Globe

EDUCATION PROVINCIAL POLITICS No love for Is home-schooling uniting the right from making the grade? Wildrose Alberta moved this week to shut down an operator over questionable practices and how tax dollars were being spent. Now, some supporters JUSTIN GIOVANNETTI of teaching kids at home fear an erosion of parental rights ny notion of uniting Alber• A ta's two largest conservative parties under former MP won't be on the agenda this weekend as the province's Official Opposition Wildrose Par• ty meets in Red Deer. Merger talks with Alberta's Pro• gressive Conservatives would be a distraction, Wildrose Leader told his party's general assembly on Friday evening. The Tories are "rife with uncertainty, division and instability," he said. Wildrose officials told The Globe and Mail they were sur• prised no unite-the-right motions were proposed by the party's members for the general assem• bly. Wildrose meetings can be fractious affairs that don't shy from controversy. Former leader was embarrassed by a revolt on the floor of a 2014 assembly where members voted to upend her outreach efforts toward LGBTQ groups. On Thursday, Mr. Jean said that his party's members might be taking a wait-and-see approach: "I think a lot of people are wait• ing to see what takes place over the coming year, and I am as well." Mr. Kenney, a former federal minister of citizenship and defence, is one of the leading candidates to take over the leadershiD of the Torv n;3rtv th;?t uivisiuii anu iiistaDiiiiy, ne saia. Wildrose officials told The Globe and Mail they were sur• prised no unite-the-right motions were proposed by the party's members for the general assem• bly. Wildrose meetings can be fractious affairs that don't shy from controversy. Former leader Danielle Smith was embarrassed by a revolt on the floor of a 2014 assembly where members voted to upend her outreach efforts toward LGBTQ groups. On Thursday, Mr. Jean said that his party's members might be taking a wait-and-see approach: "I think a lot of people are wait• ing to see what takes place over 11 the coming year, and I am as well." Mr. Kenney, a former federal minister of citizenship and defence, is one of the leading candidates to take over the leadership of the Tory party that long ruled Alberta before losing I to 's New Demo• crats in 2015. His campaign has run into opposition from both the PCs and Wildrose as he has pledged to merge both parties before the next provincial elec• tion in 2019. The PCs have implemented rules for their leadership contest Home-teacher Judy Arnall, playing chess with son Scott, is part of a new group called Alberta Home Education Parents Society. Jbi-f- iViLINlObH/irlt; bLUBh AND MAIL that forbid candidates from un• dermining the Tory brand. The CARRIE TAIT and Wisdom and their approach to student evaluations were party's new leader will be elected inconsistent with provincial legislation on home-schooling. in March. an Miller never learned about evolution in high school. The NDP has alerted the RCMP and Canada Revenue Agen• The party's first leadership BShe graded her own exams. She had few textbooks. She cy to its findings^ It is up to those agencies to decide whether debate will be held next Saturday graduated without meeting Alberta's basic standards in to investigate further. in the same central Alberta hotel classes such as English or science. Ms. Miller, who was taught at home by her mother in the where Mr. Jean spoke on Friday. At 17, Ms. Miller ran away from home, escaping her mom Wisdom program from Grades 2 to 12, does not understand Along with Mr. Kenney, former and the education program she deemed shoddy. She what took so long. MLA Donna Kennedy-Glans, cur• dreamed of university, but without a grasp of the Big Bang "My mom could do whatever she wanted with very little rent MLAs Sandra Jansen and theory or proper transcripts, was not going to get there. oversight," she said. "I could just show [facilitators] test Richard Starke, and Calgary law• Ms. Miller is a product the Wisdom Home Schooling Society results that I myself graded." yer Byron Nelson have joined the of Alberta, which ran home-schooling operations for Trinity Ms. Miller graduated from Wisdom's program in 2010. contest. Christian School Association, a private-school operator fund• (Trinity considered Wisdom a contractor, but the organiza• The Wildrose is planning to ed by the province. The Alberta government shut it down tions share some senior officials, and that created financial spend its last general meeting this week, alleging the two main families that run the orga• conflicts, the government says.) before the Tory leadership vote nizations mismanaged millions of dollars to their own bene• Ms. Miller believes someone should have addressed prob• targeting Ms. Notley. The NDP fit. lems long before Alberta's department of education began to Premier is nearing the midpoint The said in a detailed report that key review Trinity's books last summer. She said her mom of her four-year term amid the players struck questionable land deals, charged exorbitant neglected to buy textbooks for her and her siblings some backdrop of one of the weakest rental rates for offices they owned, and withheld taxpayer semesters, forgoing the government cash that would have economic performances in Alber• money intended for parents to use for resources, such as text• gone toward the costs. ta since the Great Depression. books. The government says the relationship between Trinity Home-schooling, Page 3 Wildrose, Page 3

Connect with us: @globeandmail E facebook.com/theglobeandmail 033 linkedin.com/company/the-globe-and-mail EDITOR: WENDY COX FROM PAGE 1 Home-schooling: Financial prudence becomes subject of concern Wildrose

Money, rather than quality of The economy has been in »education, was the Alberta's »recession for nearly two Department of Education's focus. years and the unemployment One of the report's many allega• rate is at its highest rate in dec• tions is that Wisdom, rather than ades. Trinity, controlled $988,000 of Mr. Jean says his main goal is government funding earmarked unseating Ms. Notley, not talks for parents over the past three with Mr. Kenney. On Friday, he years. said that the New Democrats Scores of home-schooling sup• were "disastrous ... shameful ... porters - inside and outside of intent on hurting families." Wisdom's system - believe the The Wildrose Leader and his NDP wants to shut down home- party view the NDP as a govern• schooling. The parents say the ment that has besieged the government action was about Alberta it holds dearest, with a politicians eroding parental carbon tax opposed by its rural rights. base, a law requiring workplace- Parent Judy Arnall says the safety rules on farms and tax NDP's move goes beyond Wis• hikes that have stung the dom, and that the NDP is enforc• wealthy. ing a stricter interpretation of the "It feels like Alberta is becom• legislation. She says, for example, ing almost unrecognizable," Mr. the government no longer allows Jean told his party. expenses, such as gym fees for Instead of appealing to Martha physical education teaching, and Henry, the fictitious couple thereby limiting what parents created by former premier can provide for their kids. Ralph Klein as a symbol of aver• "Parents are very worried that age Albertans, Mr. Jean said the this is a slippery slope to shutting Scott Arnall is home-schooled by his mom Judy and could be following in the footsteps of two of his siblings who NDP is instead seeking to down parent-directed home edu• were also taught by their mom at home and have since graduated from university, JEFF MCINTOSH/THE GLOBE AND MAIL engage "Leap Manifesto authors cation," she said. Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis." Ms. Arnall teaches her kids are spent legitimately." outpaces that in British Colum• The report also found some sal• The Leap Manifesto is a far- through Calgary's Third Acade• The provincial government bia. For example, just 2,247 chil• aries related to Trinity and Wis• reaching document that would my, a secular private home- allotted $8-billion to its educa• dren were registered in B.C.'s dom's two main families ban all future pipelines. The schooling operation. Four of her tion department this year. Of public and independent home- alarming. It said total compensa• federal NDP voted to send the five children have graduated high that, $i55-million is set aside for schooling systems in 2015-2016. tion to all members of the two manifesto to local associations school under her instruction. Two accredited private schools, such Alberta Education Minister clans exceeded $2.76-million over for discussion earlier this year. have graduated university, one as Trinity and Third Academy. David Eggen dismisses allegations three years. Ms. Notley and her lieutenants will finish this year and the School boards and private he shuttered Trinity for reasons Wisdom did not return several quickly repudiated the docu• fourth intends to go soon. She schools that supervise a home beyond spending and accounting. calls from The Globe and Mail ment. has been at this 19 years. education program are provided "My job is to ensure that public seeking comment. Wildrose members will debate Ms. Arnall is part of a new $1,670 a year per student, and at money is being spent as it should Trinity and Wisdom issued policies over the weekend group of parents called the Alber• least half of that is supposed to be," he said in an interview on statements on Thursday, address• drawn from the federal Conser• ta Home Education Parents Socie• be offered to parents to offset Thursday. ing some of the government's al• vative Party, as well as a return ty (AHEPS). It is holding its first qualifying expenditures. Parents involved with Trinity legations. to the dogmas of Ralph Klein, annual meeting this weekend in Bricks-and-mortar public and Wisdom say the move came "Trinity and Wisdom deny the among them reinstating a flat Calgary. Families started AHEPS schools receive approximately without warning. The govern• accusations (e.g. misappropria• income tax, repealing the car• in the summer to lobby the $6,500 a student, as do charter ment said it long ago told Trinity tion of funds) coming from bon tax, ending government government because they worry schools, as a base amount. Private its practises did not comply with Alberta Education. Wisdom's subsidies of political parties and the NDP will limit their home- brick-and-mortar operations the law. holding of funds on behalf of requiring that parents be schooling opportunities. receive 30 per cent less than The province said in the report Trinity is neither illegal nor informed of sexual-identity dis• "We really need to protect par• those in the public and charter that it warned Trinity in 1997 that deceptive, a fact that is expected cussions in schools. ents' choice of curriculum and in- systern. Trinity had 13 students in its contracting structure with to be substantiated by the courts While Ms. Notley has unveiled Wisdom's system - believe the The Wildrose Leader and his NDP wants to shut down home- party view the NDP as a govern• schooling. The parents say the ment that has besieged the government action was about Alberta it holds dearest, with a politicians eroding parental carbon tax opposed by its rural rights. base, a law requiring workplace- Parent Judy Arnall says the safety rules on farms and tax NDP's move goes beyond Wis• hikes that have stung the dom, and that the NDP is enforc• wealthy. ing a stricter interpretation of the "It feels like Alberta is becom• legislation. She says, for example, ing almost unrecognizable," Mr. the government no longer allows Jean told his party. expenses, such as gym fees for Instead of appealing to Martha physical education teaching, and Henry, the fictitious couple thereby limiting what parents created by former premier can provide for their kids. Ralph Klein as a symbol of aver• "Parents are very worried that age Albertans, Mr. Jean said the this is a slippery slope to shutting Scott Arnall is home-schooled by his mom Judy and could be following in the footsteps of two of his siblings who NDP is instead seeking to down parent-directed home edu• were also taught by their mom at home and have since graduated from university, JEFF MCINTOSH/THE GLOBE AND MAIL engage "Leap Manifesto authors cation," she said. Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis." Ms. Arnall teaches her kids are spent legitimately." outpaces that in British Colum• The report also found some sal• The Leap Manifesto is a far- through Calgary's Third Acade• The provincial government bia. For example, just 2,247 chil• aries related to Trinity and Wis• reaching document that would my, a secular private home- allotted $8-billion to its educa• dren were registered in B.C.'s dom's two main families ban all future pipelines. The schooling operation. Four of her tion department this year. Of public and independent home- alarming. It said total compensa• federal NDP voted to send the five children have graduated high that, $i55-million is set aside for schooling systems in 2015-2016. tion to all members of the two manifesto to local associations school under her instruction. Two accredited private schools, such Alberta Education Minister clans exceeded $2.76-million over for discussion earlier this year. have graduated university, one as Trinity and Third Academy. David Eggen dismisses allegations three years. Ms. Notley and her lieutenants will finish this year and the School boards and private he shuttered Trinity for reasons Wisdom did not return several quickly repudiated the docu• fourth intends to go soon. She schools that supervise a home beyond spending and accounting. calls from The Globe and Mail ment. has been at this 19 years. education program are provided "My job is to ensure that public seeking comment. Wildrose members will debate Ms. Arnall is part of a new $1,670 a year per student, and at money is being spent as it should Trinity and Wisdom issued policies over the weekend group of parents called the Alber• least half of that is supposed to be," he said in an interview on statements on Thursday, address• drawn from the federal Conser• ta Home Education Parents Socie• be offered to parents to offset Thursday. ing some of the government's al• vative Party, as well as a return ty (AHEPS). It is holding its first qualifying expenditures. Parents involved with Trinity legations. to the dogmas of Ralph Klein, annual meeting this weekend in Bricks-and-mortar public and Wisdom say the move came "Trinity and Wisdom deny the among them reinstating a flat Calgary. Families started AHEPS schools receive approximately without warning. The govern• accusations (e.g. misappropria• income tax, repealing the car• in the summer to lobby the $6,500 a student, as do charter ment said it long ago told Trinity tion of funds) coming from bon tax, ending government government because they worry schools, as a base amount. Private its practises did not comply with Alberta Education. Wisdom's subsidies of political parties and the NDP will limit their home- brick-and-mortar operations the law. holding of funds on behalf of requiring that parents be schooling opportunities. receive 30 per cent less than The province said in the report Trinity is neither illegal nor informed of sexual-identity dis• "We really need to protect i)ar- those in the public and charter that it warned Trinity in 1997 that deceptive, a fact that is expected cussions in schools. ents' choice of curriculum and in• system. Trinity had 13 students in its contracting structure with to be substantiated by the courts While Ms. Notley has unveiled structional methods," she said. "A its physical school in Cold Lake, Wisdom breached the legislation. in the days ahead," the pair said. plans for a cap on emissions lot of people think home educa• and about 3,500 at home. The After reviewing the associa• Ms. Miller, now 23, is a Masters from the oil sands and a carbon tion is textbooks and workbooks, government is encouraging par• tion's 2013-2014 audited financial student in the University of Otta• tax to help win approval for [but] it can be anything from ents to sign up with alternate statements, the province again wa's political studies program. pipelines, Mr. Jean's Wildrose games to video games to text• school authorities. Students un• informed Trinity its contract with She could not get into university base rails against any conces• books." der 16 must be registered with a Wisdom and evaluation methods with her Wisdom credentials, so sions to what it perceives as At the same time, she is sym• school. did not follow the law. The de• she took extra classes. elite interests in Montreal and pathetic to the parents who Trinity and Wisdom issued partment said it raised concerns "It is not about taking choice Toronto. taught under Wisdom, and to the statements asking parents to with Trinity for two years. away from parents," she said. "It He told his party that Alberta Alberta government as it faces "await the intervention of the The association's inability to is about ensuring that kids don't is being "ripped off" by other criticism. "I feel bad for the par• courts prior to taking steps to provide proper accounting fall through the cracks, and if provinces. "And what have we ents, but I think the government find new placements for their sparked the department's more they chose to go to university, got in return? Sewage-dumping is our gatekeeper and they do students." intense review this summer, the they have been adequately pre• mayors in Montreal attacking need to ensure that tax dollars Home-schooling in Alberta far province said. pared for that." our pipelines," he said.

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