The research demonstrating how Ontario’s educational funding is deeply anachronistic is piling very high. By actively disregarding the best funding practices from jurisdictions throughout the free world, Queen’s Park is holding back Ontario education and Ontario students.
More evidence of this fact emerged in an op-ed entitled Let school money follow students, written by David Hunt, education director at the think-tank Cardus, that appeared yesterday in the Financial Post.
Hunt responded directly to two questions posed earlier in the month by The Globe and Mail columnist Marsha Lederman: “In our secular society, why is any province funding religious schools? And why on Earth are we subsidizing private schools that are out of reach for most families?” Hunt suggested Lederman’s questions were rhetorical, but even if so, they were asked in earnest and reflect the thinking of other well-meaning, thoughtful, civic-minded individuals.
Hunt provided answers to from three broad perspectives: global, historical, and cultural perspectives. And it is good that he did. For his responses are factual and current. To the policy discussion about public education funding, Hunt adds up-to-date, empirically researched information. The data from Canadian and other places’ educational experiences are absent in the public conversation about public education. Rather, in their place, old assumptions and incorrect stereotypes too commonly dominate public attitudes toward independent schools. But how can we reject facts when devising the best possible public policy? Indeed, are not facts and truth not indispensable to the formulation of public policy?
According to Hunt “in 100 countries, representing 94 per cent of the world’s population, taxpayers fund independent schools at least partially.” We reproduce the concluding paragraph from his article. He responds to the tired, no-longer-true assumptions about children who graduate from religious schools.
“A comprehensive 2021 review of the academic literature shows independent schools excel in helping students become good, engaged citizens. Religious independent schools excel at imparting and encouraging political knowledge, civic engagement, and respect for the civil liberties and opinions of others. “On almost every measure, independent-school attendance enhances civic outcomes,” says Dr. Ashley Berner, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy. “Thus, democratic policy-makers can have confidence that expanding access to independent schools while ensuring their quality is likely to enhance the civic capabilities of young people and lead, eventually, to a more civically integrated and politically engaged public.
Why would we want to limit the number of students who can benefit from such an education? Most especially, when all society reaps the benefits? Rather than defund religious schools, it’s time to allow funding to follow all students to their school of best fit — religious or non-religious.”
We commend Hunt’s op-ed to everyone seeking out the facts of the matter of adopting the best public educational policy. His article is an excellent starting point. Hunt makes his case on the basis of substantive comparative, cultural and historical arguments. GAJE points out however, that he avoids arguments on the basis of eliminating the blatantly unfair, unjust, discriminatory policy that is the hallmark of Ontario’s current educational funding policy.
Hunt’s article is available at:
https://financialpost.com/opinion/opinion-let-school-money-follow-students
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Shabbat shalom and gmar chatimah tovah.
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
September 30, 2022
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 