3 ways America should be more like Canada

[blue4]

There are more than 3 ways America should be more like Canada, and there are more than 3 ways Canada should be more like America. Its too bad the politicians and the majority of the voting population in both countries will never admit this.

 

[1958Bassman]

Those are the scary days, when you're already relieved it's the weekend and you can sleep in only to discover that you've still got a full day ahead of you.

I only looked forward to working on my bass neck- it's not as if the day was going to be unpleasant. Besides, I was going to be paid for an installation I had finished, so that's always a good thing.

It did explain why I didn't see the electricians, who were scheduled to be there on Friday. Good thing I didn't comment on them not being there.

 

[1958Bassman]

Happens all the time, just roll with it.

What does?

 

[1958Bassman]

I never liked the name "Canada"..........as soon as you say it you want to put your long underwear on....

They could have called it "Yukonica"...but that sounds too much like a camera.....

We used to be called simply "The Colonies".....visiting British dignitaries would marvel at how us simpletons lived.

Now there are just 4 regions here......

(1) Back East
(2) The Prairies
(3) Out West
(4) Up North

It would only take a referendum to change 'Saskatchewan' to 'Sasquatchistan'.

That is your new mission, in life. Go forth with your bad self.

 

[1958Bassman]

You mean the 60's that domestically accomplished medical coverage for all seniors? The 60's that passed a civil rights act that gave power to disenfranchised minorities? Neither of those strike me as keeping in the interests of the "elites."

So, the passing of these WASN'T so they could get more votes? Really?

I'm not saying that these weren't badly needed, in any way, but have you seen Johnson's comments about what would happen if they passed the Civil Rights Act?

 

[Unrepresented]

I only looked forward to working on my bass neck- it's not as if the day was going to be unpleasant. Besides, I was going to be paid for an installation I had finished, so that's always a good thing.

It did explain why I didn't see the electricians, who were scheduled to be there on Friday. Good thing I didn't comment on them not being there.

It doesn't happen to me too often, in fact, it's more often that inverse happens -- it's Saturday morning and I'm busy planning my "Friday" work day in my head.

So, the passing of these WASN'T so they could get more votes? Really?

I'm not saying that these weren't badly needed, in any way, but have you seen Johnson's comments about what would happen if they passed the Civil Rights Act?

I'm not suggesting that Johnson was a saint or that the votes were perfectly altruistic, but in terms of massive, middle class giveaways these were some of the biggest we've seen since the Depression.

 

[ChrisB2]

It doesn't happen to, me too often, in fact, it's miter often that re-inverse happens -- it's Saturday morning and I'm shady planning my "Friday" work day in my head.

 

[Unrepresented]

I was "my first cup of coffee" away from being able to proof read that one.

 

[bluesblaster]

It always amazes me how off topic these off topic threads can get

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

Class size and composition -my wife is a teacher, she would be pissed if I commented but here goes.
Class size - they usually start her at 28(first day) but it quickly ratchets up to 33-34. Every year, same thing. That wouldn't be bad but everybody is about "least restrictive environment" and "no child left behind". So she has a class with 6 E.I(educationally impaired)the rest relatively "normal" children. The stories she tells me don't sound like it's a good environment for anyone. One of the EI boys is HUGE - 12 yrs. old, 5'5+, maybe 160 lbs. He crawls under his desk, makes noises,wets himself and about once a week has to be "physically managed" by staff that are certified for that. Send him to the EI teacher - he throws an entire desk through a plate glass window or at least tries. Another girl smear feces all over the bathroom. How the heck can you teach with that going on?
I feel bad for the EI kids - some are just 5% off from normal, they could be productive with some additional help. But some are like 25% "off", what to do?

I'm not sure salary is SO terrible, it just kind of stinks in light of class size and composition. A MAster's helps once you have a job as it increases pay, but it makes you less desirable for changing jobs, since another district doesn't necessarily want to take on a high-wage employee.
And the tax deduction for what teacher's spend on their class - here in USA that has been knocked down to $250/yr. When we did our taxes my wife came up with a little over $3k she had spent on her class, never to be compensated. Back when the tax deduction was better it often was close to $5k.

I would agree with the social commentary that we really don't need a terribly educate populace. Just like we don't "need" a physically strong and hardy populace - mankind has struggled for centuries to make life easier, we now have arrived.

I actually work as an "EI" teacher and assistant (we call them 'modified students' here) in a school for challenged kids. I can relate! We have 110 students and 75 staff... the highest student to staff ratio in the entire province. Half our students are modified and the other half are able to achieve regular grade 12 graduation, but they get alot of support to get that accomplished. Our maximum class size is 10 students and each gets two staff, sometimes 3. The kindergarten class has about 5 staff. We also have 3 physio therapists, 3 occupational therapists, and 2 counselors available at all times. Despite all that the job is highly stressful with really needy kids. We have 3 kids with extreme anger issues who need to be subdued on a regular basis. Just last week one of them stabbed a teacher in the leg with a pair scissors (teacher is okay) then proceeded to flip all the desks over. All that said, its a very rewarding job as I know that I am making a real difference in these kids lives. I could never be as happy being a corporate guy, looking to worship the almighty dollar.

 

[ZenG]

1958 Bassman.....

there are only 2 Sasquatch in Saskatchewan...all others are detained at the border when they try to come here.

They don't really like inhabiting there because no matter how far away they are you can still see them.

if there is one on your property, you are levied a Sasquatch Environmental Enhancement fee.

 

[Thick McRunfast]

I actually work as an "EI" teacher and assistant (we call them 'modified students' here) in a school for challenged kids. I can relate! We have 110 students and 75 staff... the highest student to staff ratio in the entire province. Half our students are modified and the other half are able to achieve regular grade 12 graduation, but they get alot of support to get that accomplished. Our maximum class size is 10 students and each gets two staff, sometimes 3. The kindergarten class has about 5 staff. We also have 3 physio therapists, 3 occupational therapists, and 2 counselors available at all times. Despite all that the job is highly stressful with really needy kids. We have 3 kids with extreme anger issues who need to be subdued on a regular basis. Just last week one of them stabbed a teacher in the leg with a pair scissors (teacher is okay) then proceeded to flip all the desks over. All that said, its a very rewarding job as I know that I am making a real difference in these kids lives. I could never be as happy being a corporate guy, looking to worship the almighty dollar.

You have my respect sir

 

[fjadams]

I am from Vancouver Canada and I can add a couple things. Keep in mind these are generalizations from my point of view.

1. yes, our smaller population makes it easier to thrive... it assists us in having a better education system, healthcare system and ultimately better standard of living compared to most other countries in the world. If you look at the top countries in the world, the majority of them have a smaller population which helps tremendously.

2. The US pays lower taxes almost exclusively across the board than Canada. People hate taxes but hey if you want good stuff you gotta pay for it.

3. Comparatively speaking Vancouver hasnt really been hurt from the recession... at least from what I've seen. Some parts of the US are really hurting. Vancouver has not felt it nearly as bad.

4. The US education system needs a major overhaul. Your teachers are under paid (raise the taxes!) and your children are under-educated. I was talking with a friend's sister and she did not even know what a resume is and she is almost finished grade 12 and will soon be entering the work place. She said she was never taught that at school. Up here we have a mandatory course in high school called Planning 10 where students learn how to write a resume, cover letter, how to read a pay cheque, what deductions are, what a budget is, the basics of investment, exploring career options etc etc. She said high schools where she was from dont teach that. To me that stuff is essential.

YMMV / IMHO etc

So I suppose your schools only teach made up facts not real truths like the earth is 6,000 years old and man walked with dinosaurs? The people making the decisions about the curriculum in our schools are the reason for our natural superiority.

 

[Tituscrow]

So I suppose your schools only teach made up facts not real truths like the earth is 6,000 years old and man walked with dinosaurs? The people making the decisions about the curriculum in our schools are the reason for our natural superiority.

?

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

So I suppose your schools only teach made up facts not real truths like the earth is 6,000 years old and man walked with dinosaurs? The people making the decisions about the curriculum in our schools are the reason for our natural superiority.

I think its safe to say that as a whole Vancouver leans 'Left'.

 

[BawanaRik]

Class size and composition -my wife is a teacher, she would be pissed if I commented but here goes.
Class size - they usually start her at 28(first day) but it quickly ratchets up to 33-34. Every year, same thing. That wouldn't be bad but everybody is about "least restrictive environment" and "no child left behind". So she has a class with 6 E.I(educationally impaired)the rest relatively "normal" children. The stories she tells me don't sound like it's a good environment for anyone. One of the EI boys is HUGE - 12 yrs. old, 5'5+, maybe 160 lbs. He crawls under his desk, makes noises,wets himself and about once a week has to be "physically managed" by staff that are certified for that. Send him to the EI teacher - he throws an entire desk through a plate glass window or at least tries. Another girl smear feces all over the bathroom. How the heck can you teach with that going on?
I feel bad for the EI kids - some are just 5% off from normal, they could be productive with some additional help. But some are like 25% "off", what to do?

I'm not sure salary is SO terrible, it just kind of stinks in light of class size and composition. A MAster's helps once you have a job as it increases pay, but it makes you less desirable for changing jobs, since another district doesn't necessarily want to take on a high-wage employee.
And the tax deduction for what teacher's spend on their class - here in USA that has been knocked down to $250/yr. When we did our taxes my wife came up with a little over $3k she had spent on her class, never to be compensated. Back when the tax deduction was better it often was close to $5k.

I would agree with the social commentary that we really don't need a terribly educate populace. Just like we don't "need" a physically strong and hardy populace - mankind has struggled for centuries to make life easier, we now have arrived.

I wonder what the rest of the world does with the impaired students. I can't see them being allowed to disrupt classes any where else.

 

[::::BASSIST::::]

They treat them as 'pets'. A couple years ago we had a family immigrate from an Eastern European country (cant remember which one) with a little girl who is autistic. They said in their home country children with a brain difference are treated as pets. Fed, bathed etc but kept home with next to zero effort to develop the child. They specifically came to Canada so their daughter could have a chance for a better life.

 

[Unrepresented]

So I suppose your schools only teach made up facts not real truths like the earth is 6,000 years old and man walked with dinosaurs? The people making the decisions about the curriculum in our schools are the reason for our natural superiority.

QFT!

?

What's included in education is divided between local, state, and national levels. At the local and state level the curriculum can often shift from region to region. For instance The Texas Education Agency is known for having "controversial views" and because of the size of the state's population, what they demand for textbook publishers to be included can become a national issue as publishers wish to save money by not printing multiple editions.

I think its safe to say that as a whole Vancouver leans 'Left'.

Well duh. It's on the left side of the country. It has to balance out the PEI.

 

[Tituscrow]

@ Unrep - are you saying that there is state-to-state variation in what is classed as statutory curriculum delivery?

 

[will33]

@ Unrep - are you saying that there is state-to-state variation in what is classed as statutory curriculum delivery?

Basically. There is the NEA (national education agency) but cirriculum can vary some from state to state.

The companies that publish the textbooks are big, national companies though, so they don't want to publish 50 versions that may vary somewhat. They'd rather publish one big run for everybody, so, the larger the state, the more effect you can have on what ends up in the book. Of course then, various political views end up influencing things.