I would like to applaud Nipissing University for awarding former Ontario Premier Mike Harris with a honourary Doctorate, despite the ardent opposition of the teacher's union. Nipissing is probably best known for its teacher's college, which is arguably one of the best in the province. In response the teachers union wants to block new teaching recruits from Nipissing from getting jobs. They want to punish students by inhibiting the flow of quality new teachers into the system all because they are pissed off at a symbolic gesture by a University honouring a local politician twice elected Premier of Ontario. What's wrong with that?
Let’s not forget, Mike Harris won re-election despite his battle with the teachers to reign in provincial spending. Mike Harris replaced Bob Rae, the harbinger of fiscal doom, and had to re-build after Bobby's failed scorched earth policies. The province's finances were a mess and the Premier had to make difficult choices. Harris was not re-elected because he's a nice guy. He is an asshole, but that's what the province needed when the public sector unions were threatening to bankrupt Ontario. I've said before, two of my sisters babysat his children and I used to spend a lot of time at the Harris home when I was a kid.
For a retired educator's opinion on the Mike Harris Doctorate, I defer you to my wonderful colleague Sandy.
Perhaps the teachers' union is afraid that graduates of such a university might not be sufficiently imbued with the 'correct' doctrine.
ReplyDeleteThey're also afraid of being outperformed by the "newbies".
ReplyDeleteUnion's have really have to go or be reformed entirely.
Ice -- Thanks for the link.
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