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David Flower
Duh! Check your facts
An article in the October 20 issue of Alberta Report, entitled "The monopoly that never was," contains the following statement: "It [the ATA] controls the licensing of teachers." This is incorrect as everyone in the profession knows. Licensing teachers is a function of Alberta Education and the minister of education. The Association has absolutely no control over who enters the profession, nor, incidentally, does it have control over who is hired. Teachers become ATA members when they start teaching.
The newly converted preaches from on high
William Hague, who replaced John Major as leader of the British Conservative party, recently delivered the traditional end-of-conference speech at the party convention in Blackpool, England. This was the first Conservative party conference since the party's defeat in the general election. At first blush, it appears that Mr. Hague might (at least publicly) have learned a few lessons from the electoral defeat. In a country where a strong right-wing government placed greed above every other virtue (or vice, depending upon your point of view), and embraced Mrs. Thatcher's philosophy that there is no such thing as society, only individuals, Mr. Hague suddenly announced that "freedom is about much more than economics." Now there is a revelation for us all! He also revealed that his party has "compassion at its core." Now that's rich for a country that believes a minimum wage is too expensive and where the despair shown in the movie "Full Monty" still exists in many places as a result of his party's chosen policies. Mr. Hague called his own colleagues—the elected Conservative members of parliament in the previous government—arrogant, selfish and conceited." No doubt he was exaggerating—those aren't words one normally associates with politicians!
Strange things are crossing my desk
Lately, documents of questionable merit have come across my desk. One was called Editorials and contained a column on the Canadian judicial system entitled "My 2 cents." It features alarming material that I consider to be extremist, to say the least. I believe in freedom of speech, but I'm not sure whether hanging traitors from gallows outside the Parliament Buildings or shooting people who abuse their families is not going a little too far. What is more disturbing is that the copy I received had been sent to a school and indeed, other schools may have received copies.
Money, not religious freedom, is the issue
The private school funding questionnaire is generating talk. Many respondents find the questionnaire confusing. The question of private school funding was simply put by the Ontario Court of Appeal to a request by a number of minority faith communities. The court stated that the issue primarily revolves around money, not freedom of religion, or any other question for that matter. A similar case in Wisconsin saw the judge's ruling upheld by a superior court. In that case the judge stated that such groups were not prevented from setting up private religious schools, nor were they prevented from teaching their particular faith in those schools, they simply could not expect to do so with state dollars.
