Parties that don’t respect parental rights are not fit to govern

Parties that don’t respect parental rights are not fit to governOpponents of parental rights are swimming against the rising tide of public opinion The debate over parental rights has become a flashpoint in the upcoming Manitoba provincial election. The Progressive Conservatives are promising to strengthen parental rights, while the Liberals and NDP have both denounced this pledge as a “dog whistle” to bigots. One reason…

Parents must be kept in the loop about their children

Parents must be kept in the loop about their childrenPublic opinion supports New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs’ firm stance on parental notification in schools It’s not often that New Brunswick makes the national news. It’s rarer still for a New Brunswick premier to become a Canadian household name. But that’s exactly what’s happened to Premier Blaine Higgs. Last month, New Brunswick’s education minister announced…

Private sector partnerships good for public education

Private sector partnerships good for public educationPrivate sector partnerships are a great way to bring in some much-needed fresh ideas The Manitoba government recently announced it is partnering with a B.C.-based company to deliver virtual financial literacy programming in Manitoba classrooms. Starting next school year, Enriched Academy will provide lessons to about 1,500 Manitoba students on topics such as inflation, mortgages,…

How the Alberta election will impact children’s education

How the Alberta election will impact children’s educationThe two parties vying for victory in the Alberta election have vastly different approaches to education The Alberta election campaign is now underway. Polls indicate that it will be a tight race between Danielle Smith’s UCP and Rachel Notley’s NDP. With the NDP well ahead in Edmonton and with most of rural Alberta locked in…

Manitoba’s teacher misconduct bill step in right direction

Manitoba’s teacher misconduct bill step in right directionBill 35 is not anti-teacher legislation. It is about keeping students safe from predatory teachers “It is anti-teacher legislation.” That’s how Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Nathan Martindale recently described Bill 35. With a description like that, one might think that Bill 35 closes schools, abolishes tenure, or cuts teachers’ salaries. These are the kind of…

ChatGPT no reason to move away from traditional teaching

ChatGPT no reason to move away from traditional teachingChatGPT is an impressive tool, but it is just that – a tool Artificial intelligence has come a long way. Unlike the rudimentary software of the past, modern-day programs such as ChatGPT are truly impressive. Whether you need a 1,000-word essay summarizing the history of Manitoba, a 500-word article extolling the virtues of your favourite…

Bringing back Grade 12 exams makes sense

Bringing back Grade 12 exams makes senseThey provide us with important information that we can use to improve our education system The Grade 12 provincial math and English exams are coming back to Manitoba. While they were suspended for several years during the COVID-19 pandemic, the province recently announced plans to reinstate them next year. Not everyone is happy to see…

Learning styles myth needs to be rejected once and for all

Learning styles myth needs to be rejected once and for allThe learning styles myth perpetuates a falsehood about how students learn Are you a visual learner, an auditory learner, or a tactile-kinaesthetic learner? If you think this is a valid question, then you, like many others, have fallen for one of the most pervasive education myths out there. It’s not hard to test this claim…

School board meetings should happen in-person

School board meetings should happen in-personRemote meetings are often not taken as seriously as in-person meetings The Winnipeg School Division might soon allow delegates to present remotely at its board meetings. One of its rookie trustees recently introduced a notice of motion to allow this virtual option. Trustee Rebecca Chambers argues that this change would make board meetings more accessible…

How we teach reading really does matter

How we teach reading really does matterThe whole language approach to teaching reading has been devastating for students Reading is the most important skill taught in school. If students don’t learn how to read, not much else that happens there is going to matter. That’s because being able to read is essential in virtually every job. Without the ability to read,…
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