Castanet

Urbane, unfortunately the comparisons miss a key factor:

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/Details/education/graduates-science-math-computer-science-engineerin.aspx

"Canada’s relatively low proportion of graduates emerging from science, math, computer science, and engineering disciplines is cause for concern. Canada gets a "C" grade and ranks 12th out of 16 countries."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/canadas-fall-in-math-education-ranking-sets-off-red-flags/article15730663/

"Canada placed 13th overall in mathematics, down three spots from 2009 and six spots from 2006, in the latest results from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment"

Mathematics is fundamental to critical thinking and analytical abilities. Yet the indications are that students are being failed teachers who "don't get math" and by "new math" type curricula. http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/decline-of-canadian-students-math-skills-the-fault-of-discovery-learning-c-d-howe-institute and http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-math-test-results-1.4174035 and https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/05/13/for-many-teachers-math-just-doesnt-add-up.html

The quantity over quality approach of the BCTF doesn't solve anything (except more dues for them) - especially if teachers don't understand math. Note that even among tradespeople, math skills are critical to top performance.

hobbyguy wrote:Urbane, unfortunately the comparisons miss a key factor:

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/hcp/Details/education/graduates-science-math-computer-science-engineerin.aspx

"Canada’s relatively low proportion of graduates emerging from science, math, computer science, and engineering disciplines is cause for concern. Canada gets a "C" grade and ranks 12th out of 16 countries."

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/canadas-fall-in-math-education-ranking-sets-off-red-flags/article15730663/

"Canada placed 13th overall in mathematics, down three spots from 2009 and six spots from 2006, in the latest results from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment"

Mathematics is fundamental to critical thinking and analytical abilities. Yet the indications are that students are being failed teachers who "don't get math" and by "new math" type curricula. http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/decline-of-canadian-students-math-skills-the-fault-of-discovery-learning-c-d-howe-institute and http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-math-test-results-1.4174035 and https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/05/13/for-many-teachers-math-just-doesnt-add-up.html

The quantity over quality approach of the BCTF doesn't solve anything (except more dues for them) - especially if teachers don't understand math. Note that even among tradespeople, math skills are critical to top performance.

Tough for the BCTF's membership to teach what they don't know.