Community
Education is an opportunity for local citizens
and community schools, agencies and institutions to become
active partners in addressing education and community concerns.
The
community education process brings community members together
to identify and link community needs and resources in a
manner that helps people to raise the quality of life in
their communities.
It
is an educational philosophy, which embraces the
belief that education is a life long process.
Everyone
in the community, individuals, business, public and private
agencies, shares responsibilities for the mission of educating
all members of the community.
Citizens
have a right and a responsibility to be involved in determining
community needs, identifying community resources and linking
those needs and resources to improve their community.
Community
Schools in British Columbia are elementary or secondary
schools with a special emphasis upon the belief held by
residents and staff in the value of community involvement.
A Community School is an exciting approach to the integration
of a local school with the neighbourhood that it serves.
These schools strive to involve local residents in a variety
of ways.
Each
school has a Community School Advisory Council, a body which
consists of parents, community residents, staff and agency
representatives. This council promotes free exchange of
ideas, identifies local needs and participates in decision-making
and feedback in areas of local concerns.
There
are over eighty officially designated community schools
in British Columbia today and others are operating from
this model that have yet to win official recognition. They
are primarily funded by you, the people, through the Provincial
and Municipal taxes. In some areas, other public agencies
contribute to their support. Each Community School employs
a Community School Coordinator to assist the community to
realize the following objectives:
- the
utilization of the total resources of the community to
enhance the development of basic learning skills
- the
encouragement of community participation and involvement
- the
effective utilization of school facilities for people
of all ages
- the
development of a working relationship with public and
private agencies the development of the school as a resource
for the whole neighbourhood.
