Learning with the Olympics
We’ve been warned not to say anything publicly that could make our board or school or identifiable colleagues look bad in any way. I don’t think I’m doing that here.…
Marie Snyder
On Flag Waving
The twin-cities, Kitchener and Waterloo, have both decided to put a rainbow flag inside city hall for the duration of the Olympics rather than fly one outside the building. From…
On Mesothelioma: Dying to be Heard
Today isn’t just Groundhog’s Day, it’s “Lung Leavin’ Day” – a commemorative day sparked by Heather Von St. James who had her lung removed eight years ago today due to…
Further to York University’s Discrimination Issues…
If you haven’t heard, a York University prof denied a student’s request to work in all male groups for religious reasons. York’s Centre for Human Rights suggested the student should…
The Tao of Environmentalism
At Politics Respun, Stephen Elliott-Buckley suggests we make decarbonizing our New Year’s resolution. In a fit of frustration, I commented thusly: What does it look like to join you? I…
On the New Math
Elizabeth Renzetti has a funny and somewhat insightful article in the Globe & Mail today about our obsession with math. In a nutshell, we’re equating math with jobs. She says,…
On Self-Obsession and Self-Hatred
Today some students were discussing Victoria Secrets models. Some of the girls have significant contempt for the women that show off the latest fashions in lingerie. It’s curious to me…
An Eco-Conservative?
Conservative MP Peter Braid, my MP, broke ranks and admitted that this weather we’re having here and elsewhere is definitely linked to climate change. Is this another sign the party…
Teacher Blogging Challenge Meme
I had a neighbour question my blogging habits. I told him I love to get my thoughts down in writing. He scoffed, “But why put it out there for others…
On Fear of the Worst Thing and First-World Anxiety
I just successfully transferred four years of family photos onto albums on-line that got shipped to my home as big colourful books. Then I breathed a huge sigh of relief.…
On Our Continued Sexual Repression
Sherlock & John I watched the first episode of the new season of Sherlock last night. There’s a sub-plot with no spoilers here: John Watson gets engaged to Mary. Mrs.…
2013 Ideas in Review
Facebook bombarded me with everyone’s highlights of 2013 this morning, and I was struck with the urge people have to track the value of time spent by listing stuff they…
On Saying "Merry Christmas!"
I’ve come across a few recent bits of writing from people who think we should do away with “Merry Christmas.” Even though I’m an atheist, I love Christmas, and I…
On Driving Into a Wall
Have you seen Inside Job? It’s a great film about the ins and outs of the mortgage crisis all in layman’s terms so even I could get my head around…
On John Stuart Mill, Free Speech, and Climate Change
I got caught up in a few arguments about climate change recently that just reinforced to me, that there’s still such a strong bashlash against the entire idea that we’re…
On Celebrating History
I’ve got a funny story. A while ago – like months – a colleague asked if I’d do some website or advertising work of some sort for a sesquicentennial event…
Stoic Environmentalism
I’m doing the Stoic Week thing this week. It’s just a matter of contemplating specific quotations each day. Even though I studied them years ago, and teach about them even,…
A Little Hope is Effective…
A lot of hope is dangerous. – President Snow This may be a little hokey, but I think Catching Fire is an important film to see right now. And it’s…
On Alain de Botton
de Botton Alain de Botton wrote one of my favourite under-praised books, Status Anxiety. I also quite like using his Consolations of Philosophy in my class as an additional resource…
All for Nought
It’s kind of a riddle: there are 5 essential learning components in the course. A student did two with an average of 68, but stopped working and hasn’t handed in…