A student's education is as good as the teacher who provides it. People are insane to put students into the care of teachers who are not cared for themselves; in doing this they drive quality teachers away from the profession, and those who stay shudder to remember those dark Novembers. In this article, the author recounts her first year of…

Outlines Canada's policy commitments to promote social well-being by supporting Canadians' social rights and economic security; improving public health services, especially for children; and addressing child poverty and family needs. Discusses deficiencies in policy implementation. Presents a framework for well-being that encompasses…

Canadians identify education as key to economic opportunity and advancement, yet rural areas experience teacher shortages, school closings, and extended transportation times. A growing native population in the North needs teachers with cultural and linguistic qualifications. Advantages of rural areas are close communities, good school-community…

Presents four initiatives to make Canadian teacher unions more customer-centered and competitive: (1) make union membership optional; (2) sell union services to members and nonmembers; (3) lobby for school-level concerns and conduct controversial political lobbying through arms-length organizations; and (4) take more supportive stances toward…

Canadian teacher unions must become more relevant, both towards their membership ("internal relevance") and towards society at large ("external relevance"). Issues of internal relevance are membership, responsiveness, teacher voice, leadership development, and the changing nature of teacher work. Issues of external relevance…