Saving Education in Quebec

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!  Post secondary students in Quebec are on strike and are protesting against a 75 percent increase in tuition!  Stay tuned to find out what will happen next in this saga between the government and its student population— actually, you can now find out more from your choice of the following sources: city news, provincial news, national news and international news.  

That’s right folks: Quebec is making quite a name for itself internationally!  But isn’t it time that we begin making a positive name for ourselves around the world? Shouldn’t Quebec begin to act as a positive trendsetter in the realm of education instead of smearing its dirty political business all over international headlines?  Well here is my little secret: I have a plan that could save our education system and turn our province’s image around!   

Here is my proposal: 

If the government does not back down on raising tuition fees, university students should accept the increase of $325 per year over the next five years (totaling $1625), on the condition that the Quebec government agrees to increase its contribution to elementary and high school funding for each student by $325 per year for five years.  Then, after the five years, both the students and the government’s contributions will increase based on the cost of living.  I, for one, think that this plan is genius!  If the government will not let up, at least hold them responsible for their spending!  Not only would the government get its way, but it would also directly be responsible for improving the quality of education in Quebec.  Imagine a government whose legacy was an improved education system?  What a dream. 

Here is a Technicolor version of my dream: I envision a society where elementary and high schools have all of the resources that they need.  This includes textbooks in all official languages, adequate supplies and proper technology.  These schools would also have teachers that were dedicated and passionate about their jobs and who were being paid for their value and worth (since the cost of education in Quebec would now be almost at par with the rest of Canada, so would teacher salaries).  There would be small class sizes, where students would thrive in safe, positive environments; they would learn based on their learning styles and receive individualized attention.  Also, all students with special needs, learning disabilities and behavioral problems would have the necessary resources allotted to them, for as long as they would need.  Additionally, there would be a full-time guidance counselor, social worker and nurse at every school, as well as the implementation of effective social skills programming.  Children would learn the skills they need in order to achieve success, thus decreasing the incidences of bullying and violence.  These programs would also help increase the building of personal relationships, which would in turn increase levels of self-esteem and motivation.  The end result: happier, better educated high school graduates.  

I imagine a Quebec society where the school system is superior to the rest of the world.  This society would be a place where being ‘at par’ with everyone else would just not be good enough. So, who’s ready to make a deal?  I sure am.