Features

A snapshot of a dynamic, but imaginary, school of 515 students from diverse backgrounds, including Sabir, Aazim, and Hakimah, and their mother, Raidah. It illustrates a day in the life of a model inner city school.

The provincial government’s commitment to introduce a poverty reduction plan by the end of 2008 could mean that hope is finally on the way for those who have been excluded from opportunity.

For Aboriginal students, equity in education starts with recognizing the unique histories and traditions that characterize Canada’s First Nations peoples.

During the 2007 provincial election, the Ontario  government  promised  to  significantly reduce poverty and its effects. To deliver on this commitment, the government will have to adopt a multi-pronged approach in which education plays an important role.

Terms such as “poor  people” or, more sensitively, “people living in poverty,” evoke a range of images from homelessness to children coming  to  school  without  breakfast. Issues of poverty are usually defined in terms of material needs being met.

Children and Families

A wonderful line in The Spyglass by RichardPaul Evans reads “You have seen what might be, now make it so.” The book tells of a once great kingdom now in ruins, where many nights villagers went to bed hungry.

Recently ETFO asked me to review the research and professional literature on the relationship between poverty and schooling so that the federation work with members to develop practices and approaches that will help all students succeed.

In the summer of 2006 Nathan Toft downloaded Apple’siTunes software, curious about the 99-cent songs hehad heard about. This move introduced him to the exciting world of podcasting. He quickly got Janehooked and the two teachers, who are both joggers,loaded up their iPods with a variety of shows theydownloaded from the Internet. This was the start oftheir pod-casting adventure.