The State of Oregon, in America, has decided to allow students to use spellchecking software on state exams… OK – there are numerous reasons why this is a bad idea. This is bad like letting students use calculators without forcing a severe “proof of capability” test on them to make sure they don’t NEED the …
Category Archive: Education
Oct 24
First Nations history in the schools
Recently, my daughter came home with homework that asked the question “Why should we learn about the histories and cultures of the First Nations?” She had begun to answer this in essay form, and asked me to read it. I was frustrated by the instruction she had clearly received at school, as it seemed to …
Oct 21
America in Color from 1939-1943
This is an exceptional photo essay at the Denver Post. Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943 – Plog Photo Blog.
Oct 16
“Multikulti” has failed
I hope that Pierre Trudeau is rolling in his grave! Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, has openly declared: And of course, the approach [to build] a multicultural [society] and to live side-by-side and to enjoy each other… has failed, utterly failed. I have waited a long time to hear a major world leader say this. …
Oct 16
Gender Segregated Schools
Isn’t it interesting that segregating schools for the benefit of girls improving in math and science was pushed hard by many in the education establishment, doing the same for boys who have fallen behind in many areas is frowned upon? I would agree with many of the statements in today’s National Post, such as: Girls …
Aug 22
The Clash of Civilizations
Ayaan Hirsi Ali has written a very good explanation of Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations as it applies to the modern world. She rightly explains that: Our civilization is not indestructible: It needs to be actively defended. This was perhaps Huntington’s most important insight. The first step towards winning this clash of civilizations is to understand …
Jun 21
When Failure Should Not Be An Option
In the script for the movie Apollo 13, one of the sayings fundamental views of the people working during the program was distilled into the quote “Failure is Not an Option”, and was spoken by Ed Harris, playing Gene Kranz. Kranz notably used it to title his autobiographical history of the events. But the lesson …
Jun 11
Really, Mr. Flaherty?
Nothing like destroying the incentive to work hard and save for your own retirement… In Victoria Friday Mr. Flaherty fanned the flames further when he told executives that citizens who have saved enough for retirement will eventually be asked to help those who haven’t. So, what you are saying is that if I save lots …
May 28
Canada must encourage innovation
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A report in the Economist shows that Canada is not doing enough to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation: Why does Canada not have lots of “new firms” patenting new ideas? Norway and the Netherlands are both smaller than Canada, so I would hope Canada was at least in the same ballpark as Germany and France… Now, …
Apr 28
Good science vs outspoken parents
PBS’s Frontline had a very good documentary this week, discussing the dispute that has raged for the last 12 years or so regarding the safety of vaccination, particularly with regard to the misguided belief of some people that autism can be caused by adverse reaction to the vaccines. I commend Frontline for staying on the …