Michael Zwaagstra

Michael Zwaagstra is a senior fellow at the Frontier Centre and public high school teacher. He received his Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from the University of Manitoba and Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University in Virginia. He is the author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning, and co-author of What’s Wrong with Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them. He is a frequent author of education policy research and newspaper columns across Canada. His research mainly focuses on curricula, teaching instruction and public education. Michael’s research and commentary have been featured in radio, television and newspapers across the country. Michael lives with his wife and children in Steinbach, Manitoba.

Ford Government Is Right To Halt School Renaming Process

Ford Government Is Right To Halt School Renaming Process

Senior Fellow Michael Zwaagstra supports the Ford government’s crackdown on school renaming, targeting boards like the TDSB for attempting to erase John A. Macdonald’s legacy. Yes, Macdonald was imperfect, but without him, there might not be a Canada. Renaming schools drains money and distracts from teaching, Zwaagstra argues. Honouring Macdonald preserves the country’s foundations, and Canadians owe him that.

NDP School Tax Policy Hitting Manitoba Homeowners Hard

NDP School Tax Policy Hitting Manitoba Homeowners Hard

Senior Fellow Michael Zwaagstra warns that the NDP’s rollback of Tory-era school tax reforms has hammered Manitoba property owners. The government has reignited an unequal, outdated funding model by scrapping a 50% rebate in favour of a flat credit and letting school boards hike rates. The result? Soaring tax bills with no promise of relief. Zwaagstra says it’s time for full provincial funding.

Your Kid Gets “Emerging” On Their Report Card

Your Kid Gets “Emerging” On Their Report Card

Clear grades matter, and Michael Zwaagstra explains why. In Manitoba, traditional percentage marks help parents, students, and employers understand real academic performance. But a creeping trend—replacing grades with vague terms like “emerging” or “proficient”—is leaving parents baffled. Fortunately, Manitoba is pushing back against this confusing fad. Report cards should inform, not mystify.

Our Kids Are Struggling To Read. Phonics Is The Easy Fix

Our Kids Are Struggling To Read. Phonics Is The Easy Fix

Canada’s reading crisis has a simple solution: phonics. Senior Fellow Michael Zwaagstra spotlights Manitoba’s Evergreen School Division, which ditched trendy but ineffective reading methods in favour of structured, phonics-based instruction—and it’s already paying off. Literacy rates are climbing, yet most provinces still ignore the science. Zwaagstra argues it’s time for education faculties and policymakers to catch up. If we want chisldren to succeed, teaching them to decode words, not guess them, is the first step. Read more.

Featured News

Alberta Politics and Empty Promises of Health-care Solutions

The writ has been dropped and Albertans are off to the polls on May 29. That leaves just four weeks for political leaders and voters to sort out what is arguably the most divisive, yet significant, issue for this election - health care. On Day 2, NDP leader Rachel...

Manitoba Math Scores Hit New Low

Manitoba Math Scores Hit New Low

  Manitoba students’ math scores are falling fast, and the NDP’s lowered education standards are to blame The results are in, and they don’t look good. Manitoba students writing the Pre-Calculus 40S math exam scored an average of 62.4 per cent—a six-per...

Diversity of Thought Among Teachers is a Good Thing

Diversity of Thought Among Teachers is a Good Thing

Visit the website of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) and you might think that all teachers are left-wing ideologues. The reality, however, is quite different. There is, in fact, plenty of diversity of thought among teachers despite the one-sided political message...

Schools Should Educate Rather Than Indoctrinate

Schools Should Educate Rather Than Indoctrinate

Students across Canada are now back in classrooms. As the new school year gets underway, let’s encourage schools to focus on what matters most teaching and learning. No doubt there is room for improvement. According to results from the Programme for International...

Provincial Cell Phone Ban Makes Sense

Provincial Cell Phone Ban Makes Sense

The Manitoba government is banning cell phones in schools. Starting next month, K-8 students will not be allowed to use cell phones at all during school hours. High school students may use phones during breaks and lunch hour, but not during class time. This...