Another side of the story, at the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board

For its three senior high schools on Laval island, the Department of Education reports that the Laurier Board recorded an average graduation rate of 76%, led by Laurier Senior High School at 84.5%, followed by Laval Liberty High School close behind at 81.4%. At Phoenix Alternative High School, which regroups drop outs and/or potential drop outs, the success rate was 62.5%.

When asked for his insight into why there was such a wide margin (close to 30%) in the rates of success recorded by French and English public schools on Laval island, Steve Bletas, Chairman of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board, told Courrier Laval that although he was not in a position to evaluate what was going on in the schools of the CSDL, he was emphatic about the reasons for the success of schools in the Laurier Board.

"We believe the success of our students can be traced to several factors, including quality of teaching, diversity in programs offered, and affirmed action in matters relating to the needs of young people at risk," Mr. Bletas explained.

"These days, it is crucial for school boards and schools to do everything in their power to not only keep children in school but to offer them the kind of motivation that leads to academic achievement. We encourage our schools to function as communities of learning where students can become involved in many programs on a curricular, para-curricular and extra curricular basis," Mr. Bletas elaborated, adding that wide-ranging interests such as art, music, sports, theatre, media, journalism, and work-study training go along way in giving young people an incentive for staying in school and motivating them towards more effective learning.

Mr. Bletas emphasized that school standards must be realistic, attainable and kept at the highest levels possible: "If students want to explore their interests in fields other than academics while in school, they must maintain a certain level of academic performance, and because they love music or art or soccer or football so much, we have noticed that they work harder at their learning, knowing fully well that if they don't measure up, they risk losing their accessibility to these other programs."

Mr. Bletas concluded that even at a 78.2% success rate, the Laurier Board schools can and must strive to do better.

Photo:AngWil

(Photo: Maya)