Isn't it a coincidence that private schools are expanding and our public schools have a declining enrolement. Could it be that our public moneys are now going with those children when they go to the private schools?
This transferring of our public money to private upper class schools is deteriorating the school system for those that cannot afford to do otherwise. Eventually only the poorest of our children will be going to these broken down institutions called public schools. This is one of the most cruel laws this government has passed, picking on our poorest children. Not a surprise that BC has the highest child poverty in Canada also.
The closure of Giscome school will be permanent. They are already preparing them by saying next year will be worse. Good election promise!

Private schools only get half the funding per student that public schools get is the last I heard. The remainder is paid for by the parents.

In the early 90's PG had nearly twice as many students as its projected to have by next year, so that can't be blamed on the private schools IMO. The decline in enrollment projected for next year alone is nearly more students than all the students in private schools in PG... so the argument would seem flawed.

Private schools are flourishing while public schools languish because public schools in rural BC generally tend to attract the teachers who couldn't get a job anywhere else, and the quality of education suffers, while private schools tend to have teachers who aren't there by default.

Private schools also tend to focus more on the basics. They won't try and teach students in "traditional native" way, along with french immersion and follow it with a big scoop of political correctness. At Christmas time, the gears of learning don't grind to a halt the two weeks before holidays so everyone can sit in class and watch Shrek and other assorted garbage movies. This is why private schools provide higher quality education than public schools.

And finally, public schools waste money like crazy on things which do not benefit students. Things like shiney new laptops for superintendents and other AO's each year, or poorly researched pet projects which are put into place simply because they did not budget properly and needed to spend their wad before the end of the fiscal year for fear the government will reduce their budget next year.

Look at all the various "Directors," "Facilitators," "Managers," "Supervisors," "liaisons," etc... all paid for by local school districts each year. They never seem to cut these positions. I know one school district which provides free notebook computers for every trustee, completely supported by that district's IT department.

It's crazy how much principals, vice principals, managers, etc... earn in school districts. Most of them would be lucky to command a yearly wage in the high 50K per year in the private sector, and they bloody well know it.

IF all is so dire, why are we building a new masterpiece? (Duchess Park S.S.) I suppose they will tell us that the old DPSS is unsafe and must be replaced. Maybe there would be more funding for maintaining the old schools if we did not need to have architectural monuments.
metalman.

People are moving away from the area is the biggest problem. Lots of people lost their jobs here and moved where there was work. There will be a lot more before this is over. PG is not on the top of the list for the most beautiful places to live after all. We who live here see the benifits but unless you get a job that moves you here most people with a choice will choose somewhere else first. Some of the factors are, COLD LONG WINTERS, cool short summers, the stink and the overall ugliness of the industrial city.

Correct. Private schools only get 1/2 the funding per student that the public schools receive.

Parents that are willing to invest in their children's education have many reasons for choosing this route.

Parents are expected to volunteer at every opportunity, teachers do not have the luxury of ignoring parents as the parents are the employers, discipline may still be used when required on students as well as teachers, failing is allowed to occur, winning is encouraged.

All for less than the cost of a pack of smokes a day.

The population of Prince George and other towns in school district 57 have been declining in the last 10 years, so it just makes sense that the school population in school district 57 would also decline.

This has nothing to do with private schools.

The fact of the matter is the school district had better start to look at combining more schools. (Even if this requires more busing) It is also time that they had a hard look at the number of teachers required in the district, along with Superintendents, Principals, etc; Im sure that millions could be saved if the neccessary changes were made.

We all know that the City of Prince George, the University, the Regional District, RCMP, Fire Department, Local Government, etc; are all overstaffed, and could be reduced by 10% with little or no impact on services.

Metalman wrote "Maybe there would be more funding for maintaining the old schools if we did not need to have architectural monuments."
There would also be money for maintenance if the purchasers where more accountable. I know that there is huge waste to accommodate the “old boys club”. A shake up is needed in the maintenance department starting with the manager and then on down. A lot of money is being paid for little effort. These managers could not survive in the “real world”.

I feel badly for the school district. They are in a very tight position. Let's face it there are "bad apples" in all professions. It's not the school district's fault that enrollment is steadily declining and they don't have adequate funds to pay for the existing services. My opinion is that the education system is not properly supported in the first place. Maybe we should start asking the question "why is our student population shrinking?" Does this reflect PG's retention rate? Is this a natural demographic shift? I've heard of more kids switching to private schools and home schooling in the past few years. I'm certain it's due to a number of factors.

I don't think private schools should get any public funding except from the parents. The parents should also pay for the buildings,property and maintenance as well as taxes and the staff.

supertech, I think parents who pay for their children's private school ought not to pay public school taxes.

The public school system is a prison for bright kids who want to learn. Public schools nurture the stupid, violent and defective children and leave our most gifted children at their mercy.

Private school parents pay taxes too. Parents have a right to decide how their kids are raised. IMO almost all schools private and public are politically correct day cares that dumb down to the lowest common denominator.

That said private schools should IMO receive 3/4 the funding of public schools like they do in Ontario and Quebec.

supertech:

Pivate School Parents do pay for the buildings, land, maintenance, wages etc. The school receives 1/2 per the going rate per student that public schools receive. The Private schools are then responsible for 100% of their day to day costs. That includes the mortgage on the buildings and property. There is zero help on these costs except for the property tax exemption that all schools, churches, daycares and health facilities enjoy.

IMO parents should be able to choose which school their portion of school taxes go. This would let the weakest ones die.