Strike Report: It’s Time For The Acadia Administration To Suck It Up and Sign

A special thank you to Andrew Biro, the faculty association spokesperson at Acadia University, for his comment on my previous post. 
Here’s the core of it:
Acadia faculty salaries are now 6% below the average in Atlantic Canada, and 20% below the average across the country. If we accepted the administration’s offer, that gap would, at best, [...]

Workin’ 9 to 5 and Beyond At Acadia University

Oh, wow.  I got a lot of comments on my last post responding to David McMullin, a professor at Acadia University, where the faculty are in their second week of a strike.
You’ll notice that I approved only one of them to be shown on this blog.  The others were, shall we say, offensive.  And personal.  [...]

My Response To A Thoughtful Acadia Professor On Strike

I received a comment on this blog written by an alum and prof at Acadia University (yes, that “striking” place).  I’d like to respond fully to David McMullin’s thoughtful remarks.  His comments are in italics below:
I’m an alumnus and a faculty member at Acadia. The place is very dear to my heart. But I’d like to [...]

Is It Ethical For Professors To Strike? A Look At Acadia University

I just finished watching all of the YouTube videos about the professor strike at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada.
I wanted to add some comments.
One of the main questions asked of various students and professors interviewed was, “Do you think it’s ethical for the professors to go on strike?”
And I have no problem stating that [...]

What To Do During A University Strike–Tips From Acadia

So, what do students do when profs are on strike and classes are cancelled? 
Well, if you happen to be at Acadia University during what is being called “Striketoberfest” you’ve got some great options.  Sure, about half of the students have gone home or elsewhere during the week, but those who remain are making the best [...]

Talks Break Down (Again) In Acadia University Prof Strike

So, Day 3 of what is being referred to as “Striketoberfest”–the prof strike at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, where one of my daughters is a student–has ended with crossed arms and pursed lips. 
Can’t you people figure this out?
 Honestly, this thing has been simmering for months and there were all kinds of opportunities to come [...]

Two Million Minutes of High School

I’ve said before that high school is wayyyy too long. 
Or, to be more precise, students spend wayyyyy too much time on irrelevant fluff (I’m referring to the going to/from, attendence activities, social dramas, and basic classroom blah blah–though there is certainly irrelevant fluff among the course offerings as well).
Well, a new documentary follows six students in three [...]

“Pod People” Invade Middle School: iPods Get Kids Speaking English

In this piece in the New York Times, we learn about a middle school that uses iPods loaded with English songs to help non-native speakers get their English groove on. 
The students–known at the schools as “Pod People”–listen to songs while reading the lyrics and do exercises to fill in the missing words. 
They learn something relevant [...]

Car Talk: Click And Clack Take On Education

I love Car Talk.  And I don’t even own a car!  I love the idea that these two brothers have created such a devoted following by simply sitting around and joking on the radio while diagnosing oddball car noises and funky starters.  They are wonderfully irreverent and have a great time while helping people solve [...]

Nooooo! NY To Pay Students Who Take Advanced Placement Tests

Just when you think the emphasis on Advanced Placement tests couldn’t get more ridiculous, here comes an article about a new program that will pay students (mostly black and Latino) to take the Advanced Placement test. 
That link above is to the New York Times article.  There’s also an article about it in the Washington Post (remember that the Washington Post [...]