Karine Dubois, documentary producer and mother of three, sees high school shopping fast approaching for her eldest. Public? Private? Special program? More and more red flags are being raised: does this individual choice have repercussions on the system as a whole? Do our children still have an equal chance of success? Karine decides to go into the field to find the answers to her questions as a mother and a citizen.
In collaboration with
Radio-Canada OHdio
Production
Karine Dubois & Marie-Pierre Corriveau
Original Idea
Karine Dubois
Director
Christine Chevarie
Genre
Documentary podcast
Country
Canada
Original version
French
Duration
5 X 25 min
Year
2022
Episodes
S01 E01
The dilemma (Back to the Future)
Karine Dubois is the mother of Robin, who will be starting high school in a few years. She thought that choosing a high school for her eldest child would come naturally, but now she's faced with a dilemma. The people around her praise private schools and special programs... But is it really “that bad” to study in a regular public program?
S01 E02
Facing the risk
Rather than rely on hearsay, Karine takes the pulse of a typical public school, which seems to scare so many parents these days. Rumors abound about her local high school, but are parents' fears really well-founded? Karine visits the high school in question, where she talks to the staff and students.
S01 E03
The race to the schools
Karine attends an open house at a private college. The school's breathtaking offerings leave her wondering. What are the consequences of student selection for young people? She follows the journey of a trio of elementary school friends who will be going to three different schools next year, and are experiencing the same stress: admissions.
S01 E04
Snakes and ladders
Is the competitive dynamic surrounding high school admissions and retention attributable to the infamous school rankings? Karine wonders about the financing of private schools in Quebec. She's becoming increasingly aware the disturbing inequalities in the so-called three-tier system.
S01 E05
The best for my child
How can we change things? Karine meets parents who have taken action. At the end of her civic quest, she wonders how to pivot this debate from individual to collective. And what about the person concerned? Karine asks her 8-year-old son Robin, “What do you think about high school?"
Awards and festivals
2023
Winner (Bronze) – New York Radio Awards – Narrative/Documentary Podcast
2023
Finalist - Prix d’excellence en publication numérique - Meilleur balado : questions d’actualité
2023
Official Selection - T.O. Webfest
Credits
In collaboration with
Radio-Canada OHdio
Production
Karine Dubois & Marie-Pierre Corriveau
Original Idea
Karine Dubois
Director
Christine Chevarie
Screenwriting
Christine Chevarie & Martin Gagnon
Research
Alix Gagnon, Karine Dubois & Marie-Hélène Beaudry
Additional Research
Émélie Rivard-Boudreau
Editing
Martin Gagnon
Additional editing, episode 5
Vincent Guignard
Music
Jesse Gnaedinger
Sound design & mixing
Thierry Gauthier
Sound engineering
Christine Chevarie
Additional sound engineering
Karine Dubois & Stéphane Barsalou
Picbois Productions
Marie-Hélène Beaudry, Andréanne Dessureault, Cindy Labranche & Catherine Lord
