Pamala-Rose Combs (Township) – Reading, writing, math – yes, but school has to be “fun†or threshold children are lost and become a detriment to society
Megan Dykeman (Township) – No. Our students need a strong grounding in what most would refer to as the basics, but in addition to the ‘basics’, they also need to acquire the ability to navigate and thrive in an increasingly complex society. Teachers should be teaching the student, the whole student. Although every student has different needs, all children can benefit from an environment that fosters a love of learning and from guidance in learning how to learn. In a constantly changing world, a requirement to learn continuously is the only constant.
Trudy Handel (Township) – No. Teachers could certainly teach more of the “basicsâ€, if they were given adequate resources. Right now, teachers are struggling to teach and it’s having an effect on students, teachers and parents.
Kristine Ketter (Township) – No. Thanks to technology, with the information that a student has at their finger tips, memorization of information and facts is no longer the priority it once was. While it is of utmost importance that school still focuses on reading and numeracy skills, it is also important to provide students with the opportunity to become adept at skills like communication, the ability to work with others, and how to apply the knowledge they have to new situations.
Suzanne Perreault (Township) – I do believe we need to teach the basics, especially in the Primary years as it reflects into the 21st Century Learning Plan, that will allow us to keep in mind the diverse learning styles and interest of the child. Having a deliberate focus, with a pace that a child can maintain while taking into consideration the various learning styles provides the foundation the child needs to move onto the next stage with confidence and ability to “compete†both in and out of the classroom. If we are going to create inclusive classrooms all our starting points must meet where the student can begin that starts at their passions.
Rod Ross (Township) – No. If teaching students proper hand-writing skills was “more of the basics†then I would say “Yes.†Otherwise, I think they are doing a marvelous job considering the family make-up of today. Teachers are compassionate people and will meet the needs of students to the best of their abilities.
David Tod (Township) – No, but there is less outcomes in the new curriculum