If someone has to proclaim that they 'are not ageist'...

My graduation in 1979, married and 7 mos. pregnant!
Tuition was $484 per term, which I earned
working summers.

If someone has to proclaim that they 'are not ageist', then methinks there is something smelly here. I'm not a Baby Boomer, but I'm married to one. We are the majority of the population right now. We have a right to our opinions. But we are the ones who vote and pay taxes!
We didn't borrow money to pay for our university education. We worked for four months to pay for it. We did not rack up thousands of dollars in tax-free loans.

Ivory Tower Blues, an excellent Canadian book about Canadian universities tells us,
Throughout, the authors argue that fewer and fewer students are experiencing their university education in ways expected by their parents and the public. The majority of students are hampered by insufficient preparation at the secondary school level, lack of personal motivation, and disillusionment. Contrary to popular opinion, there is no administrative or governmental procedure in place to maintain standards of education.

Not everyone SHOULD go to university. The jobs aren't there, and many cannot achieve at a university level, and we must face this fact. Universities stuff classroom with underachievers, who will not be failed, and profs cannot and do not give students realistic marks. I know, I taught at the University of Ottawa. Some students beg and argue about marks, but don't feel compelled to attend classes. They expect to get 'A's. They don't expect to earn them.

A Macleans Magazine young-looking journalist wrote:

Idle No More, and the reliable Old Fart

Emma Teitel on Friday, January 18, 2013 6:31am - 98 Comments

Emma Teitel
calling us old farts!

I would like to coin my own term for people like McParland, and Barbara Kay, and Margaret Wente, pundits who defecate rhetorically on every liberal protest movement that makes the nightly news. My term is easier to remember. I like to call these people FAIPOFS—For all Intents and Purposes, Old Farts. Not necessarily physically old, that is (I’m not ageist), just unfathomable to fathom as young...

U of A

I wonder why she has to label, typecast and group people? Name and Shame? Where are the columnists who would report the news, rather than write some of the facts and then wax eloquently about them? It used to be you would read an article to find out the 5 Ws, Who, What, When, Where, Why - and the good ones would answer the So What question. All people of my generation are not Conservative, we differ as much as small l liberals!

 The above article points out that writers like Barbara Kay, who feels that Quebec students who ought to finance their own education, isn't entitled to an opinion without being named and shamed. Truthfully, it is the elected politicians who are in control of our tax dollars, for which they can be held accountable. They are supposed to represent the majority of us, those actually paying taxes, rather than those like Occupy, who do not. Youngsters who do not vote have no voice, and, therefore, have no right to complain.

Kay writes: As my colleague Matt Gurney noted in a recent column, inflation in Canada from 1991-2007 rose by 35%, while tuition costs throughout the country rose as high as 275% in Alberta (in Quebec a comparatively paltry 111%). Read more (National Post)

Caitlin at Waterloo U.

Occupy Ottawa - in a pub!

 Someone has to pay for it: heat, hydro, new buildings, professor salaries. Salaries are meagre, and research is poorly funded. Higher education is cheaper for users in the province of Quebec, more highly funded by taxpayers, but then, they also have inexpensive day care! As you might recall, the students 'went on strike' (from which employment and which employer?) in order to protest tuition hikes in Quebec. Kay did her research, granted it was based on another journalist's research that she quotes tuition rates (sigh), and calls for an examination of tax-funded universities. University funding includes donations from alumni, and I get requests from all three that I attended.

 I have long read many journalists, like Margaret Wente who bashes teachers without having enough information to support her rants, and wrote an article without crediting her sources. I keep wondering why I bother reading those who cannot do research, and why I truly care about their uninformed opinions. Truthfully, I do not care for their opinions. I am an old fart, I guess, with opinions of my own! On the other hand, rather than an argument between generations, maybe it is an argument between those who think they have a liberal entitlement to our tax dollars.

University of Alberta

Then there are those who have children, but have no means to support them.
My school chum had three kids by the time I graduated high school. She, of course, did not graduate. She quit after grade 11.

Occupiers are blaming the wrong people

Student residence, The Hub

MARGARET WENTE
Laurel O’Gorman is one of the faces of Occupy Toronto. She believes the capitalist system has robbed her of her future. At 28, she’s studying for a master’s degree in sociology at Laurentian University in Sudbury. She’s also the single mother of two children. “I’m here because I don’t know what kind of job I could possibly find that would allow me to pay rent, take care of these two children and pay back $600 each month in loans,” she said.

Margaret Wente - if the shoe fits

UPDATE:
 THere was a great response...
The Globe is upping readership by holding a 'live debate'. What is the point of this? We just keep doing what we do best: putting one foot in front of the other and caring for families, writing about it, reading about it, and keeping family life together.

Female bloggers across Canada did what comes naturally and responded with their own posts. Annie Urban from www.phdinparenting.com notes that her blog is one of the 2,500 woman-written blogs that are part of the BlogHer network, which reaches more than 20 million people each month: "So, while I can't identify with Wente's assertion that bloggers are overwhelmingly men, I can offer a partial explanation for that nightmare gender gap she was talking about.

"When influential women are ignorant to the numerous women's voices on the Internet, when the voices of many women are dismissed as endearing, cute and girly, and when the voices of those women who are most oppressed are ignored altogether, that gender gap is perpetuated. Thank you, Margaret, for proving your own point about how hard it is to change the conversation."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can you imagine?
Another Globe and Mail 'column', with yet another unresearched opinion piece. I work hard at presenting my interpretation of facts. My point of view is backed by opinions based on information and facts.

Margaret Wente, whom I read more often than not, who actually does research on educational articles (in the past)...her question?
"Why are bloggers male?"

What an insult to the fine communities of women who support one another as mothers, as parents, as entrepreneurs, farmers, resort owners, home schoolers, educators, as retirees, senior women, health educators...

I swear, she wrote this...someone even chose it as her title!!!

Then she proceeded to put the other foot in her mouth:

It's not just blogs that tilt strongly male. The people who call in to talk shows are mostly men; so are those who post comments on mainstream-media websites. These days, you don't even have to start a blog to get an audience. All you have to do is write “Margaret Wente is an idiot” and hit send. Instant gratification!

Well, if the shoe fits! She proceeds to male-bash, and to make pronouncements about men. Sets back the women's movement 40 years!

It is amazing how 'journalism' has been replaced by blog posts disguised as articles and colum

ns. Where is the research? Where are the facts? Leah Maclaren is as bad, and has been denigrated by many in female blogs: Wow, Globe and Mail. This is great. [posted by Megan at Reflections in the Snow-Covered Hills - 4 days ago] after a pretty trite article by McLaren.

Now, Ms. Wente has joined the group? Shame Globe and Mail. Just give me the news. I will interpret the facts. Yes, I have blogged about this before...
Journalism vs. responsible communication,&

Cottageocracy?

I was so insulted by Leah McLaren's article:

Muskoka's sodden summer of discontent

"This year, the Ontario cottageocracy doesn't deserve your envy"! Muskoka is one of the beautiful places to be in this world. And we aren't all rich and famous. As if! I have photos of sunny days and joyful times by the lake.

With serious issues like, Gendercide, or International Women's Day or Death in scary places or the war on women...she is male-bashing. Not for me. I am glad I cannot have the Globe delivered to my rural door. I can choose to read any other number of news items when I want.

I read and write a number of blogs.I don't read them based on their gender, or their age [e.g., BLoggers over age 50] , their spiritual philosophy, or the colour of their skin.

I am a woman.
I like to read blogs by people, however, I don't judge them by the writer's gender. Shame.

Parenting advice

I was quite surprised to pop by a Globe & Mail-hosted blog, on Parenting.

I question the purpose of this blog. I can imagine being paid for writing about parenting advice, but wouldn't that demand you had qualifications in same?

What a crock. Interesting pronouncements, such as

"Families just have to do what seems right to them"?

I think not. This is why there are Nanny shows, and Dr. Phil. People want expert, objective advice and need help.

You are the master of your home. You need to ensure that teen and 20-something children living in your home contribute, financially, physically and wholly in family life. I set limits for my children. What a bizarre post!
Yes, your relationship changes, but you will always be their parent and they will always need to feel that you have the wisdom of year and experience. If you foot the bills, you have the right to put your foot down, too.

in an interesting journalist method of the new millennium, is to feature journalists as experts.
The previous post this writer recommends that we give teachers report cards. Oh my. Teaching is far more complex than tests can show. We are monitored every day. If that is failing, blame the principal doing the assessment and review.

This is a bizarre post. "We Should Grade Teachers, Too" Imagine a journalist/mom having the education and experience to make pronouncements about how to assess teachers.

She does not know what goes on at all.

We are assessed, by Principals, many on a 3-year-review cycle. They take into account our performance, they see us day-t0-day and counsel us daily. The recommend Professional Activities. We make annual goals and work around them. We guide and counsel each other, ensuring that we are accountable.

Yet, if you have an issue with a teacher, it will not come out in a report card you suggest we get. It comes in sitting down with the teacher, talking to her about how you feel. Discussing it with the Principal if you are not satisfied, in an atmosphere of collaboration. But so many go running into the office, rant, yell and/or swear about a perceived issue. I believe there are three sides to a story: yours, mine, and the truth.

You should hear the stories we hear about what goes on in your home. We agree to believe 50% of what we hear at home, if you believe 50% of what you hear about school.

It would be nice to read more valuable and informed opinions than this, based on being a mother. These are the silliest posts ever! The reader comments even more enlightening. It all depend upon your experience, not quantifiable, qualified data.