School guide irks trustees
Outspoken trustee publishes tips on Toronto high schools Book details specialized programs, test scores and activities
The neighbourhood high school may be the first choice for most Grade 9 students but it’s not their only option, says the controversial publisher and co- author of a new guide to the city’s public, separate and private high schools.
Bruce Davis, a public school board trustee, says too many parents don’t know just how many alternatives are available to their children. But his book — The unauthorized Guide to Toronto Secondary Schools —
has incited controversy among some of his fellow trustees at the Toronto District School Board. They say it does a disservice to the board Davis serves because it could encourage parents to send their children to Catholic or private schools.
Davis retorts that there’s nothing wrong with giving people more information. “ Every school can’t be all things to all children. but the public doesn’t know that,” he said.
For 80 per cent of kids who want to go to the same high school as their friends, the neighbourhood school is probably fine, he said. But if a child isn’t connecting at school or has a special interest in the arts or science, there are alternatives.
“ Some parents, typically more educated, more advocacy-oriented parents, know they have choices and they fight to get into whatever school is best for their child. That information should be available to everyone,” said Davis, who co-authored the 280- page book with his wife Seonaid Davis, a teacher at Havergal College, a private girls’ school in Toronto. The guide lists 250 high schools. Although it does not rank the schools, each listing includes the school’s specialized program offerings, provincial literacy test scores, extra- curricular activities, the size of the school, key contact information, tuition and other entrance criteria where applicable. It also details how likely an out- of- district student is to be admitted.
“ The Catholic and public systems have been customizing their schools to attract students to different programs and to different activities. I think you’re seeing a proliferation within the publicly funded system to more specialization,” said Davis. The guide identifies specialized technology, arts, sports or academic programs, as well as those with a high number of special education or ESL students. There are details on alternative high schools, French immersion programs, advanced placement and international baccalaureate programs. Most of the information in the guide is based on the Davises’ own experience, the findings of their research team, news clippings, information from Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office and the boards’ own websites. The guide is “unauthorized” because, with only a few exceptions, the public and Catholic boards did not co- operate with the project, a fact Davis puts down to their being inundated with requests for information.
His critics argue that Davis is sabotaging his own board’s position at a time when enrolment is declining. “ If you’re a member of any board your responsibility is to the promotion of the board you’re on,” said Toronto District School Board Chair Sheila Ward, who expects Davis will take a run at her job when she comes up for re- election later this year. “ I don’t see how this in any way, shape or form helps public education. I’m uncomfortable with it because of the implications for us if people make other choices,” she said. Ward said she’s also leery of some of the guide’s language that describes some neighbourhoods as more affluent than others and points out which schools have a high number of ESL students.
Trustee John Campbell said the guide may be a handy reference and he doesn’t have a problem with the competition aspect, but says it is misleading to suggest students have more choices than are actually available. The schools parents might choose over their neighbourhood school often are already full.
Although the Toronto Catholic District School Board accepts out- of- district students, once a public high school is about 80 per cent enrolled, the principal may close off the remaining space to make sure there’s enough room for students who live within the boundary. The guide is available in some independent bookshops or online from chapmanhousepublishing. for $24.95, plus GST and shipping. Profits from the book will go to school breakfast programs, Davis said.