Update Thursday, March 18: Doretta Wilson, the Executive Director of SQE has also written an article on their blog in response to Mr. Little’s criticisms.
Original post starts here: If anyone wants to read an example of progressive ideology, an intolerance for differing points of view combined with the inherent belief that progressives have of their own righteousness, read this column by Doug Little in his “Little Education Report.”
The ultimate “fear factor” threats made by progressives against conservatives are: “privatizing zealot,” “right winger” or a capital “C” “Conservative.” Or, worse yet, mention Mike Harris, the former Premier of Ontario and John Snobelen, the former Education Minister. Still the bogeymen of Ontario, fifteen years after they came to power and eight years after they retired.
more…
Earlier this afternoon, the database (from Crux of the Matter) crashed and the site had to be completely rebuilt. However, it took three more attempts to download the entire XML file, combined with cleaning out some infected files, before it was back up. Some posts are lost as the new directory only goes back to June 2007. Regardless, the good news is that “The Retired Educator” did not have to retire early.
I totally agree with the editorial in today’s National Post (h/t Jack) — that the country’s privacy laws are there to protect ordinary citizens against the intrusion of government and large corporations and identity theft — not to protect those who would abuse the public trust and hard earned taxpayers dollars. Yet, apparently the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC):
“refuses to divulge the identity of any scientist who runs afoul of its research or financial-accountability guidelines. The council insists Canada’s Privacy Act has tied its hands, and so it cannot ‘out’ so-called ‘rogue researchers’ without violating the alleged culprits’ rights. This is twisted logic.”
Absolutely, it is twisted logic. If ordinary citizens can be charged with fraud, why not those who receive NSERC grant money? I know from personal experience, for example, that there are university “ethics” and “management” guidelines that grant holders are supposed to uphold.
So, there should be no excuses for researchers to be hiding behind privacy laws. Period!
c/p Jack’s Newswatch.
First posted on December 9th, 2009 and updated recently, my thanks to U.S. based academics Drs. Howard Margolis and Gary Brannigan for featuring my article on “How to write a college/university essay.“That acknowledgment is very much appreciated.
I would encourage regular readers to check out their site and their recent book at this link, as well as my review about that book. Also, a hat tip to a reader using the handle “Anti-Spin” for his or her suggestions in a comment on the original “essay” thread — which led to the most recent revisions.
For some time now, I have had Brad W’s blog on my list of “education” favourites. Brad is a high school English teacher somewhere in Ontario. His site is professional, precise, thorough and technologically advanced. In other words, his students and colleagues are lucky to have him.
Anyway, for educators and English literature students everywhere, it’s called “The Lamppost” and can be found at www[dot]thelamppost[dot]ca/blog.
Recent Comments