Editor's notes

For many of us, no matter how old we get, September is an exciting month. The "back to school" anticipation is infectious. Summer is over; fall is again making its appearance, and even if we are not returning to school, at least now we can begin the projects we put on hold over the dry, enervating summer.

Unfortunately, some school-age students do not share this excitement. For them, going back to school is a painful process. Perhaps they find the classroom a boring, uninspiring place. Maybe they resent being pushed to learn material that has no obvious practical application to the work-world jobs they want to undertake when they graduate. Possibly they think the teachers they've been assigned just don't have anything to offer them. Many such unhappy students will drop out of school, their potential unmet, their talents unexploited. Is there any way this can be avoided?

This issue of Fraser Forum examines the education system in Canada and tries to offer some remedies. It discusses alternative approaches to education, emphasizes the need for accountability, and looks to the leads taken by various American states in some areas. It offers hope for dissatisfied students and their parents through choice in education.

This Issue's Authors

Alexander Berezin, Ph.D., is a Professor of Engineering Physics at McMaster University in Ontario.

Joel Emes is Research Economist at The Fraser Institute. He has an M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

Liv Fredricksen is currently a research assistant with The Fraser Institute. She has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of BC.

Laura Jones is Environment Economist at The Fraser Institute. She received her M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

David W. Kirkpatrick is a freelance consultant, writer, and researcher who serves as a Distinguished Fellow for the Blum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Owen Lippert is Director of the Law and Markets project at The Fraser Institute. He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.

Marc Law is a student intern at The Fraser Institute. He is an M.A. candidate in Economics at Queen's University.

Brian MacRae works for the City of Surrey in Surrey, British Columbia.

Kristin McCahon is Director of Publication Production at The Fraser Institute. She has an M.A. in English Literature from the University of British Columbia.

Lydia Miljan is Director of the National Media Archive, a division of The Fraser Institute. She researches and writes On Balance.

Kate Morrison is Co-ordinator of the National Media Archive. She has a B.A. (Hons) in Economics and Communications from Simon Fraser University.

David Mark Odell is completing a B.A. (Honours) from the University of Toronto with combined specialties in Economics and Political Science.

Helen Raham is Executive Director of the Society for the Advancement of Excellence of Education. She has a B.Ed. and a Diploma of Library Sciences, both from the University of Victoria.

Cynthia Ramsay is Health Economist at The Fraser Institute. She has her M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.

Karen Selick practices law in Belleville, Ontario, and is a columnist for Canadian Lawyer. You can reach her at kselick@connect.reach.net.

Mark Weller is Manager of Information Systems at The Fraser Institute. He has a B.A. in International Relations from the University of BC.

Walter Williams is John M. Olin Distinguished Scholar at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and is a syndicated columnist. He has a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, October 20, 1999.