Education: Québec takes the floor during the 35th Session of the UNESC

[jbg]

Education: Québec takes the floor during the 35th Session of the UNESCO General Conference (link, excerpts below)

Québec’s Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, Michelle Courchesne, voiced Québec’s views during the Ministerial Round Table on Education held in Paris on October 9 and 10 as part of the 35th Session of the UNESCO General Conference. This is the first time that a Québec cabinet minister has taken the floor during a Ministerial Round Table held within the framework of a program of the General Conference, UNESCO’s main policy-setting body.

Minister Courchesne’s participation flows from an agreement between the governments of Canada and Québec with respect to UNESCO. For the first time ever, this agreement establishes a formal role for Québec within a United Nations agency.

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Minister Courchesne also took the floor during the first panel held as part of the Ministerial Round Table, speaking about the broad conclusions generated by the cycle of international conferences on education held in 2008 and 2009 at the initiative of UNESCO, and described the policies and certain tools adopted by the Government of Québec to meet these challenges.

Québec’s representative within the Permanent Delegation of Canada to UNESCO, Michel Audet, is also an active participant in work of the 35th Session of the UNESCO General Conference, in the areas of culture, science and communication. The 35th Session began on October 6 and will end on October 23. (end of excerpt)

This article raises a whole host of questions:

1. What is a province doing at a conclave of independent countries;
   
2. Why does Quebec and Canada both need representation? How is Quebec prejudiced and what do they lose if not at this event?;
   
3. What concrete gains come from events such as this one being held?;
   
4. Who is paying for this conclave;
   
5. What "broad conclusions (were) generated by the cycle of international conferences on education held in 2008 and 2009 at the initiative of UNESCO"?;
   
6. In what way do these conferences advance anyone's interests other than those junketeering to New York or whatever pleasant or exciting city the event is held in?;
   
7. What actions are generated as a result of these conference?
   

I am sure that these meetings are extremely productive and beneficial to the world. I just want to know in what way.

[Smallc]

Your Americanism is showing jbg. Quebec has a seat because they want one and they were allowed to have one because that's the way this federation happens to work. All of the provinces are sovereign entities within a sovereign entity and as such, they have extensive rights. Because Quebec has many differing policies and a different history within Canada...and because they want a seat...they have one. I may not like it (I don't have a problem with it), you may not like it, but that's the way it is.

Also, I think that international organizations like this where ideas can be shared and debated and discussed are very important. We as Canadians or Manitobans or Quebecers or Americans don't have all of the answers in any area. We can all learn from eachother.

[jbg]

Your Americanism is showing jbg. Quebec has a seat because they want one and they were allowed to have one because that's the way this federation happens to work. All of the provinces are sovereign entities within a sovereign entity and as such, they have extensive rights. Because Quebec has many differing policies and a different history within Canada...and because they want a seat...they have one. I may not like it (I don't have a problem with it), you may not like it, but that's the way it is.

That may be a good point I have to give serious thought to.

Also, I think that international organizations like this where ideas can be shared and debated and discussed are very important. We as Canadians or Manitobans or Quebecers or Americans don't have all of the answers in any area. We can all learn from eachother.

I did say that "I'm sure these meetings are highly valuable" or words to that effect.

[Smallc]

I know. I wasn't meaning anything bad by saying that your Americanism is showing, I was simply referring to the reality that exists. There are no two more similar countries than Canada and the United States....but they're still very different and it gives Canadians and Americans (in general) a different perspective....and that right there is a good reason for these types of international meetings...understanding.

[jbg]

There are no two more similar countries than Canada and the United States....but they're still very different and it gives Canadians and Americans (in general) a different perspective....and that right there is a good reason for these types of international meetings...understanding.

Then why can't that be done bi-laterally. Do we need a veritable Tower of Babble U.N. to facilitate U.S. - Canadian cooperation?

[Smallc]

We aren't the only two countries in the world though, and as good as we are, we don't know everything yet.

[WestViking]

We aren't the only two countries in the world though, and as good as we are, we don't know everything yet.

One thing we have in common is an eduation system that has been flushed down the sewer.

[Smallc]

I don't know about the US, but my Manitoba education was very good...as long as you pay attention. There's lots of help if you don't too.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Smallc

[jbg]

One thing we have in common is an eduation system that has been flushed down the sewer.

Especially when many Canadian schoolteachers don't know who Montcalm and Wolfe were (they have to learn that from an American). Spelling seems also to be a weakness.

I on't know about the US, but my Manitoba education was very good...as long as you pay attention. There's lots of help if you don't too.

Mine was good. I can even read and write, barely.