex, non-linear, and to a great extent unquantifiable. This article discusses two current trends that are said to be indicative of educational quality: standardized tests and school rankings. This author argues that while standardized tests may…

Argues that the small school is intrinsically neither good or bad but just unique as an educational setting. Discusses declining enrollment, growing societal concern about the products of public school education, and distance learning technology as forces shaping the future of small schools. (SV)