Frontier Centre

Education researcher Michael Zwaagstra is in Saskatchewan this week speaking on why what he calls “traditional” instruction of students is a good way to improve learning. What is traditional instruction?

Michael Zwaagstra, public high school teacher, education researcher, Frontier Centre research fellow and author.

Education researcher Michael Zwaagstra is in Saskatchewan this week speaking on why what he calls “traditional” instruction of students is a good way to improve learning. What is traditional instruction?

Michael Zwaagstra, public high school teacher, education researcher, Frontier Centre research fellow and author.

Michael Zwaagstra is interviewed by Peter Watt on Alberta Morning news about no-zero policies.

Michael Zwaagstra is interviewed by Peter Watt on Alberta Morning news about no-zero policies.

Five million Canadians cross the border each year to fly from U.S. airports and save hundreds of dollars on the cost of a single vacation.

Travelling from a Canadian airport costs more in several ways, especially when you add up airport fees and taxes.

The U.S. sees air transportation as critical to economic growth, and subsidizes the cost.

The Canadian government, on the other hand, appears to view air travel as a source of revenue.

In addition to almost a billion dollars that Canadian air travellers pay out each year in fees and taxes, we also pay for airport security, fuel surcharges, and air traffic control.

The basic fare is also higher for a number of other reasons.

Higher wages and lower productivity in Canada are part of the story.

Ottawa closely regulates the airline industry and limits service into many Canadian cities.

Allowing more carriers to compete would go a long way in reducing the cost, and it would also generate economic growth.

Studies show that when airlines are not allowed regular access to a community, it can cost the local economy hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

More of a customer service approach is urgently needed.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on transportation policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Five million Canadians cross the border each year to fly from U.S. airports and save hundreds of dollars on the cost of a single vacation.

Travelling from a Canadian airport costs more in several ways, especially when you add up airport fees and taxes.

The U.S. sees air transportation as critical to economic growth, and subsidizes the cost.

The Canadian government, on the other hand, appears to view air travel as a source of revenue.

In addition to almost a billion dollars that Canadian air travellers pay out each year in fees and taxes, we also pay for airport security, fuel surcharges, and air traffic control.

The basic fare is also higher for a number of other reasons.

Higher wages and lower productivity in Canada are part of the story.

Ottawa closely regulates the airline industry and limits service into many Canadian cities.

Allowing more carriers to compete would go a long way in reducing the cost, and it would also generate economic growth.

Studies show that when airlines are not allowed regular access to a community, it can cost the local economy hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

More of a customer service approach is urgently needed.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on transportation policy, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Teachers in many Canadian classrooms are being encouraged to de-emphasize factual knowledge, in favour of a more hands-on discovery approach with students.

But some basic facts will always be essential in making higher-level learning possible.

For example, it's difficult for students to understand the grievances of the Métis, without knowing the facts about Louis Riel.

A student who memorizes multiplication tables is more likely to succeed at algebra than one who uses a calculator to multiply 5 times 6.

Students who don't know the tables are more likely to become bogged down and confused by the steps that are needed to solve such problems.

For most of us there is a limit to the amount of information that can be easily stored in our memory. Something like learning a new phone number can be a struggle for a while.

But once the number has been committed to our long-term memory, it's relatively easy to retrieve the information from our cognitive load.

Students who know their basic facts experience less difficulty with cognitive load when solving more advanced problems.

Knowledge is essential to the development of critical thinking skills.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on education, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Teachers in many Canadian classrooms are being encouraged to de-emphasize factual knowledge, in favour of a more hands-on discovery approach with students.

But some basic facts will always be essential in making higher-level learning possible.

For example, it's difficult for students to understand the grievances of the Métis, without knowing the facts about Louis Riel.

A student who memorizes multiplication tables is more likely to succeed at algebra than one who uses a calculator to multiply 5 times 6.

Students who don't know the tables are more likely to become bogged down and confused by the steps that are needed to solve such problems.

For most of us there is a limit to the amount of information that can be easily stored in our memory. Something like learning a new phone number can be a struggle for a while.

But once the number has been committed to our long-term memory, it's relatively easy to retrieve the information from our cognitive load.

Students who know their basic facts experience less difficulty with cognitive load when solving more advanced problems.

Knowledge is essential to the development of critical thinking skills.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on education, visit our website www.fcpp.org.

Saskatchewan's Perry Bellegarde faces many challenges as the new National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

The organization is in crisis after Shawn Atleo resigned from the post before the end of his term.

A number of chiefs felt he acted too independently and was too cozy with the Harper government in Ottawa.

Bellegarde’s first challenge will be to convince the chiefs that he needs a degree of independence to be effective, and that cooperation with government can result in meaningful change.

If the national chief works closely with Ottawa, there may be movement on calls for a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Bellegarde also needs to focus on education. A majority of chiefs across the country want the government to kill Bill C-33, the Control of First Nations Education Act.

They want the money for schools that would come with the legislation but don’t want government to dictate reform of the education system.

Bellegarde should definitely encourage all First Nations to improve education on reserves.

He should also strongly support a proposed First Nations Property Ownership Act, which will allow Indigenous communities to become more self-sufficient.

Hopefully the new national chief will make good decisions and be supported by the Assembly of First Nations.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on Aboriginal policy, visit www.fcpp.org

Saskatchewan's Perry Bellegarde faces many challenges as the new National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

The organization is in crisis after Shawn Atleo resigned from the post before the end of his term.

A number of chiefs felt he acted too independently and was too cozy with the Harper government in Ottawa.

Bellegarde’s first challenge will be to convince the chiefs that he needs a degree of independence to be effective, and that cooperation with government can result in meaningful change.

If the national chief works closely with Ottawa, there may be movement on calls for a national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Bellegarde also needs to focus on education. A majority of chiefs across the country want the government to kill Bill C-33, the Control of First Nations Education Act.

They want the money for schools that would come with the legislation but don’t want government to dictate reform of the education system.

Bellegarde should definitely encourage all First Nations to improve education on reserves.

He should also strongly support a proposed First Nations Property Ownership Act, which will allow Indigenous communities to become more self-sufficient.

Hopefully the new national chief will make good decisions and be supported by the Assembly of First Nations.

I’m Roger Currie. Join us again next week for more thoughts on the Frontier.

For more on Aboriginal policy, visit www.fcpp.org