Recent discussion about introducing some all-boys classes in this province has led to various opinions being advanced. Our premier, Dalton McGuinty, for example, has come out in support, at least in some cases. It is thought that many boys who are lagging behind their brighter sisters could benefit from separation from the fairer sex. I imagine that the supposed benefits are two-fold: (i) they would be less intimidated by being separated from the more verbally advanced females; (ii) and, they could be taught in a way that would cater to their learning styles.
I really don't have much of an opinion on the matter. If the right boys and right teachers were identified and the right training and the right resources made available in the right-size classrooms, it might work out well for some. However, by and large, I rather feel that most boys benefit to some degree by being in mixed groups — and vice versa, I suppose. The trouble is that I listed five rights above, and my experiences in the education system informs me that most criteria are not met when push comes to shove or, more correctly, when dollars come into play. I have seen wonderful plans on paper not implemented correctly because the dollars were not allocated to implement them appropriately.
However, my main purpose in mentioning this topic is to reminisce about my personal experience as a student in an all-boys class. I was fourteen and got stuck in one, quite by accident I presume as I rather doubt that I was seen to be in danger of not progressing in a mixed class.
As I said, I was fourteen and still small. As a kid born towards the end of the school year, I was always one of the youngest anyway, but there seemed to be a number of hold-backs in this group, so the discrepancy was greater than usual. To some extent, I felt like a boy among men although I'm sure that at least half of the class felt the same way. Let's just say that there were some tall kids with deep voices in that group. It didn't help that I entered the class friendless, all of my buddies and acquaintances having ended up on the other side of a school boundary line. I got through the year and don't suppose that my education was stunted to any significant degree. It certainly wasn't ameliorated either, but I don't think that matters much.
We had some very good teachers, some of the best that I ever had. Whether that was by fluke or design, I know not. We also had some that were less than stellar, at least for that particular, very difficult group. One beleaguered math teacher resorted to strapping boys in class, but it didn't help his overall effectiveness much if at all, and my math results were quite atrocious that year. However, Mr Lafon was a great French teacher, and Mr Decarie was a fine history teacher while Mr Hopper did a great job with music. "Play the Bolero sir."
That was my only experience in an all-boys class, and it wasn't particularly positive, but there were a lot of factors at play, so I can't really draw conclusions other than to say that I'm not exactly jumping on the bandwagon.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Positive and Unexpected Customer Service
Since I had to go out around lunch time yesterday, and since I had a yen for a burger, and since Cuppa wasn't home to share crackers and cheese with, I stopped at Harveys for lunch yesterday. It's a Canadian burger chain, maybe just southern Ontario for all I know, but in some ways it's the only option in our town.
We do have a McDonalds inside Walmart here, but inside Walmart is not a real McDonalds in my opinion. Besides, I can only appreciate The Home of the Big Mac a few times a year, so Mickey D's is pretty well out for me for the next little while. We had a very good, independent local burger joint, but it sold, and I am less enthusiastic about the new management. So, until the new A&W opens, it's pretty well down to Harveys or nobody.
Therefore, to Harveys I went, and I must say that it was a very positive experience for a lowly burger joint, and it wasn't because of the food. The owner (I presume) was on the line and happily chatting up us customers. He appeared to be so happy and was so upbeat, that I felt good about being there.
Later, he, and not a min-wage, kid helper cleared my table with more upbeat chatter about the newspaper that I was reading. He bustled off encouraging me to stay as long as I wished and hoping that I had more room to enjoy my reading now that my place was cleared.
The food wasn't anything to write about, but it did satisfy an urge that I won't feel the need to indulge again for a while. However, I certainly appreciated meeting such an ebullient server/owner in a burger joint of all places. People like that are totally opposite to me; maybe that's why I appreciate them so much.
We do have a McDonalds inside Walmart here, but inside Walmart is not a real McDonalds in my opinion. Besides, I can only appreciate The Home of the Big Mac a few times a year, so Mickey D's is pretty well out for me for the next little while. We had a very good, independent local burger joint, but it sold, and I am less enthusiastic about the new management. So, until the new A&W opens, it's pretty well down to Harveys or nobody.
Therefore, to Harveys I went, and I must say that it was a very positive experience for a lowly burger joint, and it wasn't because of the food. The owner (I presume) was on the line and happily chatting up us customers. He appeared to be so happy and was so upbeat, that I felt good about being there.
Later, he, and not a min-wage, kid helper cleared my table with more upbeat chatter about the newspaper that I was reading. He bustled off encouraging me to stay as long as I wished and hoping that I had more room to enjoy my reading now that my place was cleared.
The food wasn't anything to write about, but it did satisfy an urge that I won't feel the need to indulge again for a while. However, I certainly appreciated meeting such an ebullient server/owner in a burger joint of all places. People like that are totally opposite to me; maybe that's why I appreciate them so much.
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Meet Yaa of Ghana
It was just yesterday, when I informed Cuppa that I had loaned money to a woman in Ghana that she groaned, thinking that senility had prematurely set into my brain. However, when I explained how the micro loans worked at KIVA, she agreed that I remained in my right mind and actually commented that I was doing a good thing.
Many years ago, I used to show a video to my World Issues students featuring several people who were quite skeptical about the worth of foreign aid. They were taken to the Indian subcontinent to view various aid projects. Although they weren't totally thrilled with all they they saw, by and large, they became convinced of the value of assisting others. One of the most convincing cases was the change in lives that they saw from lending women (mostly) small amounts of money — micro loans — that changed their lives. In additions to significantly improving lives, these tiny loans were almost invariably paid back.
So ... when Ginnie posted yesterday about her experiences of helping various people through KIVA, I was moved to lend a very modest amount to Yaa of Ghana, mother of seven who sells baked goods and meat pies in her local market. She requested a loan to help her increase her inventory and improve her business.
How it works is that many of us will each loan Yaa a small amount of money until she has the amount that she needs to meet her requirements. She is due begin paying the money back early next year. At that point, I can recoup my investment or lend it to someone else.
I looked for someone at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, and Yaa seemed to fit. I also preferred to assist a woman because I think that a woman's lot is harder than a man's in the developing world ... and perhaps everywhere. Also, by helping a woman, I feel that I increase my chances of helping a whole family, in this case seven children, and that seems desirable to me.
Repayment of loans is very high, over 95%, but even if the borrower defaults, it is likely that no one lender will lose very much of his or her investment.
What a neat concept to help others to help themselves with very little outlay required on our parts. Most of us can't do a whole lot to make the world a better place, but I figure that every little bit helps. And, what the heck, call me selfish, but I rather enjoy the warm feeling that comes with such a small gesture.
Many years ago, I used to show a video to my World Issues students featuring several people who were quite skeptical about the worth of foreign aid. They were taken to the Indian subcontinent to view various aid projects. Although they weren't totally thrilled with all they they saw, by and large, they became convinced of the value of assisting others. One of the most convincing cases was the change in lives that they saw from lending women (mostly) small amounts of money — micro loans — that changed their lives. In additions to significantly improving lives, these tiny loans were almost invariably paid back.
So ... when Ginnie posted yesterday about her experiences of helping various people through KIVA, I was moved to lend a very modest amount to Yaa of Ghana, mother of seven who sells baked goods and meat pies in her local market. She requested a loan to help her increase her inventory and improve her business.
How it works is that many of us will each loan Yaa a small amount of money until she has the amount that she needs to meet her requirements. She is due begin paying the money back early next year. At that point, I can recoup my investment or lend it to someone else.
I looked for someone at the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, and Yaa seemed to fit. I also preferred to assist a woman because I think that a woman's lot is harder than a man's in the developing world ... and perhaps everywhere. Also, by helping a woman, I feel that I increase my chances of helping a whole family, in this case seven children, and that seems desirable to me.
Repayment of loans is very high, over 95%, but even if the borrower defaults, it is likely that no one lender will lose very much of his or her investment.
What a neat concept to help others to help themselves with very little outlay required on our parts. Most of us can't do a whole lot to make the world a better place, but I figure that every little bit helps. And, what the heck, call me selfish, but I rather enjoy the warm feeling that comes with such a small gesture.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Sunbeams
We arrived at the site of the clinic yester morn before 6 o'clock and sat in the dark for awhile before the full moon began to set toward the west at the same time that the sun was beginning to rise in the east. A little while later, at 8 o'clock, I wandered to the other side of the parking lot to take this picture of the sun beginning to light these two trees.
At that time, after two hours of waiting there were still relatively few people in line, but by an hour later, the line was growing apace, and by the time I had to leave, just past 10 o'clock, it was twice as long as what you see below.
A lot of people were there with there kids, and you might wonder why that might not work for us. Well, it's not because of the baby, Zachary, so much as it is due to the older one, Nikki Dee. While all sorts of children might be content to sit contentedly and amuse themselves with quiet pursuits, I figured that my dear ND would have be running up and down, trying to make friends with everyone and endeavouring to hug various aghast children to pieces.
So, we tried to time her arrival to just before they opened the clinic for the shots. While we weren't totally successful, we were able to eliminate prolonged hours of trying to herd her. She says "Hi" to one and all, and normal children simply don't know what to make of her: for example, this pair at the park yesterday. They were already playing with their Daddy on the contraption that you see below. Well, the girl got up to leave as soon as ND arrived on the scene. The boy stayed for awhile whilst Buppa bounced them both but was quite eager to vacate after a few smothering hugs from ND: hugs which we, sadly, did not catch on camera.
Just to confirm my suspicions, I asked Cuppa how Nikki Dee deported herself in the line in my absence. Just as I thought, she felt it her duty roam all over the place asking who this was and who that was and basically unnerving many quieter children.
She means well, you know, just wants to be everybody's friend and assumes that everyone must feel the same way about her. It hurts her Buppa to realize the lessons that she will have to learn in discovering that this is not so. However, I think this picture that we took at the park yesterday afternoon, after all of the morning's fuss, is very appropriate: as beams of sunshine are illuminating this little angel.
As she would ask, "Do you see that?"
At that time, after two hours of waiting there were still relatively few people in line, but by an hour later, the line was growing apace, and by the time I had to leave, just past 10 o'clock, it was twice as long as what you see below.
A lot of people were there with there kids, and you might wonder why that might not work for us. Well, it's not because of the baby, Zachary, so much as it is due to the older one, Nikki Dee. While all sorts of children might be content to sit contentedly and amuse themselves with quiet pursuits, I figured that my dear ND would have be running up and down, trying to make friends with everyone and endeavouring to hug various aghast children to pieces.
So, we tried to time her arrival to just before they opened the clinic for the shots. While we weren't totally successful, we were able to eliminate prolonged hours of trying to herd her. She says "Hi" to one and all, and normal children simply don't know what to make of her: for example, this pair at the park yesterday. They were already playing with their Daddy on the contraption that you see below. Well, the girl got up to leave as soon as ND arrived on the scene. The boy stayed for awhile whilst Buppa bounced them both but was quite eager to vacate after a few smothering hugs from ND: hugs which we, sadly, did not catch on camera.
Just to confirm my suspicions, I asked Cuppa how Nikki Dee deported herself in the line in my absence. Just as I thought, she felt it her duty roam all over the place asking who this was and who that was and basically unnerving many quieter children.
She means well, you know, just wants to be everybody's friend and assumes that everyone must feel the same way about her. It hurts her Buppa to realize the lessons that she will have to learn in discovering that this is not so. However, I think this picture that we took at the park yesterday afternoon, after all of the morning's fuss, is very appropriate: as beams of sunshine are illuminating this little angel.
As she would ask, "Do you see that?"
Monday, November 02, 2009
Today at the H1N1 Vaccination Clinic
It's almost 11:00 AM, so the two grands should be getting their shots very soon. I can't say that I'm too sorry to miss the trauma of the needles going in, but I had to leave the lineup, so Thesha could have my parking spot. Otherwise, she would have had to park way way way out on the road and walk the kids, and that would have been problematic.
However, Cuppa and I had our choice of spots when we arrived before six o'clock this morning, but between nine and ten o'clock the lot was jammed and cars were lined up and down the road. It was a big parking lot, but it was still full, and the lineup went all of the way around the lot. The shots are to begin at 11:00, and I expect the parking lot mayhem to actually get worse as cars will be moving in both directions after that.
Some people can be very rude and inconsiderate. One person, a public health nurse, I suspect, managed to block the driveway in front of the door by abandoning her car there, which won't help the congestion at all. As long as it made life convenient for her, I guess. I would probably feel some satisfaction at keying that car. It would have been a deserved outcome for sure.
In the end, the morning went fairly quickly for Cuppa and me, and at least Mom and grands didn't have to lineup forever and then possibly be turned away. Apparently, that's happened quite a bit in this area. At this point, only priority groups are being targetted, but the lists of priority groups are so long, that the turnouts are still huge.
I'm not sure whether I will want repeat the procedure when the vaccination clinics are opened for the rest of us. For the grands, yes; for me, I just don't know. Maybe though: as it meant two rounds of coffee from Tims and on takeout breakfast sandwich. Cuppa always says, "We're making a memory," and it's true that you can make almost any occasion into a pleasant event if you put yourself in the right frame of mind. She's good at helping me to see life in that light, even though it's not always my first inclination — which is to grouse and complain like I did in this space just the other morning.
However, Cuppa and I had our choice of spots when we arrived before six o'clock this morning, but between nine and ten o'clock the lot was jammed and cars were lined up and down the road. It was a big parking lot, but it was still full, and the lineup went all of the way around the lot. The shots are to begin at 11:00, and I expect the parking lot mayhem to actually get worse as cars will be moving in both directions after that.
Some people can be very rude and inconsiderate. One person, a public health nurse, I suspect, managed to block the driveway in front of the door by abandoning her car there, which won't help the congestion at all. As long as it made life convenient for her, I guess. I would probably feel some satisfaction at keying that car. It would have been a deserved outcome for sure.
In the end, the morning went fairly quickly for Cuppa and me, and at least Mom and grands didn't have to lineup forever and then possibly be turned away. Apparently, that's happened quite a bit in this area. At this point, only priority groups are being targetted, but the lists of priority groups are so long, that the turnouts are still huge.
I'm not sure whether I will want repeat the procedure when the vaccination clinics are opened for the rest of us. For the grands, yes; for me, I just don't know. Maybe though: as it meant two rounds of coffee from Tims and on takeout breakfast sandwich. Cuppa always says, "We're making a memory," and it's true that you can make almost any occasion into a pleasant event if you put yourself in the right frame of mind. She's good at helping me to see life in that light, even though it's not always my first inclination — which is to grouse and complain like I did in this space just the other morning.
Nikki Dee's Turn
After featuring Zach yesterday, it's Nikki Dee's turn today. She has just turned two-and-a-half and is an incredibly delightful little girl whom I love to pieces. I know that you wouldn't have guessed, so I thought I'd mention it.
Update: Some non-portrait photos from a walk in the woods on Sunday.
Update: Some non-portrait photos from a walk in the woods on Sunday.
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Silent Sunday
Some of the many faces of Zachary who is just a few days short of being nine months old. He's incredibly handsome and reminds me a lot of his Buppa. Not! :)
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