Reducing class sizes is a costly initiative with little payback
Prince Edward Island opposition MLA Sidney MacEwen made headlines earlier this month when he challenged the government to enforce class-size limits. But the evidence shows such a move is costly and relatively fruitless in terms of academic gain. MacEwen, a Progressive Conservative, zeroed in on supposedly large kindergarten classes and called on the Liberal government…
Schools should instead focus on producing a coherent curriculum, sound lessons and purposeful reading and writing in every discipline
Student achievement is declining in Nova Scotia. The 2014-15 accountability report from the Department of Education makes that abundantly clear. Barely half of Grade 8 students are meeting expectations in math while the writing skills of Grades 3 and 6 students declined by nearly 20 points in the last two years. Nova Scotia students also…
Hopefully a new report from the OECD slows down the mad rush to equip students of all ages with the latest computer gadgets
A recent OECD report dropped a bombshell on those who view technology as the driving force of education reform. The report found that “students who use computers very frequently at school do a lot worse in most learning outcomes, even after accounting for social background and student demographics.” The report was authored by Andreas Schleicher, Organization…
Even interruptions may not be as bad as previously thought
Most teachers and students know the conventional do’s and don’ts of proper studying habits. For example, students should find a quiet environment free of distractions. Don’t play any background music, and don’t let your mind wander. And, above all, don’t stop working when you are making good progress. These do’s and don’ts exist because conventional…