Population crunch points to necessity for innovative solutions in New Brunswick
BY PATRICK WEBBER (AIMS Research Associate) A shrinking labour force and a rapidly growing population of non-employed seniors in relation to active full-time workers represents an enormous challenge to New Brunswick over the next three decades. The demographic trajectory of New Brunswick has been creeping up over time. For instance, for every 100 working-age people, there were 15 seniors in [...]
Fixing the Democratic Accountability Deficit in Local Education
By PAUL BENNETT (AIMS Author) Troy Media, 27 February 2018 The days are numbered for Nova Scotia’s seven English language school boards. Since the release of Avis Glaze’s Raise the Bar report, defenders of the existing order have rallied behind the status quo and claimed that eliminating ‘elected’ board members spelled the end of local democratic governance. The latest AIMS [...]
Radio Clip: Is it Time for Decentralized Education?
The Nova Scotia school system isn't working for students, teachers, parents or communities. The provincial government’s planned changes look like they lead to a bright future... But odds are against it. More centralization hasn’t improved things in other provinces. Nova Scotians could create a more effective, accountable, and responsive school system by switching control of education from [...]
Radio Clip: One Country One Market
The trade war between Alberta and British Columbia is a stark reminder that while Canadians have one country, we certainly do not have one market. As Canadians, we’re proud to live in a country made up of 13 unique provinces and territories. We travel for many reasons but something as simple as bringing home some wine or [...]
More control for parents and communities is best way to reform schools
Media Release More control for parents and communities is best way to reform schools Halifax - 26 February 2018: By switching control of education from school district to school site, Nova Scotia could create a more effective, accountable, and responsive school system, according to Dr. Paul Bennett in Re-Engineering Education: curing the accountability and democratic deficit in Nova Scotia. Bennett’s new study for [...]
Re-Engineering Education: Curing the Accountability and Democratic Deficit in Nova Scotia
Paul Bennett proposes a new approach to public education in the province to create a more effective, accountable, and responsive school system. His latest study from the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies suggests school-based management that would reduce governance to two levels: the department and the school. This would eliminate school boards while addressing the lingering questions of accountability [...]