In this week’s advertising flyer log was this. So #abed private schools can afford to purchase a multi page advertorial, _AND_ have it distributed by admail as well ... hmmm ... 
Personally, I've been a bit on the fence about this whole funding of private schools thing ... in part because I recognize that there are some private schools filling very valuable niches. /1
and then there is this pile of steaming garbage. Not only does this show that private schools collectively have a lot of money, but it makes me wonder just how much taxpayer money ultimately ended up supporting the creation of this clearly expensive flyer. /2
and that got me to thinking about the funding issue (it's notable that there was a very interesting couple of shows about this issue this week ... hmmm ... timing?), and it raised a point that's been bugging me for a while. /3
On paper, private schools get a smaller per student grant than publicly funded schools (something like 70% of the amount for a public school. /4
This sounds reasonable on the surface, but on further reflection, it actually creates a significant problem. /5
By funding the schools on a "follow the student" basis, we end up making a couple of very critical errors in terms of our ability to maintain our public system at a level where it can be truly effective for all Albertans. /6
Yes, there needs to be a per-student allotment - that's one of the few ways that we can ensure that the boards receive operating funds needed for delivery of mandated curriculum. /7
BUT, when you tie the funding of the school system as a whole (note the word system - it's important) to the funding for an individual student, you end up with a situation where the systemic issues that need to be addressed are overlooked. /8
The issue is not just one of ensuring that students have adequate funding, but also of ensuring that facilities exist, transportation issues are addressed, support for special needs actually exist, and so on. /9
When we turn it into the "follow-the-student" funding that Klein imposed in the 90s, we end up gutting the ability of the public system as a whole to meet the needs of its students. /10
The current environment exists in large part because the PCs spent the better part of the 1990s undermining our public system, and fomenting the discontent that would lead parents to demand private alternatives. /11
by directing funding to "follow the student", we did not create a more equal, and effective, public system. Instead, we gutted the ability of the public system to recognize and address student needs by assuming funding is one size fits all. /12 ~fin~
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