It is hard to believe in today's cyber world that legislation exists banning news in a community during a by-election (SP Sept. 29/10). Better yet, that information via political advertisements cannot be aired during an election which state comments made by an elected officials if those statements are made in the legislature. It appears that voters should cast their vote without having access to information which may determine how they vote. Regardless of where the elected official made the comment, that politician should either stand by the comment or publicly withdraw the same. They should not have immunity from their comments or actions during a political campaign, either in a general or by-election.
On the other hand the Saskatchewan unions can play advertisements implying this is "their Saskatchewan" - or at least it was until the Sask Party took the helm. And certainly this advertisement makes it clear that the unions want no change to their Saskatchewan. I'm not sure where this leaves the rest of Saskatchewan residents.
I would agree that new programs or major capital announcements should not be made during a general election. But the idea that government should halt, or limit the flow of information during a by-election, flies in the face of transparency that seems to be the buzz in today's political world.
The by-election in Saskatoon Northwest will set the tone for the general election in November of 2011. Perhaps we should have exit polls and the results should be analyzed to see the effects the censorship.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Where were their heads???
After twelve years on the Public School Board I thought I had heard every inane proposal the education community could toss up, and some more than once. But the Public School Board has surprised even me with their new evaluation policy. Homework and assignments can be handed in whenever you want, or not. No penalties. And plagiarism might earn a student a request for a re-do. And if you happen to be a conscientious student, do your assignments in a timely manner and actually do your own work, there are no pats on the back.
Generally curricula are built on sequential units. As a teacher, how do you move the class forward to the next unit without knowing that your students understood the previous one? Or when June comes and no assignments have been submitted, and the system does not embrace student failure, is it just an unfortunate lost year for the student(s)?
Schools teach more than ABCs. Life skills are as vital as academics. Students learn socialization, work ethic, responsibility - or at least they used to. What can they possibly gain through this process? I think we can take a good guess at what can be lost. What about teaching consequences of actions? What about preparation for post-secondary education?
It is at times like this that the public-at-large rear their heads and ask for provincial exams to be revived.
What I don't understand is why parents allow this system to use their kids as guinea pigs.
Generally curricula are built on sequential units. As a teacher, how do you move the class forward to the next unit without knowing that your students understood the previous one? Or when June comes and no assignments have been submitted, and the system does not embrace student failure, is it just an unfortunate lost year for the student(s)?
Schools teach more than ABCs. Life skills are as vital as academics. Students learn socialization, work ethic, responsibility - or at least they used to. What can they possibly gain through this process? I think we can take a good guess at what can be lost. What about teaching consequences of actions? What about preparation for post-secondary education?
It is at times like this that the public-at-large rear their heads and ask for provincial exams to be revived.
What I don't understand is why parents allow this system to use their kids as guinea pigs.
Not in Saskatchewan
Saturday's SP (Sept. 25/10) contains an article regarding national polling wherein the Federal NDP are tied with the Green Party for voter support. John Wright of Ipsos Reid states that we are really into a two-party race now - Liberals vs. Conservatives.
We have a problem here in good old Saskatchewan. The Liberals appear to have disappeared from our landscape. Who is the Liberals candidate in the current by-election? Who is the Liberal leader?
I always felt in any election, if I didn't have a candidate that I could support, that I could always simply exercise my franchise and throw my vote at the Greens knowing it could do no harm. That may not be the case now. I expect the NDP will now have the Green leaders on speed dial and proposing a coalition of some sort. The Greens should remember how well that scenario worked for Jim Melenchuk and the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan.
We have a problem here in good old Saskatchewan. The Liberals appear to have disappeared from our landscape. Who is the Liberals candidate in the current by-election? Who is the Liberal leader?
I always felt in any election, if I didn't have a candidate that I could support, that I could always simply exercise my franchise and throw my vote at the Greens knowing it could do no harm. That may not be the case now. I expect the NDP will now have the Green leaders on speed dial and proposing a coalition of some sort. The Greens should remember how well that scenario worked for Jim Melenchuk and the Liberal Party of Saskatchewan.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Bring out the lubricant
I have always believed that the NDP was a well-oiled political machine. They could get out their vote and loyalists fell over themselves serving the party. So I don't get why the party strategists are letting the nomination process get away from them in the Sutherland constituency. According to the pundits this may be a winnable seat for the NDP. Meili came out of nowhere during the leadership race and obviously captivated the party membership. These are the people who will be working any campaign if they like the candidate.
It is not unheard of for the hierarchy of any party to contact a member seeking the nomination and request that they back off or find another constituency in run in. Its basically step aside or get stepped on.
From all appearances Meili looks like a political up and comer. Maybe that's the problem for his leader.
It is not unheard of for the hierarchy of any party to contact a member seeking the nomination and request that they back off or find another constituency in run in. Its basically step aside or get stepped on.
From all appearances Meili looks like a political up and comer. Maybe that's the problem for his leader.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Jammed, in more ways than one
As the Buckwold and Traffic bridges are currently closed, yesterday I necessarily had to go down Broadway to get downtown. It was 5:30 p.m and I expected the traffic congestion to be bad - but not horrific. As I inched my way down the avenue the realization that the city had shut down one lane on Broadway stunned me. With all the road closures and detours in the Nutana area over the past several months I couldn't believe that the sages at City Hall would add to the difficulty of moving traffic in this area during peak traffic hours.
Then I read today's SP (Sept. 22/10) on the number of vehicles in the city and had to wonder if this is a way to discourage vehicle traffic and direct citizens to public transit. If so, the only thing it will discourage is having people go downtown. Next time I agree to meet friends it will be outside of the city centre. And the big box centres are looking more appealing with each passing day.
I think council should start asking why people in Saskatchewan drive cars as opposed to using public transit. I suggest the main reason would be weather, followed by a poor public transit system. Add to the equation the fact that many people transport their kids to and from school and day care centres. When both Mom and Dad are working outside the home, they already have reduced time with their kids and are not prepared to lose any of that time waiting for a bus.
If City Council wants to discourage car use in the city, there are a few policies they should change. Quit working with the school divisions to build huge parking lots for student parking. Don't build complexes, such as the Shaw Centre, in areas that are difficult to access without a vehicle.
I am waiting for a councillor to stand up and put down a motion to eliminate the free parking passes to all councillors and city hall employees. If you want to expand City Hall, build the annex over the employee parking lot in back of the building. This, to me, would be leading by example.
And before a decision is made regarding a pedestrian/cyclist bridge only, lets use this winter to count the number of cyclists on the roadways between November 1 and March 31.
Then I read today's SP (Sept. 22/10) on the number of vehicles in the city and had to wonder if this is a way to discourage vehicle traffic and direct citizens to public transit. If so, the only thing it will discourage is having people go downtown. Next time I agree to meet friends it will be outside of the city centre. And the big box centres are looking more appealing with each passing day.
I think council should start asking why people in Saskatchewan drive cars as opposed to using public transit. I suggest the main reason would be weather, followed by a poor public transit system. Add to the equation the fact that many people transport their kids to and from school and day care centres. When both Mom and Dad are working outside the home, they already have reduced time with their kids and are not prepared to lose any of that time waiting for a bus.
If City Council wants to discourage car use in the city, there are a few policies they should change. Quit working with the school divisions to build huge parking lots for student parking. Don't build complexes, such as the Shaw Centre, in areas that are difficult to access without a vehicle.
I am waiting for a councillor to stand up and put down a motion to eliminate the free parking passes to all councillors and city hall employees. If you want to expand City Hall, build the annex over the employee parking lot in back of the building. This, to me, would be leading by example.
And before a decision is made regarding a pedestrian/cyclist bridge only, lets use this winter to count the number of cyclists on the roadways between November 1 and March 31.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A Taste of Saskatchewan
political campaigns to come is in the making. And no seat is a safe seat. Candidate Dyky threw the first salvo by trying to tie Wyant to LeClerc, although in her preamble she stated she didn't plan to focus on the LeClerc controversy. This would be the first of many disingenuous comments that will made during this campaign say I. Wyant responded with his traditional lawyerly "innocent until proven guilty" mantra although he knows that is only true in a court room not in the a political forum. The closer truth would be that Wyant is tied to pretty much every politician he can access.
I know Wyant is taking this seriously - he got a hair cut - in fact he got all of them cut. Dyky should have followed suit. Although appearances may be deceiving they do tend to impress the voter.
Lingenfelter has decades of campaigns under his belt and I think this is where we will see his skill come to roost. Wall, also well-seasoned politically, may not be as ruthless as Lingenfelter and has more to lose and much to defend. It will be interesting to see which persona is appealing to today's voter.
As a result of my few forays into the racing world, I know you're supposed to place your bet before the gate breaks. But I have a few quirky betting criteria. I like to bet the long shots, gray horses and any horse that poops just prior to the race while being paraded. (The latter criterion seems to be the only one that really works.) I missed yesterday's parade.
The race is on and it looks like . . . .
I know Wyant is taking this seriously - he got a hair cut - in fact he got all of them cut. Dyky should have followed suit. Although appearances may be deceiving they do tend to impress the voter.
Lingenfelter has decades of campaigns under his belt and I think this is where we will see his skill come to roost. Wall, also well-seasoned politically, may not be as ruthless as Lingenfelter and has more to lose and much to defend. It will be interesting to see which persona is appealing to today's voter.
As a result of my few forays into the racing world, I know you're supposed to place your bet before the gate breaks. But I have a few quirky betting criteria. I like to bet the long shots, gray horses and any horse that poops just prior to the race while being paraded. (The latter criterion seems to be the only one that really works.) I missed yesterday's parade.
The race is on and it looks like . . . .
Friday, September 17, 2010
Get with the program . .
Certain professions lend themselves to creating demi-gods. Professional sports is one of those professions.
When Edmonton signed on confessed sex offender Eric Tillman my first reaction was disgust and that this man was being rewarded for his unwanted advances on a young babysitter. His excuse of being on medication that altered his thinking came across as lame. I would be more inclined to think that his demi-god belief led him to believe that he would do whatever he wanted without repercusssions.
Then I was reminded that our social system is designed to rehabilitate offenders and put them back into society to become useful citizens. Millions of dollars are spent in prisons to counsel and offer therapy to offenders. If we do not intend to give them that second chance, then there is no point to the programs offered for rehabilitation.
The one difficulty here is that Tillman didn't go to jail and to my knowledge did not receive an rehabilitative programming.
Perhaps his new employer should have made rehab a condition of his contract. It is easy to slip back into old habits. Since he has lived a short time as a mortal, the appeal of the demi-god may be the song of the siren too hard to resist.
And perhaps we mortals should stop creating demi-gods.
When Edmonton signed on confessed sex offender Eric Tillman my first reaction was disgust and that this man was being rewarded for his unwanted advances on a young babysitter. His excuse of being on medication that altered his thinking came across as lame. I would be more inclined to think that his demi-god belief led him to believe that he would do whatever he wanted without repercusssions.
Then I was reminded that our social system is designed to rehabilitate offenders and put them back into society to become useful citizens. Millions of dollars are spent in prisons to counsel and offer therapy to offenders. If we do not intend to give them that second chance, then there is no point to the programs offered for rehabilitation.
The one difficulty here is that Tillman didn't go to jail and to my knowledge did not receive an rehabilitative programming.
Perhaps his new employer should have made rehab a condition of his contract. It is easy to slip back into old habits. Since he has lived a short time as a mortal, the appeal of the demi-god may be the song of the siren too hard to resist.
And perhaps we mortals should stop creating demi-gods.
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