politics – Social Education

Politics vs. Unions

By Larry PattisonPosted on February 22, 2023February 22, 2023Posted in UncategorizedTagged cdnpoli, education minister, government of ontario, ministry of education, OntEd, ontpoli, osstf, politics, speced, unions2 Comments

OPINION: Politics vs. Unions (A pdf version of this opinion piece can also be found here) By Larry Pattison, former HWDSB Trustee and Protector at INSE RE: Recent Labour Negotiations Between the Province and OSSTF December 16, 2019 – Although I have never personally been represented by a union, I have seen more than a […]

Left vs Right, vs Right

By Larry PattisonPosted on February 22, 2023February 22, 2023Posted in UncategorizedTagged bill clinton, donald trump, house of representatives, impeachment, politics, President of the United States of America, president trump, religion, richard nixon, senate, united states, usa, washington, white house, wordpoliNo Comments

At some point, the articles of impeachment will face trial in the Senate. All indications with the way the Senate is represented, are that Trump will not be removed from office and impeachment will once again be nothing more than a couple of post-nominal letters next to his name like PhD, CCC, LLM, ImP.

Letters to Irshad – Afterward

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, community, critical race theory, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, Irshad manji, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli1 Comment

There is no learning in feeling like you have to be silent.

Letters to Irshad – Letter 5

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, community, critical race theory, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, Irshad manji, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli1 Comment

What do we know about the cities we live in and how their histories – good and bad, paint a critical picture from where we’ve come, the influence that has on us, and the clues those stories provide in guiding our path forward?

Letters to Irshad – Letter 4

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, community, critical race theory, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, Irshad manji, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli2 Comments

We have to be okay with where we are now in our opinions and what we know about the world because this is where life has taken us so far.

Letters to Irshad – Letter 3

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, community, critical race theory, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, Irshad manji, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli1 Comment

I dream of our kids being able to be openly inquisitive in exploring these sensitive topics most of all, which includes teaching children strong communication skills. Ensuring our youth have the tools required to have these critical conversations without anyone feeling shamed, gamed, or that their opinions are wrong because our Other doesn’t agree with them.

Letters to Irshad – Letter 2

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, community, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli3 Comments

Irshad, if we want students, parents, and leaders within society to understand the complexity of any issue, we have to be able to have honest and safe conversations without fear or judgement; plain and simple.

Letters to Irshad – Letter 1

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022March 19, 2022Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, k-12 education, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli2 Comments

Be humble in addressing these sensitive topics, while keeping in mind the next generation of youth watching how we engage in this critical discourse.

Letters to Irshad – Forward

By Larry PattisonPosted on March 19, 2022February 23, 2023Posted in Moral CourageTagged cdned, cdnpoli, communication, global issues, globaled, honest diversity, k-12 education, lifelong learning, moral courage, OnPOLI, OntEd, politics, viewpoint diversity, worldpoli1 Comment

I am eager to introduce you to Irshad and to share what she has taught me about engaging in conversations that often divide, in an effort to find a common path forward.