Decisions about schools can't be dictated by government, unions

Re: It's unclear what B.C. high schools will look like next year

In my experience, which is 20 years old, the quarter, octet and semester systems usually evolve to a hybrid approach that has some of each.

Subjects that are better spaced out through the entire year (the example given concerning math could also have been cited for French or music, all which suffer if there are large gaps of time between courses) are scheduled as yearlong courses and matched with other courses that are better scheduled that way.

Subjects that concern learning about set bodies of knowledge and concepts and skills such as history, geography and literature can be organized into compact courses such as a quarter or trimester or octet.

Using available sophisticated software, school administrators can create hybrid timetables that schedule students course arrangements that are a mixture of the above.

Timetable decisions are best made at the school level in consultation with parents.

Centralized models, especially at the provincial level, are unable to adapt to unique circumstances. What is possible in a large school may not be possible in a small school. I believe the school act acknowledges this, in that it contains a statement that the principal, in consultation with staff and parents, is responsible for school organization.

I'm encouraged that there is discussion ongoing, but am concerned that a centralized set of rules is being developed that may be based more on control from the centre — be it by the union or the government — rather than on optimization at the local level, preferably the school unit.