Teachers in Surrey are urging parents to question the validity of the latest round of misleading school rankings by the Fraser Institute. “The Fraser Institute rankings are unfair, manipulative, and inappropriate,” said Denise Moffatt, President of the Surrey Teachers’ Association. “They are based on the narrow results of the Foundation Skills Assessment which teachers believe are not an accurate reflection of student or school performance.” The rankings disregard important academic areas like science and social studies, and show nothing about the other programs, supports, and services schools provide.
Parents need to understand that the Fraser Institute’s agenda is designed to undermine public schools. The rankings do this by eroding confidence in the public education system. “The rankings do not promote inclusion, but rather competition and divisiveness between schools and students,” stated Moffatt. “They pit schools and communities against each other while ignoring the needs of students in the classroom and the people that work hard every day to give students an excellent education.”
Surrey teachers have been opposed to the rankings since they were first produced by the Fraser Institute. Since then, many partner groups, including trustees, parent advisory councils, and principals have spoken out against the rankings. Too often, people are tempted to use the results in school closure decisions or even pick a school for their child.
“A good school is one that supports all learners, helps kids develop critical thinking skills, and has thriving arts and sports programs,” said Moffatt. “A good school is much more than the results of one test. There is absolutely no evidence that the results of the Foundation Skills Assessment reflect the quality of education at each school.” The fluctuations in the test results from year to year dramatically affect the rankings of each school. Increasingly, there is more pressure on teachers to teach to the test instead of focusing on the individual educational needs of the students.
The STA is urging parents to contact Minister of Education, Margaret MacDiarmid, and ask her to put an end to this damaging practice.
“The best way for parents to find out how their child is doing in school is to talk to the teacher,” said Moffatt. “Teachers provide regular feedback to parents throughout the year and to their students daily. We hope parents and the public will see the true purpose of these rankings and trust their own experiences with their neighborhood school.”
For more information, please contact the Surrey Teachers’ Association at 604-594-5353.
On, June 30, 2010, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III was sworn in as the 15th president of the Republic of the Philippines. Associate Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales and Jesuit Fr. Catalino Arevalo, a close friend of the Aquinos, who held the bible, swore in the only son of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino and former president Corazon Cojuangco Aquino. To most Filipinos, this day was very memorable because it symbolizes the beginning of a new hope for the country, the hope of a clean and honest government.
