Productivity has become the raison d'etre of Western capitalist societies, supported by its fundamental principles, quantity and impact. Both of these principles have taken hold in universities, and both place "useful" applications of knowledge above exploration of the human condition, above doubting, questioning, and wondering. The…

This article provides commentary on the role of education in recent provincial elections across the country, from the perspective of four provincial school board associations.

Stubborn societal prejudices persist that inhibit this enlargement of gender roles for boys and men. Portrayals of men in popular culture tend to be brutish, ignorant, and violent--often in sexual and predatory ways. Boys in school are subjected to homophobia, racism, classism, and shame, as a means of policing their burgeoning identities and…

The Conference Board of Canada ranked us 14th out of the 17 major industrialized nations on measures of innovation, and our "productivity" track record has fared no better. Experts around the world agree that education is the key foundational building block for innovation skill development, and that the seeds of innovation--curiosity,…

British Colombia's Student Transitions Project (STP) is challenging long-held myths about the movement of students through the education system in that province and may become a catalyst for re-examining commonly held ideas about students' transition to post-secondary education across the country. The STP is a collaborative effort among B.C.'s…

Supplementary education is on the rise globally, taking many different forms, from private tutors to small schools and large corporations. These providers exist outside conventional public and private school systems, offering remedial education and tutoring, parallel instruction to conventional schools, and accelerated or more advanced…

In the contemporary world, racism is a pervasive and destructive social force both in Canada and internationally, and it is on the rise since 9/11. Although a lot of people know what racism is, many do not understand it in the same way. In this article, the author discusses a number of related concepts of racism which, in abstract social…

In this article, the authors discuss what it means to be educated in a democratic country such as Canada. They contend that the question of what it means to be educated in a democracy extends no preferential status or privilege to any individual or group. They further contend that the meaning of education is too important to be left in the hands…

Canada faces steep, yet surmountable challenges in its efforts to significantly reduce child and family poverty. Most recent data indicate that more than one million Canadian children and their families live in low-income households. Although the House of Commons unanimously resolved to "seek to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among…

Really tough ethical dilemmas in a school community come about when core values conflict. So everyone can benefit from paying attention to ethics as both an urgent literacy requirement for students, and as a unifying force in developing positive school culture. Both those reasons lay behind the founding of The Institute for Global Ethics (IGE), an…

The mid to late teen years are about as tumultuous as life can get. As such, it is not a surprise that so many young people seem to fumble their way through high school, maybe drop out altogether, and then stumble on their pathway to finding a good job. This problem was identified by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development…

Globalization poses a challenge for societies that must adapt to an ever-changing world. The Delors Report to the International Commission on Education for the 21st Century identifies the problems that globalization raises. Education must not be restricted to a narrow utilitarian role related to economic growth but must regain its political and…

This article discusses the factors that motivate parents to choose different school trajectories for their children based on their determination to find schools that fit their children's individual needs and/or interests. Research indicates that parents who focus on finding the educational experience to match their child's needs are usually…

Critical reflection is an essential element in teachers' efforts to address the social justice issues that are often part of their lived experiences and those of their students. When educators begin to examine how power, privilege, and widely accepted assumptions about their practice may be working against their goals, such as eliminating forms of…

Compares technological advancements in fishing nets and in the use of computers and information networks in education. Discusses the need for lifelong learning for survival in a rapidly changing world. Cautions that, just as technology has overwhelmed ecological good sense in the fishing industry, an omnipresent network of increasingly powerful…