The Conservative Education Blogosphere in Canada

It is interesting that there is quite a thriving little, conservative, right wing education blogosphere in Canada that is mutually supporting. To say they are powerful or influential would be to overstate the case.

Probably the most influential of the Canadian conservative-far right blogs is the blog associated with the Society for Quality Education (SQE). The driving force behind SQE is a woman named Malkin Dare, who seems primarily motivated by phonics and Direct Instruction curriculum and pedagogical issues but underneath lurks a hard right privatization zealot.  If you check it out be sure to check out their goals in “what we believe” on the home page. It is clear that although they seem like nostalgic, old fogies, they have the backing of the Fraser Institute and the CD Howe Research Institute. These types are heavily into privatization. As you peruse their goals, they are explicit and clear that although they favour testing, in the end, it is not enough and the ultimate goal is “choice” through privatization. It is for reasons like this that it is now clear that the testing EQAO, FSA types like the Michael Fullans and Lorna Earls are either the dupes of the right wing privatizers or the sell outs who have decided to make a buck for themselves. Check out the SQE website at http://www.societyforqualityeducation.org/index.php/blog/ . Go on and argue with them. Tell them I sent you. Mention my name; they will hate you from the get-go.

A second Tory type blog is called The Retired Educator and is run by self-styled red-Tory Sandy Crux. This blog has lately gone all over the map as it comments on federal and provincial politics, education but keeps the focus on special education. Many of the same folks BTW comment on all of these blogs. This one can be found at http://theretirededucator.com

A third blog of this type originated with four disgruntled retired teachers and has a focus on the Bluewater DSB which always seems to be in a state of chaos for some reason. Naturally the debate cannot be contained within one board and has spread far beyond. This one can be found at http://www.mended.ca

The last one you should check is run by former trustee, private school principal and conservative educator Paul Bennett. Paul is a thoughtful guy who sometimes hides his conservatism well behind his gentlemanly politeness and is actually interested in the progressive argument as opposed to others with rather closed minds. Paul’s blog can be found at http://educhatter.wordpress.com/

These blogs are heavily linked to much more powerful American blogs of the same strain. Progressive educators may chuckle at their sometimes Neanderthal solutions and their absolute denial of the equity problems associated with race and class but they should not be taken lightly. Harris and Snobelen are heroes to these folks. They do win from time to time and it is devastating for the kids.

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Past Issues

41th Edition (March 8, 2010)

• Teacher Firing Lunacy at Central Falls HS in RI
• ETFO Keeps Up the Fight Against School Information Finder
• Dombrowsky Doesn’t Get It On Testing
• Americans Begin to Slash Education Spending While Other Nations...

40th Edition (Feb. 22, 2010)

• Save Grade 2 in Nova Scotia, WTF?
• Could Teach for America Lose its Funding?
• Washington DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee's Popularity Hits the Skids
• BC Trustees Want to End Public Funding of Private Schools
• Doug Little on Early Childhood Politics, The Agenda With Steve Paikin
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