Education Equals? Nope!

  Education is supposed to be the great equalizer. No matter where you live in this wonderful country of ours, each and every child has access to a free, quality education. Whether you are in rural Brooks Alberta, downtown Toronto or suburban Cole Harbor Nova Scotia, your education is supposed to be of the same high standards. And for the most part it is. But not everyone it seems, are entitled to the same experiences.

  Here in Ottawa we have "art" schools and "sports" schools. Those that put high emphases on those subjects while still doling out the three R's. More money is spent on plays, costumes, vocal instruction than the average school.  Cash flows for basketball, training, conditioning and such. Both are great to have and in a city of a million people, very popular. 

  But what if you live in a rural area. Where you can't change schools because there isn't another one to choose from. Perhaps there isn't even a drama teacher at said school. Or enough resources to have a lacrosse team, girls hockey team or an in-school workout area. The reality is those kids do not get the same opportunities. 

  What about paying for gym? Is it now the normal to pay for phys. ed? We've paid a $25 physical education course fee the past two years for Alex. That is above and beyond his student fee of $30. It never occurred to me that I would have to pay a gym fee....what does that go for? 

  But my biggest beef is the extra money given to french schools here for language instruction. Don't know what the hell that means in a french school. Is there extra money given for Mandarin? Or Inuktitun? It makes no sense to me. And so far no one who is "in the know" can explain it properly. Trust me I spoke to many people on the subject just this morning.

  Sadly I must admit defeat and change my way of thinking. Education is not the great equalizer I grew up knowing. Opportunities are not the same. Range of study is not open to everyone. Our children may have all been born equal but they won't apply to university as equals.

  And that is very sad indeed.

  Ang