Education Financing

One of the most complex components of education in Canada, in my opinion is budgeting and finance. The  variety of pieces that must be included and considered in a budget is immense. Deciding on the monetary delegation and omission can be beneficial and devastation depending on the school division and individual. School funding and taxation remains unequal and depends on the wealth and value of the land.

Every year budgets are readjusted and making cuts seems to be one of the most difficult decisions, because ultimately it is going to effect a teacher, a student, or a community. Places where cuts are made differ from year to year and division to division. The decisions made by the school boards and divisions must take into account the largest monetary cut, in a manner which effects the least number of people. Personally, I find this troubling because  new teacher positions are one of the most common to be cut. Additionally, during budget cuts, class sizes can increase when the number of teachers are cut. With a higher student ratio per class more pressure is put on the teacher and less can realistically be accomplished. Unfortunately, in many high schools the elective and artistic programs must be cut when faced with money constraints. Music, art, and drama are not essential subjects, but have been said to be key in developing well rounded students with greater academic achievement. Without those options, schools do not provide many choices for students. Lastly, learning materials and investments in new technologies must be cut during a budget crunch. While schools can function without the latest materials, they are essential to the growth and learning in the twenty-first century.

Where to cut out of a school division budget is always going to be a hot button issue with room for debate. As teachers we must be realistic and know that cuts may not always go in our favour. This is a fact that we must deal with when having a career in public school divisions.  Different individuals will not always agree with where cuts are made; however, we must have faith in our school boards that they are trying to make the best decisions that cause the least amount of damage.