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calgary boasts world-class public educationNew Year’s is a time to take stock of one year and make promises for the next. Since we were children, we’ve learned this is a time for reflection and personal “report cards.” Though we may be conditioned to focus on resolutions to improve, we should not take our assets for granted. Calgary is one of the greatest cities in the world. The Economic Intelligence Unit is an international think-tank that rates cities based on factors like health care, infrastructure, culture and environment. In 2011, Calgary was fifth in the world. The success is a tribute to another factor the think-tank evaluates: education. Calgary has one of the best public education systems in the world. This is not an idle claim by someone who is proud and honoured to lead learning for more than 104,000 students. This fact is supported by student performance data from around the world. The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a collaboration among member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. To understand and illuminate factors that contribute to student success, PISA measured skills considered to be core outcomes of education in 65 countries. The most recent report compared the performance of 15-year-olds in reading, math and science. In all three subjects, Canada was in the top 10 and, in all three subjects, the performance of Alberta students was better than Canada’s. If Alberta was a country, our students ranked fourth in the world in science, fifth in reading and 10th in math. Canada is a top country for students to learn. Within Canada, Alberta leads among provinces. Within Alberta, Calgary students lead. The performance of Alberta students is measured annually by Grade 12 diploma exams and provincial achievements tests for Grades 3, 6 and 9. In 2011, students in Calgary’s public system exceeded provincial averages in 43 of 48 measures. The success of our public education system is a tribute to vision and commitment. In 1903, a Calgary school board trustee declared that “Calgary should take a high stand in educational matters and make itself known as such and get on the right footing now.” A century later, we are fulfilling this bold vision. It is a tribute to our community, our parents and guardians, our teachers and everyone else who contributes to learning. This weekend, as most Calgary students prepare for their first school day of 2012, we can take great confidence knowing their learning is outstanding. As a community, in this year and all that follow, let us resolve to prize public education. It is at the heart of what will make Calgary a world leader for decades to come. (published in the Calgary Herald, Jan. 9, 2012) Naomi E. Johnson
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