Woes of a Student

Dear [teacher],

As your e-mail implies, there are due dates in which we must comply that occur this week or very early of next week. However, there are a few things that should be considered.

As you know, there was a strike which took 3 weeks out of school time. Three weeks which parted the students from their teachers and for any help needed on a project, assignment, or for general information, we were not allowed to use. Teachers were not allowed to participate in any communication between students regarding homework or projects that have been assigned before the strike.

Teachers, through those 3 weeks, were told they are not allowed to work. However, as e-mails continued going around, a phrase that stuck in my mind states: "It is for your best interest if you continue to work on assignments and projects which have been assigned." I'm sorry, but did I miss something? I thought teachers were on a strike and didn't have to work. They were not allowed to communicate with their students who may of had a question or concern they wanted an answer to. If teachers were not allowed to work, why should the students? Where is the justice behind that?

As you see, and I know I'm not the only student thinking this, the thought going through many heads is as follows:

If teachers do not have to work during those 3 weeks of striking, why should the students? Teachers should not be allowed to assign due dates on the first week back. Seeing as it is already Wednesday at the time of this e-mail, Friday, being just around the corner, is 2 days away. Two days for groups to film their Continuity project. This is NOT enough time for a group to put together a decent video of which they can be proud of.

The excuse, "You should have worked on it during the strike period" does not suffice in any concern brought up. This excuse, and may I be honest here, is childish. One which is the only thing teachers try to use, but there are always countercomments the students could use. One like the one mentioned above about teachers not working, so students don't have to either.

Students were screwed in this situation whether they liked it or not. It's something we're going to have to accept, and work around. However, it is unjust and unfair for teachers to assign a due date for projects in the first week or at the very earliest, a few days into the next week. The difference would be quite noticeable between any group that took the time to do it and decided to film the project before against those who now only have 2 days to complete.

I hope that the thoughts portrayed in this e-mail are evident. To my understanding, Management would dislike it if students were to appeal any mark they receive because of the strike, which students have the right to do.

Students are just as concerned about their marks and the rest of the school year just as much as the teachers say they are, so is it justified to assign due dates within the same week that school returns? So far, a few teachers have said it shouldn't be done because of what the students "could do".

It would appear that even though there was plenty of opportunity to [complete] the project and to think and plan towards the final project over the strike, a number of you elected not to do so.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2006/23/c5406.html
Students were shocked today to learn that the McGuinty government has received a written guarantee from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to flow nearly $7 billion in federal transfer payments to Ontario over the next six years to fund social programmes like housing and post-secondary education, in addition to the $2.25 billion surplus the government realised in the current fiscal year.

"According to the Budget documents, at least $750 million in federal funding is allocated to higher education between 2007-2009," said Jesse Greener, Ontario Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "This is more than enough money to reduce tuition fees, hire more staff and faculty and begin to address building maintenance and repairs."

"Despite the cash injection from the federal government, the financial plan set out in last year's Ontario Budget and reiterated this year hasn't increased by even one cent," said Greener. "In effect, the federal government is picking up the tab for the first two years of Premier McGuinty's Reaching Higher Plan and students are paying for their own student aid programme
through tuition fee hikes."

http://torontosun.com/Comment/Commentary/2006/03/24/1502879.html
Yesterday's Ontario budget revealed the Liberals this year raked in $3 billion more than anticipated in higher tax revenues and lower debt charges. But instead of using this windfall to cut taxes or eliminate the deficit, the premier is shovelling much of it out the door for pie-in-the-sky infrastructure projects.

Before you complain about education costs in Canada, look up what a similar program to ours would cost at an American college and univeristy.

Squirrels are an important part of the eco-system. And are needed for keeping forest bio-diversity and forest health.
Very short-sighted.

Anyway, another study has apparently been funded to investigate why people pay attention to emotionally expressive faces and how negative faces hold attention more than positive ones. That one will cost us $100,000. Seems like a bargain.

Let me tell you something, Dalton. I can save you a lot of money and give you the answer to that last one right now. Negative faces hold attention more than positive ones because when people see an angry face, for example, they have to decide whether to run or fight. Just have a look at the taxpayers in Ontario, Dalton, and you will have an excellent case study to draw from. I would suggest you run far away.

"Academic freedom is great and people can study whatever they wish, but we don't have to support all of that kind of work with research grants ...when we don't have enough money for nurses or to build highways or fund a lot of other things."