Live and Learn

Well, you live and learn, don’t you?

I’m sure you’ve all learned a thing or two. You learned the ropes. Sometimes you learned your lesson. You had to learn the hard way. You learned to live with someone. You learned to live with something. You learned by heart. You learned by rote. You learn something new every day. So, I invite you to join me and continue to live and learn.

Do your part

The government is consulting with Albertans and is asking for input on the new K-6 curriculum. Many of our Alberta supporters completed an online survey and took the opportunity to use the recommendations in our Educational Diversity Policy Report. But there is more to do! And ARPA is here to help. Please take part in our Live and Learn education campaign. We will endeavour to educate, equip, and encourage you on this important political issue so you can take action and present a Biblical perspective to your provincial government.

The first phase of this campaign will focus on parents. The next phase will be launched in September and will focus on governance. The third phase will focus on curriculum and we’ll wrap things up with the final phase on school choice. I look forward to working with you to deliver a positive message to our government.

What can you do?

One simple thing.

Relationships first, policy second. Send a respectful message to Alberta’s provincial government about parental engagement. Please take the time to send a note of encouragement to Honourable Adriana LaGrange, the Minister of Education. I have some suggestions here:

• Pass on encouragement, well-wishes, and a huge thank you for coming alongside schools during the COVID pandemic.
• Mention that you will be praying for her.
• Consider this recommendation from our Educational Diversity Policy Report:
  • Increase parental involvement in education by requiring schools to make all curricula publicly available, to encourage parental review of curricula and classroom settings, and to invite parental participation in the extra-curricular activities their children are involved in.

How do I do this?

You can do this by sending a thank you card. We have them all printed and ready to go. For our Reformed school supporters, the cards will be sent to the Reformed schools and be available for pick up. You can also contact me (ed@arpacanada) and I’ll make sure you get the cards.

Parents know what’s best for their kids

The Government of Alberta affirmed that parents know what’s best for their children and have the primary responsibility for the education of their children. The Education Act has certainly paved the way for more parental engagement.

Our Educational Diversity Policy Report supports parental responsibility in education. “The primary responsibility of parents for their children’s education is a Christian principle, and many other religious and non-religious people hold the same view. Throughout the Bible, God commands parents to teach their children the law of God, their shared history, and their religious practices.”

The report affirms that “numerous studies show that parental engagement, or at least involvement, in education is a central influence on students’ academic performance.” Resources such as Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie and the Centre for Real World Learning provide the latest research on parental participation and parental engagement. Both sources highlight the positive impact of what is called the parental engagement effect.

Parent engagement is better than parent involvement. Parent engagement signals a more active and personal level of participation in learning that takes place in the family. Family learning describes all those informal learning activities undertaken at home by parents with their children. The more parents and children talk to each other, the better students achieve.

A good education system is one that encourages and enables parental engagement. Our governments need to demonstrate leadership and allow engaged parents to continue to play an important role in shaping their children, in supporting their children’s needs at school, and in participating in decisions that impact their children’s future.

It’s never too late to learn

Please join me on this important campaign and have a positive impact on the future of education in Alberta. May God bless our efforts in promoting an educational environment where we can educate His children as we ought.

 

We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 78:4)