Testing in shools

A fine writer (Mr. Rick Salutin) recently wrote about several issues facing teachers, students and school administrators. Among them was the regular debate about whether standardized testing in our schools was a good thing or a bad thing.

The conclusion of his December 7th article regarding standardized testing posited that: "What you've truly learned (as a student faced with an exam) counts zero..." I disagree. 

My colleagues and I grew up facing regular standardized testing, departmental FINAL exams at the end of high school and annual exams in University. This encouraged/demanded full and thoughtful review of the year's material - no one really knew what would be on the exam. Material review deepened fact retention and thinking about the subject. In some cases, the "forced" study led to a eureka moment when I finally came to understand something in the material that I had not really fathomed during the course. Writing exams taught us how to prepare and study for a big event, meet deadlines and deal with the related pressure. Good traits as one goes out in the real world. How else is one to learn how to prepare for the test of a job interview, how to research, write and deliver a speech, make a sales pitch, craft a policy proposal to government? Life is a series of exams; some are harder than others and some have more significance...but  you can't avoid them. Learning how to synthesize and evaluate the information that may be needed to pass them and actually delivering it is a very valuable skill. Get used to doing it early and often is what I suggest. Even if you fail the odd one; learning to deal with that is another great talent. You may even turn out to be a successful entrepreneur! 

Driving (Miss) Canada

I read a good article about some car journalists driving some Mercedes Benz vehicles in each province for a Canada 150 "event". (See: Oh Canada, What a Road Trip by Norris McDonald. Saturday July 1, in Wheels section of the Toronto Star). Made me think about my own experiences, hence a comment or two... 

I agree with Norris. Seeing the country by car is the way to “do” the country and doing it with the top down is extraordinary. For 3 years when in Vancouver on business, I bought an old car (MGB, VW Beetle and TR8, each a convertible with many kms and standard transmission) so that I could drive home (to Toronto) rather than fly.  The convertible opens the experience. It allows you to be swallowed up by the majesty of our mountains and awed by the Living Skies (as they say in Saskatchewan). You just feel and smell the air in a way that puts you at one with the country. (And in the older car, you drive a bit more slowly allowing you to see more while hoping that it won’t give up the ghost somewhere north of Superior!).

Norris’ story also reminded me of a contest my association* ran some years ago, called Test Drive Canada. We represented the manufacturers and dealers of the 6 Japanese car brands. There were 5 winning families. They were flown to Victoria where they met a 6^th family (the wagon masters for the trip) and were introduced to 6 different Japanese cars. Each family was to drive each car as they tripped across the country to St. John’s. A thorough itinerary set out hotels, car switch points, and several special presentations to the group by local dignitaries along the way. They were Hatted, Screeched, feted and entertained. More importantly, they met 5 other families from different parts of Canada, with whom they shared a pretty unique experience. I am in periodic touch with them still. I feel good that we helped them see Canada in a special way.

As I continue to contemplate another X Canada trip, I hope the car industry will do more to promote trips like this for individual Canadians and families and respectfully, let the scribes and pundits find their own wheels.  

* The Canadian Association of Japanese Automobile Dealers aka CAJAD)

The Incredible Dandelion; Canada's national Flower?

Read the other day (in the Toronto Star; article by Sonia Day) that the Master Gardeners of Ontario are holding a vote to name "Canada's National Flower" in this, our 150th year. They have narrowed their acceptable /recommended choice to three; "Hooded Ladies Tresses"; Twin Flower"; and "Bunchberry". Wow! 

It's Hard for me to vote for any of the three finalists, not being sure I have seen any of them! 

Rather in my corner ladies, gentlemen and others, we have the Incredible Dandelion. Most Canadians (at least in the southern parts) have a love-hate relationship with these little asexual plants. I know they’re not proprietary to Canada, but then, most Canadians are transplants from somewhere. Like Canadians, they’re resilient beyond belief; you just can’t keep them down; they’re extremely practical ‘cause you can eat the whole thing; better still you can make some wine from them along the way making it a medicinal Plant not needing Government regulation*. They come to life every year in the spring after a long Canadian winter and it seems like every one of them has survived!  They spread their seeds in the wind like we spread our ideas of multi-culturalism, peace and hockey around the world. Maybe best of all, they’re bi-lingual! The name “Dandelion” comes from the French “dent-de-lion” meaning “Lion’s Tooth”. My thought: make The Incredible Dandelion a write-in candidate in the Master Gardeners of Ontario’s vote for Canada’s National Flower. It should win hands down.

* For one take on the good parts check out https://altnature.com/gallery/dandelion.htm  Dr. G will turn up lots more! 

                                             

Be The River!

There was a report in my local paper recently saying that a High Court in India has ruled that two historic and socially significant rivers have the status of living human entities.

The law henceforth would treat anyone who harmed or polluted the waters the same as if they had harmed a person. Rather a good idea, but I doubt we’re ready to do it here in Canada. Instead though, we might do well to take note of the great movie Caddyshack's  line "...just 'Be the Ball'" (see clip below*). 

I adopted the notion a while back. As an example when my kids would slam a door; a few “Be the Door” exhortations and they’d get the idea! 

The concept could be applied to a new Canadian Environmental/Natural Resources Program. It would urge all Canadians to “Be the River (or Lake or Tree). If you really think that way, why would you ever want to harm them? You wouldn't. And there you have it, eh.

*Caddyshack Clip; Be the Ball

Changes of Government...Lets Look at them Differently

The recent Inauguration of the US President and his subsequent speech were pretty interesting events. Apart from parsing his remarks, a couple of things occurred to me.

Trump and his supporters have criticized what they refer to as the political elites. It seems true that  governments do assume - more and more over time -  that they are totally "in charge" of policy and the mechanisms of government. If  government is “by the people” and “for the people” and people are theoretically able to control government and if there are concerns that the current political system really controls itself, why is the inauguration event and swearing in process always referred to as a “Transfer of Power”?  Referring to the turn as a  “Transfer of Leadership and Management” would change perceptions of government and its role in society for the better, in the US and Canada.

If one thought of government organization in business terms,  Citizens are of course the shareholders. Every few years they elect a (new/somewhat new) Board of Directors (MPs) to Lead. The Board appoints officers (Ministers of Cabinet), who appoint Executives (Deputy Ministers etc.) who run Departments (Ministries) and  hire staff (civil servants).  

As a quick thought on Trump's comments if -  as Trump reminded everyone -   Americans want “great schools, safe neighborhoods...and good jobs...(and better infrastructure)” seems to me he could start by paying his taxes to help underwrite the necessary initiatives. And, henceforth only involve himself with hotels and golf courses built in America by Americans. Think of it; a new hotel and resort for every town in America!

Some Friends

First snow today. Hmm. Haven't written to the blog for a while but certainly have written to friends who have, over the last few months, been faced with troubles and challenges. In several cases I have signed off letters with "Keep On" which readers will know is part expression of hope that life and health and happiness and fulfillment will indeed keep on, and part exhortation/encouragement to the receiver to keep up the good fight. To friend who's seen a loved one seriously injured, another who is faced with cancer treatments and another who suffered a miscarriage, I have said - and say again now and into the future - "Keep On."

On the subject of sign offs I read a humorous letter from a noted Canadian writer to an Uncle of mine back some many years ago and he signed it off with the words: " To the deep end" which I rather liked.

Can we change people? Can they change themselves?

I’ve said many times - that I don’t think people change. Some good friends disagree with me. So, I’ve tried to think about it some more. 

When I say that people don’t change, I guess I’m really talking and thinking about their inner essence, their soul, their spirit so-to-speak. It is clear that our bodies evolve over time. Muscles, brain cells, joints etc. all age …but does that change who we are? Maybe we can’t do the same things, but we are likely the same person inside. If we were competitive, we likely still are; our inner competitiveness just manifests itself in different ways.

If we change jobs and learn to use new and different software techniques, adopt different ways of doing things or handling issues or dealing with people…have we changed?  I think our perspective and some aspects of behaviour might have changed…but we are not fundamentally different people. We have the same brain and senses and belief about human beings that we always did: we just apply them differently.

If I stop smoking, certainly my habits and behaviour have changed, but I have not. I may still crave the idea and I still love the same things and the same people. If a person quits drinking, what is it that changes? It’s his or her behaviour. The weakness or character trait that lead to (or enabled) the smoking and/or drinking is still there; its how we deal with them that has changed.

Which brings me a related thought; I often say that “You don’t have to ask people what they like to do you just have to watch them!” They will consistently do what they want to do, and that I think reflects a great deal about who they are. Sometimes, we are annoyed or displeased with what others do. Does that mean we don’t like who they are? And in such cases, do we think we can get the other person to change that behaviour? And if they actually do restrain themselves or adopt a different behaviour in a given situation, have they really changed? Likely not, I posit. They may change behaviour but their essence has not changed. And as a note, we cannot – in my view – change someone else’s behaviour or attitudes…people will only change when – and if – they decide to. It is always their choice.

So, I think that people’s behaviours can change, but that doesn’t change the essence of the person. Changes in behaviour they do make are because they (decide to) make them. Our inner self, personality orientations and belief system about other people and relationships just keeps on keeping on.  We cannot change others. Once a cynic, always a cynic; once a conspiracist, always a conspiracist; once open or  loving or  trusting or accepting of others, always open or  loving or  trusting or accepting of others. And, that’s the last word (for now at least)!         So...Keep On Eh.