Closing the Gap: Helping Disadvantaged Students (From the General Secretary)

In this issue of  the  magazine you  will find a  number  of  articles  about  how  teachers’ classroom  practice  can  improve  the  chances for educational success for children from low-income families.
To its credit the provincial government has made a significant impact on learning in this province with its focus on literacy and numeracy  and  its  support  for  teacher  professional learning. We know that the work of the classroom  teacher is the critical factor for student success.

Schools cannot do it all. To really address the academic achievement of low-performing students  the  government  has  to  address  the root  causes of  family poverty. Increasing the minimum wage, providing affordable housing – there are many supports that help alleviate the impact of poverty.

While schools can’t do it all, giving them resources that specifically benefit the children of  poor  families  makes  a  significant  difference. For example, funding for school nutrition programs is  essential, because we  know  that the  hungry  student  can’t  learn.  In  addition there must be funding to give families access to such health care services as dental and  eye care, speech therapy, and psychological services – services that more affluent families can more easily provide for their children.

Providing children from poor families with a better chance to succeed also requires closing the gap in funding for elementary students. It  means  funding  that   provides  elementary schools with arts and physical education specialists and teacher librarians, so that children of poor  families have access to programs and opportunities that more affluent families pay for out of pocket. It means providing funding that gives teachers increased preparation time to  prepare  differentiated  lessons, that  allows smaller  Junior  and  Intermediate classes, and that  gives teachers time to  reach out  to  and work with parents.

Also critical are full-day, every day Junior and Senior Kindergarten programs supported by quality before- and  after-school child care: programs located  in  schools, taught  by  fully qualified teachers with access to resources and supports that schools provide.

We know what can work when it comes to improving  the  academic  success  of  children living in poverty. We know that well-supported teachers can make a difference. We know that the foundation  for  student success is laid in the early years  of a child’s life. And we know that the government spends $700 a year less on elementary students than it does on high school students.

Closing this gap is essential for a province that wants to leverage the skills and talents of all of its young citizens and  make them into the most productive members of society they can be.