Canadian education

[mvs70]

First post on this site - lots of other firsts at moment. Like a lot of the rest of you who write on here, we're facing possibly the biggest decision of our lives - to go, or not to go..... Have been weighing up a move to Canada for a couple of years now, and have recently had relatives make the jump to Alberta after 3 years of trying. Reading through many other posts we appear fortunate - we've sold our house earlier in the year (major miracle), and have a concrete offer of employment in Northern Ontario which on it's own is too good an opportunity to miss. All the usual bureaucracy to still plough through though.

Our children are the main concern, and at the same time, the main driver to our consideration of a move. Like a lot of other posters, it's the UK culture of drinking, petty violence and aggression that we don't want for ours in a few years time. What are others' experiences of the Canadian education system? Most of our research appears to be favourable, with smallish class sizes, but statistics for individual schools is hard to find. Any suggestions? (Job offer is in T-Bay, if anyone has personal experience of the area)

Also, any experience of French immersion? I don't feel that foreign languages is something we do well in the UK, and the idea appeals, but at what stage is this started, and how would it work with kids coming in at different stages? Ours are yr 1 and yr 3 over here. Any personal experience or advice welcome.

Mark

[Flor-adian]

Mark,

My best advice is spend two weeks in Thunder Bay in the middle of January before you make your move. You'll be glad you did, and I'll be shocked if you decide to move.

Ontario has very strict privacy laws, your research will not show you the true picture of where you might be headed.

The violence you wish to escape (the drinking, aggression, petty crime) is a way of life here as well - you just don't hear about it because of the privacy legislation. The UK education system is superior to Ontario, class sizes are around 30 to 1 - and split classes are common here...meaning that your child could have 15 in grade 2, 15 in grade 3 in the same class with the same teacher - it is common for your child to do the same thing two years in a row.

Most Ontarians live within a hour (up to two) from the border. This is for economic and weather reasons. Very few people live as far north as Thunder Bay, you will find that there will be nothing for your kids up there once they finish high school, and chances are very high that your children will complete post secondary education and settle down in the South - a days drive from Thunder Bay.

Florida is full of Canadians - you have to ask yourself why?

Think carefully, the snow isn't whiter on the other side of the pond! There is just a heck of a lot more of it!

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by Flor-adian

Mark,

My best advice is spend two weeks in Thunder Bay in the middle of January before you make your move. You'll be glad you did, and I'll be shocked if you decide to move.
There's no doubt that Thunder Bay has very cold, snowy winters. It's a fact of life for those living in Northern Ontario.
Ontario has very strict privacy laws, your research will not show you the true picture of where you might be headed.
What are these privacy laws and what is it that is witheld? I think your statement is spurious to say the least.

The violence you wish to escape (the drinking, aggression, petty crime) is a way of life here as well - you just don't hear about it because of the privacy legislation.

Where is here? If you're inferring Canada then I again believe you are way off base. Of course crime exists here but, IMO, in no way do we have the problems existing in UK. We do not have yobs or chavs and street in-your-face agression such as in the UK. And again what is the privacy legislation that prevents reporting such?

The UK education system is superior to Ontario, class sizes are around 30 to 1 - and split classes are common here...meaning that your child could have 15 in grade 2, 15 in grade 3 in the same class with the same teacher - it is common for your child to do the same thing two years in a row.

This is absolute balderdash. I read voraciously and have never read anything to suggest such happens. But then, perhaps it's those privacy laws again. I have seen many posts by ex-pats and most are very pleased with Canadian education. Class sizes of 30 are not out of line in a public school system

Most Ontarians live within a hour (up to two) from the border. This is for economic and weather reasons. Very few people live as far north as Thunder Bay, you will find that there will be nothing for your kids up there once they finish high school, and chances are very high that your children will complete post secondary education and settle down in the South - a days drive from Thunder Bay.

I agree with most of this.

Florida is full of Canadians - you have to ask yourself why?

Retired Canadians do flock to Florida in the winter months the same way retired UK'ers flock to Spain, Portugal etc., but so do Americans from the northern States. I think using the word FULL is a stretch.

Think carefully, the snow isn't whiter on the other side of the pond! There is just a heck of a lot more of it!

There's no doubt Thunder Bay is a remote community. It is accessible by road, air and water but it could be difficult for many people to settle into. A visit before deciding would be an appropriate thing to do. If you're into winter activities then it could suit you admirably. Lots of summer stuff to do as it's located on a huge lake and it's ideal if you are into camping and outdoors stuff.

[oddball]

My eldest daughter lived in 'Tundrous Bay' for 3 years , she just loved the place and found it a nice city to live in , my son went there to colledge and he had a ball , but then they were still teenagers . In regards to yourself with a young family , Canada is a generaly pleasant country in which to live , oportunuties are as open as your mind and abilities will allow , as long as you have the drive to succeed . Other than the weather , I have found moving to a new country is not much more difficult than moving from one end of a country to the other , except you cannot just junp in the car and drive back to whence you came .

Your biggest hurdles have been overcome , employement and visa , I suggest you rent a small , suitable place to live until you get the lay of the land and you and the wife agree it is a place you can live , if not you can always move . Good luck in your new life , second honey-moon ? LOL

[mvs70]

Originally Posted by Flor-adian

Mark,

My best advice is spend two weeks in Thunder Bay in the middle of January before you make your move. You'll be glad you did, and I'll be shocked if you decide to move.

Ontario has very strict privacy laws, your research will not show you the true picture of where you might be headed.

The violence you wish to escape (the drinking, aggression, petty crime) is a way of life here as well - you just don't hear about it because of the privacy legislation. The UK education system is superior to Ontario, class sizes are around 30 to 1 - and split classes are common here...meaning that your child could have 15 in grade 2, 15 in grade 3 in the same class with the same teacher - it is common for your child to do the same thing two years in a row.

Most Ontarians live within a hour (up to two) from the border. This is for economic and weather reasons. Very few people live as far north as Thunder Bay, you will find that there will be nothing for your kids up there once they finish high school, and chances are very high that your children will complete post secondary education and settle down in the South - a days drive from Thunder Bay.

Florida is full of Canadians - you have to ask yourself why?

Think carefully, the snow isn't whiter on the other side of the pond! There is just a heck of a lot more of it!

Thanks for your thoughts, but I'm as puzzled as Auld Yin about these privacy laws of which you speak? Could you clarify - this is something that none of my contacts in Canada, be that Ontario or other 'rival' provinces have ever mentioned. The official stats from the Lakehead and Catholic School Boards show 90% of schools having 20 or less children per class - is this untrue?

Mark

[mvs70]

Originally Posted by oddball

My eldest daughter lived in 'Tundrous Bay' for 3 years , she just loved the place and found it a nice city to live in , my son went there to colledge and he had a ball , but then they were still teenagers . In regards to yourself with a young family , Canada is a generaly pleasant country in which to live , oportunuties are as open as your mind and abilities will allow , as long as you have the drive to succeed . Other than the weather , I have found moving to a new country is not much more difficult than moving from one end of a country to the other , except you cannot just junp in the car and drive back to whence you came .

Your biggest hurdles have been overcome , employement and visa , I suggest you rent a small , suitable place to live until you get the lay of the land and you and the wife agree it is a place you can live , if not you can always move . Good luck in your new life , second honey-moon ? LOL

Thanks,
It's good to hear from someone who has some (indirect) personal experience of the city itself. Were they at Lakehead, or Confederation, and what made them choose T-Bay - are you from that neck of the woods or afar?

Mark

[oddball]

They were at Lakehead , daughter went to accompany new husband in a company posting , son went to colledge there to spend time with his sister and a free place to hang his hat . At that period in time , the family were resident in the country-side surounding the small town of Kilbride north of Burlington , our own 'Country cottage' close to all conveniences , never did see the logic in driving way north in heavy traffic to 'Relx' , then returning more stressed out than when you left , had good bragging rights though .

[oddball]

A point I missed was French immersion, I learnt reading writing and verbal communication in England which has mostly moved to the back of my brain due to lack of use , despite the many years I lived there , my children went through immersion , but same same , lack of use . The feeling I have is that French is only of use if you intend working for the government , they do not even communicate in the FRENCH languge in Quebec , it is 'Quebecous' they use which is quite the *******isation of French which a long time Parisian aquaintance had difficulty understanding at times . More time could be spent on the 3 'R's' , but then , modern electronics are taking over in those fields , shame realy because those subjects taught more than their inference would suggest , Colin .

[mvs70]

Hmmm... Food for thought. My concern is mainly around my daughter, who did French briefly at school, but would be going in 3 years in - is there a staged approach, or is it all or nothing from the start of school. Also, I've seen the comment that Quebecois is very different to French French - but how different? On our recent visit to Ontario my 5 year old would be asked if he wanted fries with his meal, and would reply "No, chips, please". Is it like this, and just a different accent and the odd different word, or is the whole structure different?

[Auld Yin]

Originally Posted by mvs70

Hmmm... Food for thought. My concern is mainly around my daughter, who did French briefly at school, but would be going in 3 years in - is there a staged approach, or is it all or nothing from the start of school. Also, I've seen the comment that Quebecois is very different to French French - but how different? On our recent visit to Ontario my 5 year old would be asked if he wanted fries with his meal, and would reply "No, chips, please". Is it like this, and just a different accent and the odd different word, or is the whole structure different?

French immersion is just that, Immersion. The children are taught mostly in French and English becomes secondary, although not ignored. Quebecoise French is different from Parisien French insofar as use of certain slang/idioms/accents. The French taught in schools is "correct" French, such as would/should be spoken by educated French persons. You could perhaps compare it to someone educated in an English public school and from say London and a counterpart from, say, a council estate in Liverpool/Glasgow etc.
A child from French Immersion would be understood anywhere in the French speaking world.