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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday February 6, 2009 - 5 Catholic trustees eyeing standardized religion testing By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Despite concerns expressed by senior staff, Halton's Catholic school board trustees want to explore using a standardized test to measure how much students know about their religion. Faced with a staff report recommending the board not move forward with such a test, trustees opted to send staff back to do further research on assessment tools. "I think we should welcome the chance to implement something like an EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) test to objectively measure our religious literacy," said Oakville trustee Anthony Danko. "It brings an external testing agent in to audit our religious education program." He suggested the test could provide information on how well the overall program is working and address concerns that students aren't learning enough basic facts about Catholicism. Board superintendent Rick MacDonald told trustees that he believes the multiple choice and cloze test developed by the National Catholic Education Association in the United States evaluates a limited number of the skills that would be considered important in a well-rounded religious education. He added that the board's religious curriculum is approved by the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, and wouldn't be adjusted on the basis of test results. Director of Education Michael Paulter told trustees that the test is likely more useful for small religious schools in the Religion and Family Life courses. United States that don't have the program Despite staff comments, several trustees suggested it development or assessment expertise and would be useful for the board to have a better understandresources that large Ontario Catholic ing of the religious facts that students are learning. school boards have available to them. "Our view is that the test, while valid, is probably narrow in its focus and would probably seek to address one piece of a fairly broad program," he said. "I would hesitate for us as a system to embrace a strategy that would appear to endorse purely the content of our faith-based system." Staff also suggested that the current assessment of student skill, provided by through marks and anecdotal comments Glen Oaks provides everything you need for final from teachers, provides the board with the arrangements... with a Chapel, Reception Rooms, ability to evaluate its students' success. Crematorium and mature Cemetery - all at one location! Over the last two years, the board's At your time of need, or when planning ahead, Grade 4 and Grade 7 students have averrely on our trusted specialists. aged about 75 per cent in the required Discover the convenience. Experience the trust. Call now for a FREE Information Kit: (905) 257-1100 Ou t-of-Town Ser vice & or t p Air GLEN OAKS MEMORIAL GARDENS Cemetery, Crematorium, Mausoleum, Memorial Chapel & Reception Centre OAKVILLE UNITED TAXI 3164 Ninth Line (Hwy. 403 & Dundas St.), Mississauga/Oakville www.glenoaks.ca Wishing you a Safe and 0% finance* Happy Family Day. with factory DVDs at no charge EXPERIENCED DRIVERS YOU CAN DEPEND ON · · · · · Airport Flat Rates Out-of-Town Service Regular In-Town Service 10% Discount On Parcel Service GPS Computerized Dispatch · · · · · Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles Corporate Accounts Welcome Airport Customer Wake-Up Service 10% Senior Discount - In Town More Than 60 Taxis In Our Fleet PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS 905.338.0044 If you are interested in joining our team, please call 905-338-1762 24 hour · 7 days a week 2009 Volvo XC90 AWD *Offer valid from January 3 to February 28, 2009 on applicable new 2009 XC90's in dealer inventory. No charge in Headrest DVD players applicable to XC90 only. 0% finance applicable to new C30's and XC90's for 60 month terms only. Sample finance, $10,000 borrowed for 60 months at 0%, equals payments of $166.66 per month for 60 months. Financing provided through VCFS (Volvo Car financial Services) up front to approved customers only. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. For further details please contact Volvo of Oakville.