To meet the educational needs of society, students will have to leave Grade 12 having completed two years of post-secondary courses.

A. GETTING THERE FROM HERE

Achieving the goal of having students leave Grade 12 with two years of post-secondary education is a major challenge.

It isn't a technical challenge.  The curriculum exists; the technology exists; Advanced Placement exists; International Baccalaureate exists, multi-graded classrooms exist and classes using computers exist.  The challenge is a challenge of will.  The will of universities to accept the change; the will of the school boards to accept the change; the will of teachers to accept the change; the will of the students to accept the change; the will of parents to accept the change and the will of Alberta Education to accept change.

To achieve the goal, a quantum shift in what we believe students can learn and be taught before they enter post graduate institutions is needed.  There are lots of people who believe parts of the goal are being done or are achievable and desirable.  A belief that the parts can be melded into a whole has to be generated and infuse the institutions and the public.

People will say that the universities won't co-operate, that not everyone needs a university education, that students won't do the work, that the curriculum needs major revisions, that the ATA won't allow it, that teachers can't do it, that the technology isn't available, that it will cost too much, that ect..  We know that education costs are rising, that the Federal and Provincial governments are cutting funding  for education, that local school boards are unwilling to raise taxes, that user fees are common, that teachers won't accept a 50% wage cut, that students are bored, that schools are being asked to do more, that private schools are getting public funds, and that universal access to education is disappearing.  We also know that every student who completes two years of post secondary education before leaving Grade 12 provides an overall saving of $85,000.  The Provincial Government saves about $30,000 in subsidies to universities.  The student saves about $15,000 in direct costs and $40,000 in lost income.

Change in how we educate has to occur if we wish to provide a good education to all.  The change suggested is technically feasable.  It maintains universal access, strengthens the curriculum and reduces the cost of education.  The name of the process, Quantum 2000, flows from the need for a quantum shift in what we expect students to learn in public school by the year 2000.

B. TODAY'S CHALLENGES

1. COST OF EDUCATION

a) Society

Canadians have provided their children with an education that was sufficient for them to get employment and provide for themselves and their families.  Historically this involved providing a ree high school education for the bulk of the population and a subsidized post-secondary education for a minority of the population.  The Economic Council of Canada and others are suggesting that in order to provide for themselves and their families half of the students will require five years of post-secondary education.  To achieve the same social goals that have been met Canadians would have to provide a free undergraduate education.

b) Student

The costs borne by students are real and have an impact on the whether students access available educational programs regardless of dollar costs.  Students have the choice of continuing their education or entering the labour force.  A student leaving school at sixteen should be able to earn $6,000 to $10,000 per year.  This would put the cost of completing a university degree between $36,000 and $60,000 before expenses.  The cost would be similar for a student graduating from grade 12.

When we tell students they need an undergraduate degree to get a job we are telling them they must give up four earning years.  When we tell them they need a post graduate degree we are telling them they need to give up six earning years.  One thing we can no longer tell anyone is that they will be able to earn sufficient income after completing their education to compensate them for forgone wages.

c) Family

Students are supported by their families.  Eight years of schooling used to be enough.  Ten years, then twelve years was enough.  Now families are going to be expected to provide sixteen to eighteen years of support.  It is unclear when parents will be able to prepare for their retirement.

2. SPACE

Various forecasts indicate that over half the population will need a post-secondary education.   Unfortunately we only have space for a third of our students in post-secondary institutions.  No-one in government is advocating providing these spaces or planning to provide these spaces.  Quite clearly significant numbers of young people will be unable to access post-secondary education.

3. UNIVERSAL ACCESS

When education funding is continually cut back, when additional tasks such as medical and social care are transferred to the educational system, when the educational requirements are increasing, universal access to education is threatened.  Already there are signs of a dual track system developing.  Wealthy students can access university courses, enriched programs, language programs and computer technology.  The differentiation is being achieved through user fees and incremental funding provided by parent groups.  The education system has been asked to do more with fewer dollars.  It has responded by offering basic and for a fee, enhanced education.

4. STANDARDS

Various studies have tried to show that our students don't do as well as international students.  These are irrelevant. What is relevant is we have students who are bored, disruptive, or dropping out.  Quite clearly instruction is aimed at average students.  There are support services available for students who are behind in their work.  There is little help available for students exhibiting average performance who could do better.  Since the curriculum in a particular grade is aimed at the average student in that grade, half the students could learn more if given the opportunity.  Schools need to be structured to constantly challenge and push students.  Students need the opportunity to do their best.

C. QUANTUM 2000

These challenges can be met by a shift of post-secondary material into the pre-university curriculum.  Having students leave grade 12 with the equivalent of two years of University would go a long way to improving both the education system and access.  Making wordprocessors and spreadsheets available to students will free up the time needed to add the curriculum.

1. BASIC GOAL

The basic goal of Quantum 2000 is to allow students to leave Grade 12 with the equivalent of two years of post secondary education.

a) Graduate Sophomores

1) University Bound

Students planing to attend university should able to enter third year courses.  They will have completed their diploma requirements by the ninth grade and the current grade nine curriculum in elementary school.

 2) Community College

Students would be ready to take community college courses at the end of grade 9.  These
could be taught in the high schools or community colleges or both.

3) Labour Force

Students not wishing to continue with post secondary education could enter the labour force after grade 9 or take courses appropriate to their needs.
 

2. IMPACT

a) Cost

The $80,000 in cost savings come from having the students complete their education two years
sooner.  Two years they aren't being subsidized by their parents or society.  If we can assume a purpose or economic benefit for acquiring an education, the students will be gainfully employed and through taxes repaying the cost of their education.

b) Space

Since students will only have to spend two years as undergraduates, the undergraduate capacity of the University will be doubled.  This should be sufficient to allow those students who want and are qualified for a University education to get it.

c) Access

Incorporating a portion of post-secondary education into the Kindergarten to Grade 12
curriculum improves access to education in two ways.  First, exposure to post-secondary
curriculum is available to all students.  Second, the cost of getting a post-secondary degree is at least halved.

3. REQUIREMENTS

There are of course some changes or rearranging of the current education system and curriculum needed to achieve the goal.

a) University

The universities will need to indicate the skills and knowledge needed to enter third year courses.  This should only require an examination of first and second year course content.  Once having established the standards and acceptable measures the universities would be required to accept students meeting the standards.

b) Public Schools

1) Curriculum

In the short run the curriculum doesn't need to changed.  The existing curriculum will be offered earlier.  Part of this is simply making it available and assessing students against advanced curriculum in earlier grades.  The other part is doing revision and review on a need basis. ourses to meet the university requirements will have to be developed.  The first iteration would be adapting existing university courses.  In the long run the curriculum would be revised to integrate the university and general requirements.

2) Organization

Schools would have to be organized to allow students to progress at their own speed.  As they master a skill they should be introduced to the next challenge.

3) Technology

Students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will need to have access to computers, sufficient access to regularly use them for their assignments and note taking.  Access to course and distance learning materials will aid the process but is not necessary to achieve the goal.

c) Alberta Education

Alberta Education will need to bless the endeavor.  There is a need for official sanction and support.  Universities will need to be encouraged to develop standards for admission to third year courses and schools boards will need to be encouraged to offer the accelerated curriculum.  Alberta Education would also act as a co-ordinator and facilitator for the work required to achieve the goal.  Alberta Education would also be needed to find funds for the required investment in technology.

d) Investment

To achieve the goal, students will need computers.  Computers and software will allow students to work more efficiently, freeing up the time needed to absorb the additional material.  Type written assignments will also go a long way to helping teachers cope with the work load.  Unfortunately, the cost savings come at the post secondary level.  This means that the funds for the investment in technology must be in addition to existing expenditures.  The obvious source for these funds would be the Advanced Education budget.

e) Students

Students will have to take more responsibility for their education.  They will have to develop goals and to demand the resources needed to achieve them.  They will have to work to their abilities rather than external requirements.  This is simply a matter of retaining attitudes students have in Kindergarten and Grade 1.

D. PREPARED BY
         Version 1.02
         October 4, 1993

         Larry Phillips
         13335 71 Street
         Edmonton, Alberta
         T5C 0M7
         473-8623