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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.

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

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

Mar 29, 2025 | , ,

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.

Manitoba Math Scores Hit New Low

Manitoba Math Scores Hit New Low

Mar 8, 2025 | , ,

  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...

Featured News

Alberta Politics and Empty Promises of Health-care Solutions

May 5, 2023

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...

Diversity of Thought Among Teachers is a Good Thing

Diversity of Thought Among Teachers is a Good Thing

Sep 21, 2024 | ,

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

Sep 18, 2024 | ,

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

Aug 24, 2024 | , ,

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...

Micromanaging School Boards is the Wrong Approach

Micromanaging School Boards is the Wrong Approach

Jul 6, 2024 | ,

Remember Bill 64? Introduced in 2021 by the former Progressive Conservative government, Bill 64 proposed to abolish locally elected school boards. The NDP led the charge against this bill. Current education minister Nello Altomare, then serving as his party’s...