Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Oct 24th 2008 | 7:42 am
#61
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From: White Rock BC
Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
The times I have heard the term middle-class used here it has been a very broad class that encompasses just about everyone who makes a living - maybe 95% of households.
The terms blue collar and white collar may be closer to the English working class and middle class, but the terms aren't synonymous.
The terms blue collar and white collar may be closer to the English working class and middle class, but the terms aren't synonymous.
Oct 24th 2008 | 7:44 am
#62
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Oct 24th 2008 | 7:47 am
#63
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Gryph
Oct 24th 2008 | 7:51 am
#64
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
I completely agree with your last paragraph. We have recent experience of this. Last year our son started JK, at the local school which was within easy walking distance for us. My OH, upon whom the duty usually fell, was able to chat to other local parents and strike up some great friendships with them - and also was able to put faces to names when discussing our son's friends with him.
This year the board has reorganised the local schools due to shifting demographics, with the result that the lad is bussed down the road to a different school. Another relatively new family on our street has a daughter who's just started at the same school; she has met almost none of the other parents in her daughter's class and very few of her classmates. While the daughter is very happy, it hasn't helped the mother to feel at home in the community. Other parents on the street (there are 5 families whose kids catch that bus, but no others in this year's JK intake) have of course helped where we can, but I can understand why it feels somewhat isolating to have interaction with other parents only at the bus stop rather than in the schoolyard.
Ooh, I've been assimilated into the Canadian Borg... I said "schoolyard" rather than "playground" and didn't even notice until after I'd posted...
This year the board has reorganised the local schools due to shifting demographics, with the result that the lad is bussed down the road to a different school. Another relatively new family on our street has a daughter who's just started at the same school; she has met almost none of the other parents in her daughter's class and very few of her classmates. While the daughter is very happy, it hasn't helped the mother to feel at home in the community. Other parents on the street (there are 5 families whose kids catch that bus, but no others in this year's JK intake) have of course helped where we can, but I can understand why it feels somewhat isolating to have interaction with other parents only at the bus stop rather than in the schoolyard.
Ooh, I've been assimilated into the Canadian Borg... I said "schoolyard" rather than "playground" and didn't even notice until after I'd posted...
I agree- and it was kind of the point I was trying to make. We made loads of friends in the school yard, hanging around afterwards etc. These are now people we spend our weekends with etc.
Oct 24th 2008 | 8:10 am
#65
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
I actually find it quite odd. The British class system has a lot to answer for BUT on the whole in most state schools up and down the country (maybe excepting parts of London and Surrey) there are poor kids. I honestly don't think there is one poor kid in our local school (and from what I know of lots of local suburbs that's quite common) that said there aren't many really rich kids either. Its like mono cultural on the income level- which I find plain odd. Yes it may be classless in other ways but its strange.
It is really refreshing being less classless, until of course you hit the inevitable Brit, who is always keen to make class assumptions, which IMHO run in all directions.
Gryphea
It is really refreshing being less classless, until of course you hit the inevitable Brit, who is always keen to make class assumptions, which IMHO run in all directions.
Gryphea
Oct 24th 2008 | 8:14 am
#66
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From: Ontario
Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
That's not an issue with schools in central Toronto. My kids had classmates who went to Paris to shop for their prom dresses, staying in the family apartment there, and others who lived in the Regent Park tenement. I think it's true farther out though, I doubt there are any poor kids in Leaside schools or rich ones in Rexdale schools.
Oct 24th 2008 | 8:16 am
#67
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
I actually find it quite odd. The British class system has a lot to answer for BUT on the whole in most state schools up and down the country (maybe excepting parts of London and Surrey) there are poor kids. I honestly don't think there is one poor kid in our local school (and from what I know of lots of local suburbs that's quite common) that said there aren't many really rich kids either. Its like mono cultural on the income level- which I find plain odd. Yes it may be classless in other ways but its strange.
It is really refreshing being less classless, until of course you hit the inevitable Brit, who is always keen to make class assumptions, which IMHO run in all directions.
Gryphea
It is really refreshing being less classless, until of course you hit the inevitable Brit, who is always keen to make class assumptions, which IMHO run in all directions.
Gryphea
Oct 24th 2008 | 8:26 am
#68
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Oct 24th 2008 | 8:27 am
#69
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Oct 24th 2008 | 9:27 am
#71
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Oct 24th 2008 | 10:15 am
#72
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
Oct 24th 2008 | 10:54 am
#73
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
And we walked most days (minus around about 5-10 days) until I started work in March!!!
Oct 24th 2008 | 10:58 am
#74
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From: La Prairie, nr Montréal
Oct 24th 2008 | 11:02 am
#75
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Re: Does Canada have the same 'grammar school desperation'?
