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.
What type of learner are you? Do you learn best when you are shown pictures? Maybe you preferred having things explained to you verbally, or perhaps you need a hands on approach to really grasp a new topic. Many people assume that we have individual learning styles,...
According to a survey conducted for Historica Canada only one-in-four Canadians was familiar with the historical achievements of Lucy Maude Montgomery, author of the acclaimed "Anne of Green Gables" series, even worst few than one-in-five Canadians are familiar with...
Remember Lynden Dorval? He was the Edmonton high school teacher that was fired because he refused to follow his schools "No Zero Policy." His firing set off a storm of controversy and drew much attention to No-Zero policies in general. A No-zero policy means teachers...
Back in 2017 CBC ran a story about a teacher who was so passionate about climate change that he attended an intensive training session lead by former US vice president Al Gore, after being designated a climate reality leader at this session, the teacher had his grade...
In this essay, I explain that young people should come to university to be educated, and not to become credentialed; the public should support universities because universities educate young people, not because they produce credentialled workers. Why should a...
During the whole of recorded history, the empire has been the most constant and common form of political organization. A basic, self-evident feature of all empire-building has been the successful occupation of the lands of the local, Indigenous inhabitants by outside...
The Drummond report accurately identifies the problems with education funding in Ontario and shows that costly initiatives such as class-sized reductions and full-day kindergarten are ineffective and fiscally unsustainable.
Education faculties across the country should be merged with other university faculties.
Letting the money follow the student is an important component of ensuring everyone gets the best education possible.
When students aren’t allowed to kick a soccer ball, play a game of tag, or use a skipping rope, we know that a safety-obsessed culture has gone off the rails.
Standardized testing in schools is a necessity. Politicians and governments should resist the calls for scrapping this useful evaluating tool.
A desire to have the best and most balanced means available to make decisions about our children’s education make standardized testing in schools a necessity.
Premier Alison Redford’s pledge to scrap standardized testing in Alberta would be a huge step backward for education in the province.
Canada’s math education is failing to provide students with a solid foundation in the discipline, but a renewed emphasis on mastering basic math skills can better prepare students for life.
Math education in Canada is failing has been failing to teach its students fundamental numeracy, but a renewed emphasis on mastering basic math skills can better prepare students for life.