MiddleClassCentrist

I've read it on multiple occasions. Since I have young lads I've been paying more attention to education issues. Last time I read it was on nationalpost.com in one of their articles talking about McGuinty government's recent bout with teachers. Referencing the "inconvenient truth" that students in unionised environments do better. Quick Google: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/answer-sheet/guest-bloggers/how-states-with-no-teacher-uni.html

For example... (just want a job to see what you were getting at for more responsibility)

If my wife and I could afford it, we'd consider home schooling. Public school can do a fine job but it's current state in Ontario is raising a generation of lazy dults who can't meet deadlines or have any structure. Making matters worse, there is this strange idea that we need to put students with behavioural or mental disabilities into the classroom with regular children. These behavioural and mental disabilities in the regular classroom slow and disrupt the environment for everyone.

Only ideologues believe otherwise.

Different school boards have slightly different compensation rates. Top pay is now over 90k in all boards. Teacher pay starts fairly low for a professional with a degree and professional certification - around 45k. Their pay increases gradually to get to 90k after between 10 to 13 years depending on the board. To reach top pay is not difficult by any means (4 year honours degree + an extra teacher course puts you on the grid to 90k+), you don't even need to be actively teaching your honours speciality to receive top pay. Elementary is even more wish washy for how pay level is assigned because teachers aren't assigned by subject speciality, IMO elementary especially needs to be fixed.

I think it's kind of silly to differentiate beach and court volleyball... Should we have salt and fresh water swimming? Meh, people only like beach to oogle the bodies anyways. May as well let the pole dancers get in

That's never in the government's interest to do so. Keeping enrolment high keeps anti-union sentiment strong with the younger ones who come in and see phys ed teachers who work 3 hours and 45 minutes a day, don't coach and take home over 90k (when they MIGHT make 40k in private sector job they are qualified for). While the younger teacher is willing to take difficult classes and enjoys coaching.

My wife has been trying to get in. The degree of nepotism is atrocious. A friends daughter graduates and gets hired over someone who actually makes a good teacher. Can't even get on the supply list because it's being filled with relatives and friends. In this job shortage you'd think that system would benefit because only star teachers would get hired... yet the people getting the jobs aren't the stellar candidates who work well with difficult kids, or develop a strong repor to be able to deal consequences and still maintain a working relationship with kids. They have human kinetics (useless) degrees and know an administrator somehow, or go get drunk with other teachers. Seniority at least means that the person who has been trying to get in must be considered before that family member that just graduated. That is why the Catholic union argued for it. Their system is even worse for nepotism.

Now, I'm of the belief that they should just retire. But... In most professions you can retire, and then come back as a "consultant". Why should teaching be any different?

When you break down unionized vs. non-unionized, students in unionized environments outperform those that come from a non-unionized teaching environment. That's an inconvenient truth for ontario teacher haters.

I enjoy visiting Toronto coming down from the 400 now and then. I enjoy going the opposite way of people desperately trying to flee the city up to Wasaga and Cottage Country on weekends. Makes it more enjoyable to visit not having to fight the traffic. It's nice to go down but, only for an overnight stay at most. The living conditions as a guest in Toronto condos are sub par and the parking is ludicrous (Though, still cheaper than using the GO)... People have this strange emotion that being around important events makes them important too. Mostly subconsciously. I have family members who were talking about how nice it was to be out with all these other people... People who you'll never care about, or talk to, likely shove you out of the way to get by you. They have depression issues too though, so I guess it's about conforming. They won't shut up about living near the core. They slag where we live when they visit. (I laugh to myself, because they aspire to own an 800-1000sqft concrete box when I own a 1400sq ft semi at half the cost of their box... also within 15 minutes walking distance to groceries, restaurants and coffee shops)) Ironically, they never go to any Toronto events... yet supposedly everything that's going on is what makes it great. I don't get it. Deep down inside I suspect it's more jealously and rationalizing their expensive lifestyle. To each their own.

I had a good link that I can't find anymore. Toronto was cheaper that most places. I found this old one... http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/349083--property-tax-calculator 500k in Toronto -> $3054.63 Grabbed some at random Oakville -> $3863.35 Markham - > $3929.84 Newmarket -> $4533.99 Pickering -> $5618.25

Odd... they still have among the lowest (if not the lowest) property taxes in the province. (which comes from municipal funding) If they brought them up to par they'd be able to afford these police and then some!

Often just performed for idiocy though. "I want my son to look like his father" ... Because they are comparing wangs all the time, right? "That mother I know is very sensitive about her decisions and advocates that others get it done to make herself feel better about the choice she made" (This is reality of the dicussion) "For Profit Medical Corporation that performs circumcisions conducted a study saying they provided benefit... " Yeah, and Coke can be part of a healthy lifestyle and Kentucky Fried Chicken can be a family's attempt to "Eat Better".. (lol). I really don't know how Americans can trust their for profit health care... It's like trusting the guy selling you a used car working off of commission. The majority of people have absolutely 0 reason to get a circumcision. Unless you are trying to raise a manslut/pornstar and want them to have a lot of unprotected sex with promiscuous women/meth addicts. IT should be up to the individual to decide later in life. Female circumcision is illegal. Involuntary male circumcision should also be illegal.

Toronto already has ridiculously low property taxes. (25% lower or more in many cases) Raise the taxes and make them pay for it themselves. If they want to live there, they should pay. It really is that simple. Toronto already siphons off enough of the province's revenue for a variety of reasons.

Yep. That's exactly what they are and need to be treated as such.

Not under Canadian law... You get charged with murder for shooting a criminal who wasn't actively trying to shoot you.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/story/2012/06/19/edmonton-enbridge-crude-oil-leak-athabasca-pipeline.html ANOTHER OIL SPILL!!! ... Those corporations sure are protecting the environment without regulations... May as well have no regulations at all.

Absolutely. If I worked at that school I'd have an opinion piece on the first day that was fairly easy. Tell the students that's their mark if they don't hand anything else in. A's for everyone!

Note: Manufacturing brings money into the country. The occupations listed just move it within the country.

The irony was lost on the MSM that reported it.

I don't know why he would... But, I wanted to see him be dumb enough to let it happen.

I'm a little disappointed. The election talk seems to have fizzled.

I don't know who I'd vote for but the issue you mentioned is a sticking point. It makes sense to absorb the segregated school system into the public system. Huge efficiencies would be gained. We could set up Tech schools again. Right now it's hard to have specialization when there are two boards splitting the kids. Increased costs of transportation, consultants, non classroom specialists and beaurocrats. (The stuff least associated with successful school programs) I'm sure there are a few people who do like McGuinty. That number is low. Ontario wants a better option, someone just has to provide it. I think we are more likely to end up with a PC government if an election occurs IF Hudak markets himself properly. "A Different type of conservative, a PROGRESSIVE conservative." instead of "One of the good ole' boys, Harper, Ford and Hudak BFF Forever"

Haven't the conbots already claimed that the NDP was pro-hitler because the CCF leader was a pacifist even though the party voted for the motion to go to war. I think the comparison to the reform/alliance is more relevant being within fairly recent history. I don't personally make that association though. I look at their recent actions.