Parents should read new bill

Page 8

Changes and additions to the school act may not be too far off with the newly-proposed School Act, Bill 59, having been introduced in the Alberta legislature recently. The new bill demands very close scrutiny before it passed by those whom it will affect.

One section of the new act has made provision for the establishment of school councils that would be comprised of "parents of the students who are registered in the school."

This is yet another step in the direction of local control which has been long espoused by Native communities and has, in fact, become a reality for some of them. Should Bill 59 become law, it will lend the opportunity for people to actively participate and make decisions on matters affecting their childrens' education.

In some ways, the bill would parallel existing local community school boards but on a lesser scale. For one thing, the councils would be answerable to school boards. They would perhaps resemble advisory committees and offer suggestions or recommendations to the schools and/or boards.

The problem with this structure is the reality that schools and boards are not bound to respond or implement any suggested changes on the advice of the councils. Furthermore, the proposed act does not have any terms of reference for the councils. The act does not spell out which powers the councils would or would not have.

In the case of the local community school boards, their powers are defined. Most have the authority to recommend new or altered regulations affecting such tings as busing, use of facilities or equipment, finances and so forth. In many cases, their recommendations are approved by their superior larger school board.

As with any new concept, local board experience their fair share of growing pains. So will the new school councils. Mistakes will be made but lessons will be learned from them.

AS with any formalized group, politics never fail to enter into the picture. Parents must, therefore, elect people who will make sound and constructive judgments that will assist students in obtaining the best possible situation for their growth and development.

Precautions must be taken that people are not involved for self-serving interests such as status. Nor should one's personality get in the way. The student is the focus, not the members of the councils.

Decisions which create changes in the school must be carefully and fully understood, weighed and analyzed before being implemented. One must not resort to tunnel vision but have a broad, open mind which is flexible and has the interest of the students at heart.

The proposed school act needs to be looked at. It needs response from the community and it needs it before this autumn when the Alberta legislature reconvenes.

Parents should obtain copies of the act through the Education Department or the minister's office at the legislature. Go through it very carefully, speak with others about it, draft suggestions for changes which would improve the act and ship them off to the minister's office.

Now is the time to act in the interests of your children. Tomorrow may be too late.