Knowledge Matters

I was cleaning off a bookshelf in my classroom when I came across a document that I had forgotten about. In late 2002, the Canadian federal government issued a policy statement called Knowledge Matters. It was a timely reflection on Canada's place in the world and the steps we need to take to maintain that place.

After The World is Flat and all of the discussions and concerns that it brought to us as educators, this document seems to have been ahead of its time. A few of the milestones statements in it include:

- Canada becoming one of the top three countries in math, science, and reading achievement.
- All young Canadians be computer and Internet literate by grade school graduation.
- All students who graduate from high school achieving a level of literacy sufficient to participate in the knowledge economy.
- Over the next decade, the number of PhD and Master's level students at Canadian universities will increase by 5% per annum.

The minority federal government in Canada has recently fallen and we are entering the time of a federal election. The vote will be held at the end of January and is vital to the success of our nation over the coming years. Concerns over the knowledge economy, the environment, health care, and post - secondary education will dominate the campaign.

At the time this document was issued, I was invited to give a presentation on it to a traveling federal committee which roamed the country for several months looking for input from educators, industry, and other occupations. I never did it. Looking back, I wish I had become more involved with this process; I would have been less surprised by Friedman. I also now wonder about the effect (or lack there of) of this document on governmental practices and educational planning. I've seen little.

An well written document, a (fairly) clear statement of need and planning. I hope not a missed opportunity.