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The Canadian Chamoan, Tuesday, May 1, 2001-3 Education director calis high sehool study a 'joke' By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion A report card on Ontario's Secondary Schools has flunked out with the Halton District School' Board's education director. Dusty Papke said the Fraser Institute study seems to greatly erophasize the percentage of advanced courses sehools offer. "Personally, I find the ranking system to be a joke and unfortu- nately, it's a very bad one," he said at a board meeting late ast month. The report card gave top marks to the shools with highest rates of advanced courses, courses passed, core courses taken (English, math and science) and iowest gender dif- ferences for advanced grade 12 math and Engiish (or French for French-language schoois). The scoring system automaticai- iy pots private schoois and acade- mies at the top, said Mr. Papke. "Ail they offer is advanced level courses,' he said. "And most pri- vate schools at the top are single- gender schoois." Ironicaliy, ooly one of Hatons public or Catholic secondary schools are ranked in the 1994-99 study. (Oakville's Loyola was 8ist of 568 schools ranked.) SIn most cases, marks from the final year weren't availabie for rankings. About one-third of the 815 schools studied weren't ranked. But the report card does include overali yearly averages for most. Halton public achools generally range from 5.5 to 7.5 out of 10, with a few exceptions. Several top achools, mostly private ones, scored 10s. Mr. Papke said he's not out to criticize advanced level courses or private schools. "But public schools are charged with a much broader mandate. It's flot a legitimate comparison," he said about the report card. "Tell me how it speaks to the quality of stu- dents and equity of choice." As for why Halton achools were unranked, Mr. Papke said the Fraser Institute neyer contacted the board for the study. He said he believes it was deiib- crately released to coincide with a provincial govemment announce- ment proposing chiidren be allowed to attend any school with- in a board's jurisdiction. But a Fraser Institute representa- tive said times for issuîng the study are limited and March, May and the [ail are aready used for report card releases in other provinces. 'The timing of the release had nothing to do with the timing of the throne speech," said Peter Cowley, the report card's author. Setting up sbop in Miltoni was simply in the cards for Shaman Richard Sykes. Mr. Sykes is operating in the Milton area providing tarot card reading, dream interpretation, picture readijgs and other services. Richard Sykes feels that be was cailed to assist thý residents of Milton. His desire is to help people understand the purpose of the path their souls walk. He said the study was based on Ministry of Education data. Mr. Cowley said the Fraser Institute hasn't been able to deter- mine why there was insufficient data for some schools, preventing thero from being ranked. "It's not a subjective thing. We don't say let's include one school and exclude another," he added. "We handle each school the same way. The ratings were done with objective criteria." Mr. Cowley added the data is available to anyone, if some school officiais feel resuits are not what they should be. He said advanced courses are just one of ive report card indicators. Mr. Cowley noted B.C. Power Corporation has required advanced courses for lineman apprentice- ships. "Just because a course leads to university education doesn't exciode it [rom being useful for other students.". Gender gap results were meas- ured in particular courses to see whether some schools handled the issue better than others, said Mr. Cowley. "Specific criticism is inevitable and we're happy to hear it to see how we can make our report card more useful for next year," Mr. Cowley said the study can help parents ask relevant questions when choosing schools. Mr. Sykes bas been interpreting tarot cards since 1955. Mr. Sykes states that this is his true cailing. Mr. Sykes always has return customers, because people are'pleased with the truthful reality of their readings. Richard1 Sykes is cuoenly woding out of bis bouse in Milton. Please call (905) 617-3833 te set up an appointment. 2001 PONTIAC SUNFIRE 4DR_ I O 960 months 1 0 9financing e2.2 L, 24 Engine *4 spoed auto trans. e A/C *Power locks e CD Player e keyless Remote e Tilt Steering 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN m 9 60 months Iinancing Lun en .8.11,.40r 18 for 1 IlU. $ii1,Sfhdoui k bq k hst Ahi u.. 1.8 ....d . dq e 1kAdu 0 Shai n n Irngs Messge orNw elnig Shaman Richard Sykes His desire is to help people understand the purpose of the path their souls take.