In the shadow of the US Government’s massive subprime lending bailout, the House of Representatives passed legislation HR 5244, better known as the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008. Designed to curb the growing torrent of credit card consolidation and bankruptcy filings, the bill bans or limits several lending practices, including:
Increasing the [...]
Filed under: Society by Cynapse
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If parents and educators want to stress more of “the basics” in public schools, something is going to have to give because the school day and the school curriculum are just too crowded. It’s odd, really, how people will complain that the education system does not respond to public input and pressure when, in actual fact, [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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There can be power in labels, both positive or negative because labels can predetermine beliefs and expectations about people, a phenomenon that is often referred to as the “pygmalion principle.” While this article is primarily about learning disabilities in a school context (no matter what th learning level), it can also relate to an employment situation and the point that people [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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While there are definitely some Toronto parents and public school supporters who agree with the notion of an Africentric program from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, the speed at which Toronto District School Board (TDSB) trustees and members of its “advisory panel” are putting forward and approving proposals is clearly political.
For example, today’s Toronto Star editorial comment states:
“Bureaucrats at the Toronto [...]
Filed under: Education, Politics, Society by Sandy
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Congratulations to the staff and students at Britannia Elementary School on Vancouver’s east side! From a previous school ranking by the Fraser Institute of 2.8 a number of years ago, this year they made in on the honour roll with a 7.5 out of ten. Well done!
What an inspiring example of what can happen when everyone involved [...]
Filed under: Education, Society, Uncategorized by Sandy
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So, the latest census figures released by Statistics Canada tell what many of us have been saying for years, that whether you complete a trades certificate (to become an electrician, a carpenter, a plumber or a brick layer), a college diploma (for a career as a police officer or fire fighter), or a bachelor’s degree “staying in school [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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According to the Saturday edition of the Toronto Star, Louise Brown says that the Toronto District School Board is proposing to put “Canada’s first Africentric alternative school within a school — not a free-standing building — for a wing of sprawling Sheppard Public School near the northwest corner of Sheppard Avenue West and Keele Street” in Toronto.
Scheduled [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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So, when is cheating not really cheating? Has the goal post moved or is it the changing technology that is making defining cheating that much harder? And, what exactly are study groups and peer tutoring and when are they considered cheating?
For example, is it okay to work with a group of fellow students if you are working [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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Not long ago I posted articles here on what makes an excellent school and a successful principal. I also published my disagreement with the Toronto District School Board decision to fund an Africentric black-focused school. This post will deal with an excellence piece in the Toronto Magazine section of Saturday’s National Post. Written by Ben Kaplan, it [...]
Filed under: Education, Society by Sandy
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Monday’s front page of the Toronto Star featured a black-and-white photograph of a man in a military cap. Underneath were the words “Suharto: 1921-2008.” The former Indonesian president died on Sunday at the age of 86 from multiple organ failure. As his health had been deteriorating for some time, there was talk [...]
Filed under: History, Society by Emilia Liz
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