YMCA Academy

One of the worst things and educator can do is to do a Google News search for “education.” The results are a misplaced stew of questions that can never be solved (I like to think of those as “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin” type of education questions) along with a series of platitudinal posts, such as “Education System Could Use an Overhaul.”

One would imagine that the beauty of search is that it responds to what we put in. But searching for “education solutions” provides an even less satisfying result, finding gems such as standardized testing prep courses and, of course, “Education Solutions are Needed in Schools.”

What did we used to do when we wanted to examine questions and answers in education – in the days before our first response to everything was to “Google it”? I think we began with conversations. What’s described today as our personal learning network (PLN) always existed. It was our colleagues, friends and family, people we studied with. Most were local but not all – we reached out to others by reading journals, having book discussions, doing professional development. Questions and answers were longer to come by, but maybe they were more meaningful. Maybe the ubiquity of search has sacrificed depth, meaning, and relevance for speed?

Google and the like are amazing tools. The volume of information available to us in a fraction of a second is beyond comprehension. Sometimes, so are the results.

Don Adams, Head of School

Amazingly, two weeks ago we turned the clocks forward an hour. What used to be an eternal Canadian winter, now seems to be little more than a seasonal blip.

But it remains winter in education for far too many. This isn’t a new theme on this blog, in Ontario education, or in the news. The sad reality is that one of the first things that gets cut in education budgets is special education.

Sometimes these cuts are insidious and under the radar. They take the form of failing to hire or retain staffing levels to meet increased demand. Then sometimes they’re just plain cuts, thick and jagged, right through the flesh of the system. When the damage is done, the system provides for no repair.

The demand for alternatives have never been greater. The demand for our school has never been more intense and I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that time quickly runs out.

If you have a child in high school who has a learning style difference or learning disability, and you feel that their needs aren’t being fully met in their current school, we’re here for you. Please email me at Don.Adams@YMCAGTA.org and come for a visit. Browse through the posts here on our website, watch the school video, talk to friends and neighbours. You’ll see why our school has few peers and how we’ve achieved a sense of community rarely found in a school.

Don’t go into another summer lacking options.

Don Adams, Head of School