Showing posts with label Alberta Teachers' Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alberta Teachers' Association. Show all posts
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Mike and Mandy Married at the Muttart!
Friday, December 14, 2012
Another Day of Mourning
I don't often remark upon the day's tragedies. I avoid doing so for a couple of reasons: I have little wisdom to offer that hasn't already been said elsewhere, and there's so much sadness in the world that if I remarked upon each instance there would be nothing else to talk about.
My original plan for today was to blog about having just wrapped up the popular culture course I was tutoring online for MacEwan University. It wasn't until after sending a thank you note to Leslie for providing my first teaching opportunity that I turned my attention to the news and learned about the violence against children and teachers in China and the United States. It's hard to write something upbeat after reading those stories.
My recent work for MacEwan and the Alberta Teachers' Association has done a lot to put me back in touch with the educational experience. Over the last few weeks I've renewed and deepened my respect for teachers and my long-held belief that students deserve the best possible public education our society can provide. It goes without saying that schools and universities should be safe places for learning and freedom of expression.
Statistically, of course, the odds of being assaulted or murdered at school remain low. Any public policy should be guided by research, not emotion. But statistics are cold comfort to the victims and their families.
2012 was a violent year, all across the world.Surely the human family can do better.
We should start by paying closer attention to mental health. For years, Alberta's Auditor General harshly criticized our provincial government for not properly funding mental health care. Even here, in arguably the richest province in the richest country in the world, we are failing a significant percentage of our citizens because so many of us share the attitude that mental illness can somehow be overcome with will power, or the problem isn't real, or it's less significant than cancer or heart disease or other ailments. Early detection and treatment of mental illness would prevent a whole host of debilitating social problems. Ignoring mental illness causes the kinds of awful tragedy we see today, along with everyday misery with incalculable cumulative impact.
We cannot call ourselves truly civilized in a world where children are assaulted and the mentally ill go untreated. May time and the love of friends and family comfort those around the world who lost someone today.
My original plan for today was to blog about having just wrapped up the popular culture course I was tutoring online for MacEwan University. It wasn't until after sending a thank you note to Leslie for providing my first teaching opportunity that I turned my attention to the news and learned about the violence against children and teachers in China and the United States. It's hard to write something upbeat after reading those stories.
My recent work for MacEwan and the Alberta Teachers' Association has done a lot to put me back in touch with the educational experience. Over the last few weeks I've renewed and deepened my respect for teachers and my long-held belief that students deserve the best possible public education our society can provide. It goes without saying that schools and universities should be safe places for learning and freedom of expression.
Statistically, of course, the odds of being assaulted or murdered at school remain low. Any public policy should be guided by research, not emotion. But statistics are cold comfort to the victims and their families.
2012 was a violent year, all across the world.Surely the human family can do better.
We should start by paying closer attention to mental health. For years, Alberta's Auditor General harshly criticized our provincial government for not properly funding mental health care. Even here, in arguably the richest province in the richest country in the world, we are failing a significant percentage of our citizens because so many of us share the attitude that mental illness can somehow be overcome with will power, or the problem isn't real, or it's less significant than cancer or heart disease or other ailments. Early detection and treatment of mental illness would prevent a whole host of debilitating social problems. Ignoring mental illness causes the kinds of awful tragedy we see today, along with everyday misery with incalculable cumulative impact.
We cannot call ourselves truly civilized in a world where children are assaulted and the mentally ill go untreated. May time and the love of friends and family comfort those around the world who lost someone today.
Sunday, December 09, 2012
A Pair of Superb Teachers
Friday, October 05, 2012
World Teachers' Day
In 1994, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inaugurated World Teachers' Day to recognize the crucial contributions of teachers around the world. Today is the perfect day to consider the men and women who helped shape our lives: the teachers who helped us discover the beauty of math and science, the wonder of art and creativity, the richness of language, the exhilaration of sports and physical activity, the fascination of history and perhaps most importantly of all the value of inclusion, tolerance, fair play and compassion.
I was lucky enough to grow up with dozens of wonderful teachers from kindergarten through university. I have many favourites, but if forced to choose one I would have to pick Mr. Istvanffy, my grade eight social studies teacher and mentor in the gifted program at Leduc Junior High School.
The Canadian political system was part of the junior high social studies curriculum back then, and one day we were engaged in a discussion of the leading political figures of the day. I don't remember the exact context anymore, but then-BC premier Bill Vander Zalm came up as an example of one sort or another. I said something positive about him, being a young and foolish right-ish leaning guy at the time, and Mr. Istvanffy said "So in your view, is style more important than substance?" And I replied "Absolutely." Mr. Istvanffy gave a little shrug, said "Okay," and moved on to another student.
I immediately felt ashamed, because I could sense Mr. Istvanffy's disapproval even though he hadn't voiced it. Afterward I visited Leduc's public library to learn all I could about Vander Zalm's policies and discovered that while I might have appreciated his charisma, his governance was something else. That was my first small step to the left on the political spectrum, but more importantly, Mr. Istvanffy helped me understand the importance of research and critical thinking. For years I've wished I could tell him that he helped me grow up a little.
On another occasion, Mr. Istvanffy was trying to make a point about how ignorance can lead to bad decision making. "Earl!" he said, "Do they need roads in Ural?"
Unfortunately for the purposes of the discussion, I actually knew the answer, mostly because playing Risk made me curious about the various place names on the board game's map. I knew that Ural needed roads because of the Ural Mountains and various other geographical and political challenges faced by the then-Soviet Union.
Mr. Istvanffy rolled his eyes and said something like "Okay, let's move on to someone other than Earl..." But I could tell he was happy despite his point being somewhat blunted.
I was genuinely shocked when Mr. Istvanffy asked me to join the school's Hi-Q team. (Hi-Q was a Reach for the Top-style trivia show for younger teens, produced at Edmonton's ITV studios.)
"Um, well, my general knowledge isn't very good," I stammered.
"Earl, your general knowledge is excellent," Mr. Istvanffy said in a tone of voice that brooked no argument. (Our team made it to the quarter-finals; I still have the medal somewhere.)
Perhaps without meaning to, Mr. Istvanffy taught me that I shouldn't be ashamed of being smart. I almost wrote "above average" just then so I guess he wasn't completely successful. Nonetheless, his humour, kindness and eagerness to challenge his students helped me learn not only about politics and history, but how to question my own assumptions and take pride in my own accomplishments. I've never forgotten Mr. Istvanffy, and I'm grateful for that year in grade eight social studies.
Today's Edmonton Journal (and, I believe, the Calgary Herald) ran an advertising feature produced by the Alberta Teachers' Association to celebrate World Teachers' Day, including three articles by yours truly. I consider it a privilege to have contributed in this small way to World Teachers' Day, my humble thanks to the dozens of teachers who opened up new worlds for me and so many other students.
I was lucky enough to grow up with dozens of wonderful teachers from kindergarten through university. I have many favourites, but if forced to choose one I would have to pick Mr. Istvanffy, my grade eight social studies teacher and mentor in the gifted program at Leduc Junior High School.
I immediately felt ashamed, because I could sense Mr. Istvanffy's disapproval even though he hadn't voiced it. Afterward I visited Leduc's public library to learn all I could about Vander Zalm's policies and discovered that while I might have appreciated his charisma, his governance was something else. That was my first small step to the left on the political spectrum, but more importantly, Mr. Istvanffy helped me understand the importance of research and critical thinking. For years I've wished I could tell him that he helped me grow up a little.
On another occasion, Mr. Istvanffy was trying to make a point about how ignorance can lead to bad decision making. "Earl!" he said, "Do they need roads in Ural?"
Unfortunately for the purposes of the discussion, I actually knew the answer, mostly because playing Risk made me curious about the various place names on the board game's map. I knew that Ural needed roads because of the Ural Mountains and various other geographical and political challenges faced by the then-Soviet Union.
Mr. Istvanffy rolled his eyes and said something like "Okay, let's move on to someone other than Earl..." But I could tell he was happy despite his point being somewhat blunted.
I was genuinely shocked when Mr. Istvanffy asked me to join the school's Hi-Q team. (Hi-Q was a Reach for the Top-style trivia show for younger teens, produced at Edmonton's ITV studios.)
"Um, well, my general knowledge isn't very good," I stammered.
"Earl, your general knowledge is excellent," Mr. Istvanffy said in a tone of voice that brooked no argument. (Our team made it to the quarter-finals; I still have the medal somewhere.)
Perhaps without meaning to, Mr. Istvanffy taught me that I shouldn't be ashamed of being smart. I almost wrote "above average" just then so I guess he wasn't completely successful. Nonetheless, his humour, kindness and eagerness to challenge his students helped me learn not only about politics and history, but how to question my own assumptions and take pride in my own accomplishments. I've never forgotten Mr. Istvanffy, and I'm grateful for that year in grade eight social studies.
* * *
Today's Edmonton Journal (and, I believe, the Calgary Herald) ran an advertising feature produced by the Alberta Teachers' Association to celebrate World Teachers' Day, including three articles by yours truly. I consider it a privilege to have contributed in this small way to World Teachers' Day, my humble thanks to the dozens of teachers who opened up new worlds for me and so many other students.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Altario's Finest
The second of my articles for the Alberta Teachers' Association is available online:
Altario's Finest - Five decades of service to Alberta's students
Altario's Finest - Five decades of service to Alberta's students
Monday, August 20, 2012
Brick by Brick
I've been doing some freelance writing while I'm between full-time gigs, and the first of those pieces is now online. Thanks to Kim Dewar and the Alberta Teachers' Association for the opportunity, and to Mike Somkuti for being a great interview subject!
Brick by Brick: How one Edmonton teacher uses Lego to build knowledge
Brick by Brick: How one Edmonton teacher uses Lego to build knowledge
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