Public Versus Private

Public Versus Private

This morning, the news channels were filled with items concerning the struggle over getting back children into school safely. The pressure was increased by having a clip from the Secretary-General of the United Nations who pointed out the stakes for children over getting them back into classrooms.  WE are a long way from the early 20th century when public education was not considered a right but a goal for all societies.  In order to understand the struggle taking place right now, one must remember that there was a time when the vast majority of young children went from the bosom of the family to the workplace.  It was only at the end of the 19th Century and the beginning of the 20th that it was recognized that child labour was abhorrent and it was far better to have all children in school learning how to read and write and  become productive citizens of democracies.   AS the concept of democracy spread around the world, the idea of universal education spread as well, even to societies that did not think democracy a good idea.  EVERY country instituted a system of public education that was good for all students to Grade 8 and for most to Grade 12.  High School was not seen as absolutely necessary in some societies at first, but over time, free education for all children came to be accepted as the norm.  In most countries, education was controlled by the central government. There are VERY few jurisdictions where education is not centrally controlled.  But that is the reason why there are so many problems now, as we attempt to navigate students back into school following the end of  or rather the control of the pandemic.  in countries like Canada and the United States, Education is not overseen by the federal government but rather by the province in Canada or the state in America.  That means that it is up to the states of provinces to ensure education happens.  IN both Canada and the United States, taxes are levied by the federal government and given to the state governments for, among other things, education.  Here though is where NOW the U. S. and Canada part ways.  Canada sees the need for masks and social distancing and works centrally to ensure that the populace is protected and the pandemic is dealt with properly. WE all know what that has meant south of our border.  But few realize that the struggle between States Rights and Federal responsibilities has meant that education has fallen between the cracks.  Until the Federal government realizes that progress in so many ways depends upon all students having access to the same resources and all students learning in the same way and working on the same skills, progress as a country will be jeopardized.  Sadly, that might never happen and so the United States will sink lower and lower on the list of developed countries and Canada will look better and better.