On Betsy DeVos in Ontario
Betsy DeVos is coming to talk to the Minister of Education, apparently to learn about our schools. Let’s hope the meeting just goes in that direction. When she was first…
Teaching
On Having the Lowest Graduation Rates
This recent article in my local paper tells us that our region is lowest in the province for graduation rates. ON FIFTH YEAR RATES They worry that “Students who did…
The Plight of the Millennials
Further explanation here. First, a bit about statistical norms and the normal distribution. In social sciences, for something to be considered a statistically significant characteristic of a group, it just…
A wacky idea for getting more value from university administrators: pay them less and never mind competitiveness
PHOTOS: Alberta Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt serving pancakes at yesterday morning’s Premier’s K-Days Breakfast on the south lawn of the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton. Below: Just to stick with…
On Petty, Self-Serving Teachers Taking Sick Days
A timely local article (timely for what I’m going through) in the Record, discusses the horrors of teachers who are allowed to have paid sick days – or that’s how…
If We Could Be as Smart as Frogs
I regularly tell students about our likely future. It’s often met with skepticism, so I provide lots of citations from the IPCC and NASA. Then I sometimes get a lecture…
On Rising Anxiety Rates
A couple weeks ago, CBC ran an article about a high-school guidance counsellor, Boyd Perry, concerned with the increase in anxiety in students, and I’ve been dwelling on it ever…
On Rising Anxiety Rates
A couple weeks ago, CBC ran an article about a high-school guidance counsellor, Boyd Perry, concerned with the increase in anxiety in students, and I’ve been dwelling on it ever…
On Becoming a Woman – Mid-Life Edition
When I was around ten to fourteen, we were all inundated with information about our bodies – all the ins and outs of the magical, wondrous things that were just…
On Becoming a Woman – Mid-Life Edition
When I was around ten to fourteen, we were all inundated with information about our bodies – all the ins and outs of the magical, wondrous things that were just…
On Obama
I don’t agree with everything he did, but I love the way he did it. Obama was (is – he’s not dead) a classy guy. He’s a role model for…
On Obama
I don’t agree with everything he did, but I love the way he did it. Obama was (is – he’s not dead) a classy guy. He’s a role model for…
On Sugar and Socialization
An Agenda discussion on sugar use is timely for me. I typically let students eat something small and healthy in class to tide them over until lunch, but, in one…
On Sugar and Socialization
An Agenda discussion on sugar use is timely for me. I typically let students eat something small and healthy in class to tide them over until lunch, but, in one…
More on Critical Thinking
Owen at Northern Reflections wrote about Crawford Kilian‘s recent article in the Tyee about the need for critical thinking in schools, which referenced Jeet Heer‘s twitter essay on Sartre where…
More on Critical Thinking
Owen at Northern Reflections wrote about Crawford Kilian‘s recent article in the Tyee about the need for critical thinking in schools, which referenced Jeet Heer‘s twitter essay on Sartre where…
Is This the Sixth Estate?
The “Fourth Estate” is an antiquated term for unofficial social and political forces, primarily the media. Use of the term recognized, over two centuries ago, that the media affect social…
The Irony of Advocating for A/C in Schools
This was a hot start to the school year. I taught a few classes with sweat dripping off my face as I spoke animatedly and enthusiastically about my courses. It…
Fixing French Immersion
The Agenda with Steve Paikin had a segment on French Immersion in the schools this week. The panel raised some interesting points but neglected a few issues. A Bit of…
On That Time I Fell and Hurt My Head
I fell on ice a few days ago. My feet were swept clear out from under me, and apparently I injured my brain. At the hospital, they said it's either…