In this commentary 26-year Ontario district teacher, Jeff Stickney, begins by surveying balanced approaches to large- and small-scale education reforms: contrasting linear alignment with more complex ecological models, drawing on recent work by Andy Hargreaves (2008; Hargreaves & Shirley, 2012). Next, through a brief case study of School…

As socio-cultural imperatives change, as political agencies reassess their priorities, and as the demographic pattern of society fluctuates, Canadian community colleges must redefine their roles in the context of their history. Most provincial college systems have enjoyed less than 20 years of evolution. However, it is not simply a lack of…

There is no question that a thorough knowledge and understanding of the gross architecture of the human body underlies sound medical practice and, therefore, comprises an early curricular goal. Thus, the exploration of palpable human anatomy in the dissection laboratory addresses the pivotal goal of establishing a comprehension of the three…

Cutbacks to outdoor education and outdoor education centers are inconsistent with the Ontario boards' goal of lifelong learning. Although traditional curricula consist almost entirely of public meaning, outdoor education yields personal meaning engendered by direct experience with what is being learned. Outdoor experiences are also essential for…

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…

Thirty leaders from six Canadian social movements were invited to participate in an invitational seminar that was designed to explore strategies for building stronger collaboration among social movements in the Canadian community. This collection contains the following papers from that seminar: "Building the Social Movement: An…

This paper examines some of the most recent conceptual developments in invitational education. Using some of the new ideas presented in Inviting School Success, Second Edition (Purkey and Novak, in press), a more expansive definition and application of invitational education is offered. New concepts such as theory of practice, stance, and…

The Constitutional Act 1867 established a dual system of education in Canada--provincial authority and federal responsibility for First Nations' education. As a part of its treaty obligations, Canada agreed to provide western schools and services equitable with that provided by provincial systems (Morris 1880/1991). The authors argue that the…

The problems created by declining enrollments and fiscal stringencies have brought about a "new reality" for postsecondary institutions in Ontario and other Canadian provinces. The lean future that institutions face requires clear articulation and communication of institutional goals, retraining and reallocation of redundant academic…

The adolescent child in Canada today lives in a world of rapid social, cultural, economic, and technological change, further complicated by the normal emotional, physical, and intellectual changes of 14- to 18-year-old children. The philosophical bases of high school education, therefore, should be reexamined to provide an environment conducive to…

In 1999, the Committee on Lifelong Learning of the Ministry of Learning in Alberta, Canada, conducted a series of consultations on lifelong learning to identify ways of helping adults return to learning to improve their employment potential and realize their career goals. The committee received input from more than 450 Albertans in 14 rural and…

The MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) Committee on Lifelong Learning held consultations at more than 14 rural and urban locations throughout Alberta to gather stakeholders' and community members' views on the need for lifelong learning and ways of promoting it. Participants were asked to identify strategies to encourage and enable adults to…

Questions how the goal of participatory citizenship can be taught within the typical classroom environment. Argues that the hidden curriculum, textbooks, and instructional methods do not provide opportunities to see citizenship in action or ways to practice it. Recommends providing students with choices and opportunities for engagement in some…

This discussion of the role of general education in community college programs in Ontario begins with an acknowledgement of the absence of a broadly accepted working definition of general education and an admonition to community colleges to accept the responsibility for providing students with a total education. Next, the paper proposes various…

Some of the most common predictions relating to university continuing education units provide a base from which a discussion of future strategies can begin. These include the following: the Big Generation (i.e., baby boomers) is here; knowledge, not products, is the major focus of society; competition for the traditional university continuing…