The Edmonton Journal recently ran an editorial by Paula Simons about Bill 44, the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, 2009. The editorial claims "Catholic schools threatened if Bill 44 opting-out rule enforced." I have sent the Journal the following letter in response, but it has yet to be printed....

Several school boards around Alberta are presently considering closing schools. As Minister of Education, I have been asked by several parties to place a moratorium on school closures, for a variety of reasons. Some people suggest that the processes used to discuss school closures are flawed. Others say that a high-quality educational program requires schools in the communities where children live, whether rural or urban. And others point out that schools should be a...

Dr. Swann: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the government considering massive cuts, stakeholder groups have been speaking out for public education, only to receive a scolding by the Minister of Education. But teachers, school trustees, and parents are not to blame. They're not to blame for creating a climate of fear around education. The actions of the minister are creating a climate of fear. To the Premier. School boards and trustees are fighting for...

This morning Minister Hancock spoke at the Fall General Meeting of the Alberta School Boards' Association. His remarks follow below (check against delivery). Thank you very much, Heather, and thank you for the invitation to speak with you again....

About 200 people have e-mailed me about Bill 44, specifically Section 9 (the proposed s.11.1 of the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act). I cannot respond to each of them by blog except in a general sense, although I am responding to each directly. Many have responded viscerally to the media interpretation of the section, and continue to harp on the supposed support by the Premier that this will allow parents to opt out of...

Minister Hancock spoke today at the Alberta Teachers' Association's 92nd Annual Representative Assembly. Excerpts of his remarks are reproduced below. Thank you very much for your kind invitation and warm welcome. And I want to start, Frank, by saying thank you to you. It's been a pleasure working with you over the past year for the good of education in the province. And I have to say more than the past year, because actually we've...

Bill 44, the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, 2009 has been the subject of much public debate, including in the media and in the Legislature. Bill 44 recently passed Second Reading, and will return to the floor of the Legislative Assembly to be debated in Committee of the Whole on the evening of Tuesday, May 26. Should you want to read the transcript of the Second Reading debate, you can find it in...

This post responds to comments on the entry entitled On The Origins of Speciousness. I appreciate the comments by MM and Bill Burris re science and religion. They include precisely the point I have been making — Science and religion constitute two separate and distinct tracks viewing the world. While there is intersection where a religious view may differ from a scientific perspective the question is "what is the topic?".Schools and teachers are mandated to...

The last week brings to mind the old song from the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar — "What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening! What's the buzz? Tell me what's happening! Why should you want to know? Don't you mind about the future?" Let's be perfectly clear right from the start. Alberta is not turning back the clock! Alberta students will continue to take a full robust curriculum examining all aspects of modern science, including...