NATIVE CHILDREN ASK UNITED NATIONS TO PROBE EDUCATION PROBLEMS

Article Reflection

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1005122--native-children-ask-united-nations-to-probe-education-problems

Talaga, T. (2011, June 8). Native Children ask United Nations to probe education

            problems. Retrieved from http://thestar.com

            Although this article does not deal with standardized testing or teacher accountability, it does cover an important issue of educational accountability – that of First Nations education. Specifically, this article deals with the Canadian government’s accountability or lack thereof to its First Nations population and the United Nations with respect to children’s rights, lives, and education.  It presents a number of problems in reserve schools across Canada such as mice that eat lunches, no playgrounds or doors that close properly, a lack of school supplies, book or gym supplies, which were identified by students in a letter as part of a report to the United Nations. This report requested the United Nations to launch an investigation into the historical inequities of native education.

            I chose this article because it highlights the fact that the government has been held unaccountable up to this point in meeting its constitutional/jurisdictional obligations of providing First Nations children with proper access to education. The Canadian government has clearly failed in meeting its ethical obligation of providing a proper schooling system to First Nations children, which is above all safe and equitable. It is quite shocking to me that the Canadian government and its bureaucracy have failed to show an ethical responsibility or ethical accountability to one of the most vulnerable segments of its population – children. This failure is quite sad, and it seems incompatible with our societal values of equality and our political values of good governance.

            I found this article to be relevant because it underlines the fact that national governments are now accountable to not only their people, but to global bodies as well.  The First Nations Report entitled, “Our Dreams Matter Too: First Nations’ children rights, lives and education” was submitted to the U.N. Committee of the Child.  As a member of the U.N., Canada is accountable to meeting all agreements dealing with human rights, children, and education of which it has been a signatory. First Nations leaders hope that the U.N. will order what is known as an “Article 45” review exploring inequities in education, child welfare and health-service delivery on reserves.  It is rather unfortunate that a report had to be submitted to the U.N. Committee of the Child before there was any significant media focus on this issue, or government declarations to view this issue as a priority. It is certainly hard to believe that we let this happen here in Canada.