Parents want their children to be educated, not indoctrinated

It is not surprising that increasing numbers of parents are turning to charter schools. They want their children to be educated, not indoctrinated, and they expect reasonable parity among their public-school options.

Charter schools are found in most states south of the border, but in only one Canadian province: Alberta. These are autonomous public schools providing innovative or enhanced programs and governed by a charter that sets out their purpose and rules of operation. They are publicly funded, non-religious, cannot charge tuition, and are required to meet the standards of the provincial curriculum, though they can adopt their own pedagogies and educational philosophies.

Their teachers must be certified but are not members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association. There are 38 charter schools in Alberta and their student numbers are growing.

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Peter MacKinnon served as the president of three Canadian universities and is a senior fellow with the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy. Photo: iStock.