The State of Education in Canada

This volume analyzes the relevant data on the performance of Canadian schools, evaluating the state of primary and secondary education in Canada and offering a guide to where the educational system should be heading. The author begins by describing what contributes to a good education and notes that although primary and secondary education is accessible, not all young Canadians are taking advantage of this, as evidenced by the problem of dropouts. The following chapter summarizes results of recent opinion polls regarding the quality of schooling. More objective judgments of educational quality (the international, interprovincial, and intertemporal comparisons of student achievement) are then discussed and the validity of tests is evaluated. The final chapters describe various factors that influence school outcomes and the effectiveness of schools, and discuss some current educational policy questions. The author's findings are amplified by comments in two appended papers by educational specialists.