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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

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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: Your Land is not Your Land — November 21, 2007
I just read Rolf Penner's op-ed in the National Post. Great stuff! Please let me know if there's anything I can do to assist in helping Mr. Fouillard's cause or the Frontier Centre. I'm already on your mailing list and would like to get involved. E-mail from Ontario
RE: First Nations Pathologies Can't be Solved with More Government Money — February 28, 2008
I just wanted to commend you on your couragous article in the Star Phoenix this morning concerning the death of two children on the Yellow Creek reserve. I say courageous because to state this kind of truth for the record and publicly in our current political climate takes true grit and strength of character. I am not in the habit of looking writers up on the internet but I really felt compelled to comment on an article that stated the harsh truth but without disrespect and contempt. Keep up the good work. I hope it will make a difference. - Anne-Marie Hughes, letter to editor, Saskatoon Star-Phoenix
RE: Transit Disneyland . . . — May 29, 2005
One of the biggest ironies in Winnipeg municipal issues recently has been the rapid transit controversy. Here's a city that probably has the most poorly-maintained roads of any urban area of its size in North America; yet it persists in talking about another transportation mode that it likely won't be able to sustain. More . . .

- Email from Winnipeg

RE: Our Green Dilettantes — May 9, 2007
What a great article. I am in complete agreement with you regarding our subsidized Hydro. I actually did not know until just a month ago that our rates were actually subsidized to BELOW delivery cost. That's just ridiculous! And the only companies we can expect to attract with that are companies with high electricity requirements, which means we lose even more money. I don't think Manitobans are actually aware of the details of this. E-mail from Manitoba
RE: Yes Virginia, Electricity Markets Can Work — December 19, 2002
Great work. Electricity deregulation is something that needs to be explained again and again to people. Email from Calgary
RE: Frances Widdowson, Co-Author of Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry — February 13, 2009
I therefore praise the authors of 'Disrobing the Aboriginal Industry-- The Deception Behind Indigenous Cultural Preservation'. But I also acknowledge the truth of the reviewer's criticism. This country too has many who are good at analysing problems but not good at proposing solutions other than demanding yet more funds from the poor, tired, bemused taxpayer. The solutions will come from those Aboriginal people who are now accorded no power by their traditions to the benefit of the minority of corrupt and frankly criminal in their own communities and organisations. More -- E-mail from Australia
Frontier Flashback
Reinstate the Standards Tests in Grades 6, 9
All scientific achievements, both physical and social, have been dependent on the standardization of measurements. As such, few people argue that standardized accounting procedures should be discontinued, that the police should be forbidden from using breathalyzers and laser-guns, or that medical doctors should not use blood and urine tests, all of which are standardized instruments with standardized procedures. Of course, if these professionals did not use the appropriate standardized tests they could be charged with malpractice. Unfortunately, no teacher in Canada has been successfully charged with mal-teaching.
The Shape of Tomorrow's Farming
World food production must double by 2050, and production of meat and milk will more than double. Children need the key micronutrients of livestock products to prevent such diseases as pellagra and blindness due to severe Vitamin A deficiency. Their cognitive development also seems to benefit from high-quality protein. Farming intensity must triple on the best land, in order to protect the poorer land which houses three-fourths of the wild species. Good farmland will become even more important, as one of the scarcest resources.
The Economics of Subsidizing Natural Gas with Electricity Profits
Not only does the province require Manitoba Hydro to sell electricity at below market value to Manitobans, but now it will also require that it sell its natural gas at below market value. The provincial government is using Manitoba Hydro as a public policy tool to cushion the blow of market factors that are beyond its control.
Have CO2 Levels Really Increased?
A fundamental pillar of the hypothesis that humanity is causing dangerous climate change is the belief that levels of carbon dioxide have risen steadily. But what if CO2 levels have not increased? How could our emissions of this otherwise benign gas then have anything to do with the past century's modest warming of the planet?
Educating Manitoba's Aboriginals
In order for Manitoba's growing aboriginal population to participate fully in the prosperity enjoyed by non-aboriginals, they require a high-quality public school education. The priorities stressed by current government policy are not ensuring that.
Restoring Peter Lougheed’s Original Vision
In a comparison between Alaska’s Permanent fund and Alberta’s Heritage Fund, and using mid-2008 per capita figures, the Alaska fund is worth $54,514 per Alaskan while the Alberta fund is worth $4,770 per Albertan.
The Stockholm Healthcare Model In Manitoba
The model described above is known technically as the "purchaser/provider split" in service delivery. It is an easier sell for politicians, since funding remains public in this model. The critical success factor is that the monopoly disappears, replaced by a competitive, results-based model that gives patients choice.
Tie School Taxes To Performance
Yet we resolutely refuse to track student performance in any rigorous manner. A new Frontier Centre backgrounder suggests that we should adapt the FRAME template to that task, to create a new annual document called the Student Overall Achievement Report. SOAR, for short, would require the reinstatement of comprehensive standards tests in all core subject areas, but it would also include localized teacher assessments, graduation and attrition rates, and attendance. To avoid the danger of comparing apples and oranges, SOAR would also include demographic profiles of the student body and its socio-economic status.

Commanding Heights
In Canada, the conversion in thinking has been far from total. But success has usually followed when governments have stepped back. De facto monopolies in regulated industries have withered, creating a bonanza for ordinary consumers in steadily falling prices and more service choices. Look at the price of an airline ticket or a long distance telephone call today. Yet, we still have the self-chosen figuring they can run these industries better than private businesses slugging it out in the marketplace. But they are a declining, mostly aging minority.

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Thu September 2, 2010

Link to Prairie Weather


SymbolCurrent Price
Canadian $0.9485
US $1.0543
S&P/TSX12082.22
Dow Jones10289.53
NASDAQ2191.95
Crude Oil73.46
Uranium52.00
Potash147.27