After checking out my options, I decided on Upper Canada College, a historical all boys school (senior kindergarten to IB-grade 12). There were a few other appealing options. My next choice would have been stringing together a few options together in the downtown core. I have heard that seeing some of the smaller venues can involve waiting in lines, and if there is one thing I dislike more than waiting, it's crowds of other people (just kidding...mostly). I ruled out any of the options that are available to the public regularly. Sure, this would mean seeing a venue for free, but the really c.o.o.l. thing about Doors Open is that it's possible to see places in Toronto that are not open to the public otherwise at all.
I explored Upper Canada College on a walking tour, which was informative and interesting, with teachers and students set up at stations to share their knowledge. It was especially cool to see the boys, most of which were in grade 9, all of which were very eloquent speakers for their age.
The fact that sticks with me the most is the absurd tuition costs at UCC. Tuition for a day student is $27,000/year. I repeat: $27,000. I still can't quite wrap my head around a grade 2 curriculum that costs six times as much as a undergrad. Boarding students (parents) pay $46,000/year, which does not include books. There is scholarship assistance available, and the school aims to have 20% of its student receiving some financial assistance. The boarders are primarily foreign students, there to "increase diversity" (cool, but they must be princes!).
Learning about UCC got me thinking a lot about the debate between private and public school. Fundamentally, I just don't think it's fair for rich people to buy their sons into a fancy-smancy school but the same principle's with which I support public health care. Would I send my kids there if I had the money? Probably. I'm sure I'd buy my mom new kidneys too, if that were possible and ethical.
UCC is also interesting for it's alumni or Old Boys. Click here for a list, including Robertson Davies (author), Jim Cuddy (musician - I love Blue Rodeo), Brendan Fraser (actor - left the school after grade 11, but still touted as an Old Boy because he's famous), Michael Ignatieff (former Liberal leader), Galen Weston Jr. (of PC fame), David Russell Williams (murderer) and Conrad Black (Lord, crook, asshole).
The last stop of the tour was the principle's office and a small sit down with the man himself, Jim Power. Read his blog here. He was very well spoken, relaxed and down to earth. He mentioned trying to find the fine balance and making a school that is elite without being elitist. He agreed that the tuition fees are insane and that selecting kindergarten students on "merit" is nearly impossible. Somehow his honesty made me feel a lot better about the ludicrous price tag.
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