Chris Jordan
Kentville
The biggest problem currently facing Nova Scotia’s school system is the presence of management, meaning principals and vice principals, within the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, and that removing them is the answer, says Chris Jordan of Kentville. “The principals have to realize that … they’re management, and (that) in every other union, management isn’t part of the union. So, separating them out from it, if they could work that out, things would probably be OK.”
Bradley George
Mira Road, Cape Breton
“I feel like you learn a lot about stuff that you are never going to use in life, really. Especially with us in carpentry I mean. Why do I need to know about mitochondrion and stuff like that? How do you set up a savings account, how do you go get a credit card, how do you file for taxes? You have to rely on someone else to teach you. You don’t learn that in school.
James Hand
Amherst
“The number one problem with the school system I find right now is some of the reading material isn’t as good, especially in literature. There could be a lot better books to read. There is also nothing exciting to go after school…. I found the art program – I was in band – that was really beneficial, and I knew other students really liked some of the sports programs…. If people had the chance to maybe look forward to going to school. You know, learning and opening up their mind. That would help. And then have the extracurricular activities in a positive drug and alcohol-free events would be beneficial for young people’s minds.”
Shannon Hodgson
Lower Sackville
“There’s too many children for one teacher in a class. I think that kids should be divided up equally. There should be 16 per one teacher and not over, because they don’t get enough one on one time.”
Gayle Turnbull
Truro
“The number one issue… is probably accountability within the school. If we are taking the principals out and replacing them with managers, then we are creating a two-tier system that doesn’t work. I guess the principals don’t have as much influence in the school, and they are acting more as managers…. I think we have to keep the principals engaged in the classes so they know what’s going on.”
Shawn Heighton
Westville
“My belief is that there’s just a lack of communication. The two sides just won’t come together but the only way it will get fixed is if they talk to each other and understand that there has to be give and take on both sides.”
