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Don't Overdo It

There Is Too Much Edu-Babble

No discussion of edu-babble would be complete without mentioning the overused phrase “hands-on learning.” If this term means that students should be able to acquire their learning in life-like, direct, even tactile, ways, we agree that this is one way to learn. After all, who would seriously advocate “hands-off” learning, especially when we know, for example, the value of demonstrations, laboratories, and apprenticeships? But, hands-on learning is frequently used to favor project-style methods and to disdain whole-class, direct instruction or lecturing as being too verbal or abstract.

In The News — September 2, 2010
Giving Lousy Teachers The Boot

On Friday, Michelle Rhee, chancellor for the District of Columbia schools fired 241 teachers -- roughly 6 percent of the total -- mostly for scoring too low on a teacher evaluation that measures their performance against student achievement. Another 737 teachers and other school-based staff were put on notice that they had been rated "minimally effective." Unless these people improve, they too face the boot.

The mass dismissals follow a landmark agreement Rhee negotiated with the Washington Teachers Union (WTU) at the end of June. The quid pro quo was this, says the Wall Street Journal:

o Good teachers would get more money (including a 21.6 percent pay increase through 2012 and opportunities for merit pay).

o In exchange, bad teachers could be shown the door.

At the time, many gave the teachers union credit for approving this deal. Here's how another New York-based newspaper described the contract:

"Teachers' unions around the country are realizing that they can either participate in shaping reforms or have others' reforms forced upon them. The latest example comes from Washington, where the union has wisely negotiated and ratified a contract that gives the city greater leeway to pay, promote or fire teachers based on performance."

The danger, of course, was always that the taxpayers would make good on the money, but the promised accountability would never materialize. In this case, however, the accounting has begun. Apparently Rhee is a lady who means what she puts her name to, says the Journal. The same cannot be said for the other side:

o WTU President George Parker told the Washington Post that the union would appeal the firings -- and he threatened to file an unfair labor practice complaint with the District.

o Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, accused Rhee of "stubbornly adhering to the destructive cycle of 'fire, hire, repeat.'"

Jeanne Allen, president of the Center for Education Reform, a national voice for charters and school choice, says the responses from union leaders show they are not used to dealing with a chancellor willing to call their bluff. "The union has been given so much credit for 'coming to the table,'" she says. "But if you really believe what you signed, you don't then announce to the local paper you are filing a grievance when the other side tries to make good on that contract."


Source: William McGurn, "Giving Lousy Teachers the Boot; Michelle Rhee does the once unthinkable in Washington,"
Wall Street Journal, July 27, 2010.

See More "In the News"


Political Boundaries are Irrelevant to Economic Interests

Do political boundaries have economic relevance? The discussion over “our” Potash Company in Saskatchewan has brought this question to a head this week. Most of the resentment of foreign investment stems from fear of the unknown. In my home town, Auckland International Airport was subject to a bid from the Canada Pension Plan. The only people who won were the small minded people who think nationalism trumps other people’s freedom; let’s not make the same mistake with Potash Corp.

Join us weekly across the prairies for our hard hitting policy commentary broadcast across the Goldenwest Radio Network - Click here for a list of 13 stations and broadcast times.

Research Associate Michael Zwaagstra was on a panel including Brian O'Leary, Superintendent of Seven Oaks School Division and Pat Isaak, President of the Manitoba Teachers' Society interviewed on Richard Cloutier Reports August 30th on CJOB. (~56 mins)

~56 min 

August 31, 2010 — Back to School 2010 (CJOB)
Do political boundaries have economic relevance? The discussion over “our” Potash Company in Saskatchewan has brought this question to a head this week. From the Frontier Centre's weekly radio commentary that runs in 3 prairie provinces.

~2 min 

August 27, 2010 — Political Boundaries are Irrelevant to Economic Interests
Michael Zwaagstra, Research Associate for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, was interviewed by John Gormley. (17 minutes)

~17 min 

August 25, 2010 — What’s Wrong With Our Schools (CJME)
Audio of speech given to Lunch on the Frontier, Regina, August 23, 2010.
Research Associate Michael Zwaagstra asks, whatever happened to common sense in education? Whether it is the lack of content in some school curricula, the anti-testing ideology promoted by many educators, the no-fail policies that have been enacted by some school boards, or the pervasiveness of what might be described as 'edu-babble,' there is growing concern with some of the more recent policies and practices in many Canadian public schools.

~27 min 

August 25, 2010 — What’s Wrong With Our Schools (Michael Zwaagstra - 27 minutes)
Schools should spend less time trying to be at the cutting edge of every educational fad and more time looking at ways to raise academic standards.  From the Frontier Centre's weekly radio commentary that runs in 3 prairie provinces.

~2 min 

August 20, 2010 — Specializing In Educational Nonsense
Frontier's research associate, Michael Zwaagstra, will be on The Charles Adler Show with guest host Roy Green to debate Annie Kidder of People for Education about whether standardized testing should be put on hold in the province of Ontario. (~15 mins)

~15 min 

August 18, 2010 — Is Standardized Testing Necessary? (Corus)
It would be more constructive for groups like the Sierra Club that favour aggressive environmental regulation to reflect on the origin of the SUV boom, in which regulation played a big role. From the Frontier Centre's weekly radio commentary that runs in 3 prairie provinces.

~2 min 

August 13, 2010 — Unintended Consequences of Regulation
Stuart Donovan was interviewed on Calgary Today on CHQR AM 770 August 10, 2010. (~9 mins)

~9 min 

August 11, 2010 — Thinking Beyond The Daily Commute - CHQR
Stuart Donovan was interviewed on CFAX AM 770 August 10, 2010. (~13 mins)

~12 min 

August 11, 2010 — Thinking Beyond The Daily Commute - CFAX Victoria
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl should take Atleo up on his offer and begin negotiations to replace this oppressive piece of legislation immediately. From the Frontier Centre's weekly radio commentary that runs in 3 prairie provinces.

~2 min 

August 6, 2010 — Call For End To Indian Act A Good Sign
Research Associate Michael Zwaagstra was interviewed on The Roy Green Show on the Corus Radio Network July 18, 2010. (~25 mins)

~24 min 

July 29, 2010 — What's Wrong With Our Schools? (Corus Network)
By making the long form census voluntary, the Federal government has created a firestorm.  It might be interesting to look at how other countries are handling their censuses.  From the Frontier Centre's weekly radio commentary that runs in 3 prairie provinces.

~2 min 

July 29, 2010 — How Other Countries Count

Latest Publications

Reflected Sunlight Shines On IPCC Deceptions And Gross Inadequacies

— August 30, 2010

Sadly, there are many factors affecting climate change that the IPCC ignore or underplay to achieve the political result that human CO2 is the sole cause. [T]hey ignore many variables and admit they know little about the ones they study. It is a total abrogation of scientific and social responsibility to let these results form the basis for draconian and destructive energy and environmental policies.



There Is Too Much Edu-Babble

— August 27, 2010

Students, parents and teachers are being overwhelmed by “edu-babble.”



The Housing Bubble: The Economists Should Have Known

— August 27, 2010

"It is truly astonishing to watch how determined the economics orthodoxy is to defend its inexcusable, economy-wrecking performance in the run up to the financial crisis. Most people who preside over disasters, say from a boating accident or the failure of a venture, spend considerable amounts of time in review of what happened and self-recrimination. Yet policy-making economists have not only seemed constitutionally unable to recognize that their programs resulted in widespread damage, but to add insult to injury, they insist that they really didn’t do anything wrong."



Canada Trails In Legalizing Pot Debate

— August 25, 2010

“Drugs, prostitution and illegal gambling are all activities that bring harm in many instances to individuals, families and communities and many feel they are immoral. But, one needs to look at the unintended consequences of prohibiting all these activities. People will always want to do these things and criminals often reap the benefits because they can provide them at exorbitant prices and people will still pay.”



Test Often, Raise Standards, Manitoba Educator Urges

— August 24, 2010

"Zwaagstra believes that curriculum content isn't specific enough, academic standards in schools are not strong enough and that schools shouldn't possess a no-fail policy. He went on to say that our school system has an anti-testing bias and that there isn't a balance of standardized testing and teacher-created assessment."



Climate Change and History; Uncertain Weather, Uncertain Times

— August 23, 2010

As the average location of the Arctic air front moved inexorably toward the Equator the Jet Stream meandered further north and south so temperature and precipitation fluctuated widely from year to year. It also resulted in more blocking systems so that instead of weather patterns changing on a 4 to 6 week cycle in the middle latitudes they became prolonged to 12 weeks and longer. This meant in many years it became difficult to tell summers from winters.




Recent Updates


View More Policy Notes

Policy Notes - A One Page Policy Discussion

2010-08-27 – There Is Too Much Edu-Babble

2010-08-25 – Canada Trails In Legalizing Pot Debate

2010-08-20 – A Pass Should Be Earned

» View More Policy Notes

View More Frontier Backgrounders

Frontier Backgrounders - Short Analyses

2010-06-02 – Saskatchewan’s Commercial Crown Corporation Dividend Policy

2010-04-22 – Aboriginal Policy in Australia and Canada

2010-03-30 – The Shape of Tomorrow's Farming

» View More Frontier Backgrounders

View More Perspectives

Perspectives - Thoughts from the Advisory Board...

2010-08-27 – The Housing Bubble: The Economists Should Have Known

2010-08-23 – Vancouver: Moving to the Suburbs

2010-08-11 – Greenpeace's Carbon Footprint Takes Wing

» View More Perspectives

View More Policy Series

Policy Series - Longer Reports & Studies

2010-08-10 – Winning the Battle with Traffic Congestion

2010-07-21 – Public Policy: An Introduction

2010-07-12 – Culturally-Driven Violence Against Women: A growing problem in Canada’s immigrant communities

» View More Policy Series

View More Conversations

Conversations - with Policy Innovators

2010-07-07 – Robert Nault, Former Minister of Indian Affairs

2010-06-29 – Sonja Boehmer-Christiansen, Geomorphologist

2010-06-16 – Ian Plimer, Author of Heaven and Earth

» View More Conversations

View More Special Reports and Publications

Special Reports and Publications

2010-06-27 – Leading Experts Rapidly Endorsing 'Climate Scientist's Register'

2010-02-23 – 2010 International Property Rights Index: Canada outranks USA; but Improvements Needed

2010-02-01 – Behind The Classroom Door

» View More Special Reports and Publications

View More Rural Renaissance Notes

Rural Renaissance Notes

2010-08-19 – Climate Changes, Grain Exports and A New World Order in Food

2010-04-01 – Is Our Food Safety System Broken?

2009-09-02 – How U.S. Protectionism is Killing Canada’s Livestock Producers

» View More Rural Renaissance Notes

View More PowerPoint Slides from Events

PowerPoint Slides from Events

2010-04-06 – Democratization of Capital Markets

2010-03-08 – Where Are Aboriginal Affairs in Canada Headed?

2010-03-03 – The Myths of Photo Radar Exposed

» View More PowerPoint Slides from Events

View More Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

2010-08-12 – East Side Still The Best Bet

2010-07-21 – To Kick Their Illegal Tobacco Habit, First Nations Need Other Opportunities

2010-07-15 – Bipole Debate is Charging Manitobans Up

» View More Aboriginal Voices from Ground Zero

View More Worth a Look

Worth a Look - In our Virtual Library...

2010-08-30 – Milked By Taxis

2010-08-26 – 'Real Warriors Hold Jobs'

2010-08-25 – Political Reversal Down Under

» View More Worth a Look

View More Modern Environmentalist

Modern Environmentalist

2010-08-30 – Reflected Sunlight Shines On IPCC Deceptions And Gross Inadequacies

2010-08-23 – Climate Change and History; Uncertain Weather, Uncertain Times

2010-08-06 – Destroying Biodiversity

» View More Modern Environmentalist

View More Charticles

Charticles - A Graphical Look at Issues

2010-05-07 – Secretiveness Still a Defining Feature of Many Band Governments

2010-04-30 – Majority of Band Residents Report Political Meddling in Businesses

2010-04-23 – Sizable Minority of Reserve Residents Do Not Feel Safe From Arbitrary Government

» View More Charticles

View More Frontier Centre in the Media

Frontier Centre in the Media

2010-08-24 – Test Often, Raise Standards, Manitoba Educator Urges

2010-08-23 – Corporate Welfare Unrepaid, Bureaucrats Unrepentent

2010-08-16 – Look What's Coming Down The Road

» View More Frontier Centre in the Media

View More Interactive Policy

Interactive Policy

2009-03-14 – The Frontier Goods & Services Interactive InfoMap

2008-09-15 – Saskatchewan Carbon Capture Opportunity Cost Calculator

2008-09-11 – Alberta Carbon Capture Opportunity Cost Calculator

» View More Interactive Policy

View More Frontier Media Appearances

Frontier Media Appearances

2010-08-31 – Back to School 2010 (CJOB)

2010-08-25 – What’s Wrong With Our Schools (CJME)

2010-08-11 – Thinking Beyond The Daily Commute - CHQR

» View More Frontier Media Appearances

View More Frontier Radio Commentary

Frontier Radio Commentary

2010-08-27 – Political Boundaries are Irrelevant to Economic Interests

2010-08-20 – Specializing In Educational Nonsense

2010-08-18 – Is Standardized Testing Necessary? (Corus)

» View More Frontier Radio Commentary

View More Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

2010-08-25 – What’s Wrong With Our Schools (Michael Zwaagstra - 27 minutes)

2010-06-09 – Un-Equalization - David MacKinnon on The Agenda

2010-06-07 – Standardised Testing, Transparency, Local Autonomy

» View More Frontier Audio (Speeches/Events)

View More Frontier Recommended Audio

Frontier Recommended Audio

2010-07-14 – Sir Roger Douglas: How to Tame A Deficit

2010-05-26 – Nisga'a Real Estate (CBC The Current)

2010-05-17 – Alberta Private Health (CBC - The Current)

» View More Frontier Recommended Audio

View More Frontier Channel - Video

Frontier Channel - Video

2010-05-26 – Aboriginal Policy Fellow Don Sandberg on Residential Schools

2010-05-26 – Aboriginal Policy Fellow Don Sandberg on Residential Schools

2010-04-09 – Aboriginal Policy Fellow Don Sandberg on the vexed topic of Rigged Band Elections

» View More Frontier Channel - Video

View More Frontier Recommended Video

Frontier Recommended Video

2010-08-17 – Fighting Gangs in Alberta

2010-08-16 – Magic Highway

2010-07-22 – The Case for Eliminating Capital Gains Tax

» View More Frontier Recommended Video

Feedback @ Frontier
RE: Culturally-Driven Violence Against Women: A growing problem in Canada’s immigrant communities — July 19, 2010

Thank you for your excellent column in the Toronto Star, July 15.
What you're saying needs to be said, and it doesn't appear that anyone else has the intelligent grasp of it that you have.
I like how you said that even among the most well-meaning advocates for female equality tends to preclude discussions of cultural values and traditions, because I know a woman just like that, extremely well-informed and intelligent, but not beneath stepping far, far back when culture is thrown into the mix.
Thanks again for your thorough and truthful article.
Please keep up your advocacy and your teaching of us, the public, of this very real and deadly clash of cultures/ideology.
- E-mail from Toronto

RE: It's Time To Focus On Healing — July 14, 2010

I refer to your column in the Winnipeg Free Press on July 9th, "It's time to focus on healing", where you appear to encourage moving on in the Residential Schools issue. Over the years I have spoken to a considerable number of former staff members, teachers and students from the Indian Residential Schools and I can assure you, from my perspective, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will discover very little of the truth they are seeking and there will never be a true and full reconciliation. The "truth" in this matter is something other than that which is propagated and promulgated by aboriginal leadership, governments, churches and the media. more -- E-mail from Bill Steele, Winnipeg

RE: Why You Pay a Fortune for Airline Tickets — January 12, 2010

I was extremely impressed with your article about the lack of competition among North American air carriers. I fly within Europe fairly frequently and I am endlessly astonished by their low "domestic" prices in comparison with ours. Keep making noise Mark Milke! You hit the nail on the head. Who knows? Maybe one day the  Canadian  governments will wake up its slumber and truly support the competitive spirit it purportedly supports! Good for you! -- Email from Eric Scott, Montreal

RE: Let’s Dance the Dutch Minuet on Schools — March 31, 2003
The Frontier Centre's highlight on the Dutch Education System demonstrates that our current education model and governance structure can be changed to achieve better performance, accountability, and value for both students and taxpayers. Only those with vested interests, fear of change, and/or disbelief in the room for improvement would be afraid of learning from the success of others. - E-mail from S. Mark Francis, Winnipeg, March 31, 2003
RE: Climategate: Who’s In Denial Now? — January 4, 2010

Regarding Ken Green’s article, "Who's in denial now", which appeared in the Dec 28 Calgary Herald, I congratulate, and thank, him for a very well written, thoughtful, and truthful comment on climategate and the reprehensible agenda of the global warming frauds. -- E-mail from Calgary

RE: The Case for Taxi Deregulation — February 24, 2009
This article is dead-on. Taxi “medallions” are now trading at $100,000 in Edmonton. Original purchasers feel it is their “right” to have a $100,000 retirement fund. No one talks about the purchaser (who mortgages everything to pay the $100,00) and his “right” to a retirement fund. The entire mess is the result of legislators - who are ignorant of the most fundamental laws of economics – and who have little ability to think logically. Thank you. -- E-mail from Edmonton
RE: Garden Chemicals — March 25, 2005

What are Mr. Penner’s qualifications and research experience in the area of pesticides and their impacts on ecosystems and biota? Mr.Penner has a diploma in agriculture and is a farmer. He has been an avid propagandist for the hog industry in the province, espousing its benign impact on the environment. His credibility in this area is therefore minimal, relying on hearsay and propaganda from the proponents of spray and pray agriculture which current biological knowledge and modern agricultural ecology clearly indicates is on its way out. - Bill Paton, Brandon

Read more and Rolf Penner's response

RE: New Housing Model Emerging — March 16, 2005
Promote Hernando DeSoto's book "The Mystery of Capital" - Email from Nanaimo, B.C.
RE: Five Reasons to Doubt Clima-geddon — August 13, 2009
Ken Green makes a gross understatement when he states: "Climate alarmists don't have extraordinary evidence." The only evidence for global warming caused by CO2 emissions is a 23-year period from 1975 to 1998 during which rapidly increasing emissions are concurrent with increases in global temperatures. Prior to this was a 33-year period of global cooling contemporaneous with a 16-gigatonne per year increase in CO2 emissions due to postwar industrialization, and prior to that was a 32-year period of rapid warming with only half a gigatonne per year of emissions increase. More . . . -- Letter to the Editor, Calgary
Frontier Flashback
Senate Hearing a Chance for Bold Change
The other challenge is in hearing from voices not usually heard, as parliamentary hearings are usually titled towards voices and organizations that possess deep pockets and organizational strength. Grassroots band members are not as organized or wealthy as band leaders, but they are the ones most affected by band-level corruption.
Hope Possible in D.C. and on First Nation Reserves
Robert Nault’s proposed Governance Act -- which is merely dormant, not dead—should be resurrected. That Act, against which chiefs nation-wide fought so vigorously, would finally ensure accountable and transparent governance on our reserves. If change can come to Washington D.C. and to Norway House, Surely it can come to legislation in Ottawa.
A Conversation with David Gratzer
Medical Savings Accounts would be a way of addressing this concern. Basically we have corrupted the doctor/patient relationship in our healthcare system and when you do that you open up a "Pandora's Box" of perverse incentives - most importantly, for the patient to over-consume health resources and for the doctor to over-provide them. The only way you can really get around that is to re-attach some financial consequences to the doctor/patient relationship. MSA's do it; MSA's are the way of providing universal care in Singapore since 1984.
Pelletized Grass—Harvesting Solar Energy Instead of Fossil Fuels
Higher prices are the best boon for the renewable energy sector. Rather than shower it with subsidies and interventions, places with the most flexible and deregulated markets are witnessing a boom in “green” energy production based on wind and solar. That’s also where the energy infrastructure of the future is being refined and manufactured.
Back to the Drawing Board
Homework is an important part of the schooling process and it would be better to reform and improve its use than to abolish it entirely. As a result, school boards should seek to resist the pressure by some groups to ban its use entirely. Such a move would be an unfortunate step backwards and a disservice to our students.
A conversation on fighting poverty with Mark Chamberlain, entrepreneur, business and community Leader
I think what government needs to do less in some respects is think that they are the solution. And I know they are voted in and we apply a lot of pressure to governments to suggest that it’s their job to fix the economy, it’s their job to fix poverty, it’s their job to deal with the environment but, governments are simply reflections of us and they don’t control all the pieces in the solution. They are not the education system, they are not the civil society, they are not the hospital system, they are not business.
Media Release - Frontier Centre releases 2009 Aboriginal Governance Index
The Frontier Centre's has released the results of the third annual Aboriginal Governance Index; it evaluates First Nation communities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and now Alberta, in the Index for the first time, and where a reserve scored first place this year and took home our $50,000 Big Bear prize.
Media Release - Manitoba’s Public Sector is Larger, More Expensive than Most
In the Maritime provinces, comparably significant savings for taxpayers could be achieved by bringing the size of their public services into line with the national average. For example, Newfoundland, a province with a population of just 500,000, spends $125 million each year more than they would pay if the size of the province’s public service were reduced to match the national average.
Nerd Advice on Education
Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

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Don't Overdo It

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Thu September 2, 2010

Link to Prairie Weather


SymbolCurrent Price
Canadian $0.9485
US $1.0543
S&P/TSX12078.91
Dow Jones10300.12
NASDAQ2194.39
Crude Oil73.46
Uranium52.00
Potash147.495