Tuesday, January 4, 2011

My Friend Nicholas Simons Set to Enter the Race

Well, what a pleasant surprise, the charming, outspoken ideologue  Nick Simons for NDP laeder.....I really didn`t think Simons was going to run, my riding.....Well folks, everyone gets a fair shake at the Straight goods, let`s see how Mr. Simons stacks up..

A man who believes in human equity, a social worker by training, not only is Nicholas Simons a social worker by trade, he was born of pure thought, there is nothing fake about Simons, he truly believes in children, disabled, autistic, mentally challenged, we, as a people could not pick a more caring man than Nick,.....

From watching the legislature, thousands of hours watching, rating, I watched Nicholas Simons go from a shy polite opposition member in 2005 to an angry Nick Simons screaming for children, for a little guy Nick has balls, watching Nick in question period grilling Mary Polak and Magaret McDiarmid over and over again, only to receive sassy comebacks about fast ferries and Glen Clark`s deck, I know the anger Nicholas Simons felt, the man is fighting for every child and the BC Liberals laugh, thank goodness we have laws, for I truly believe Nicholas Simons would physically fight to save even one child if it was legal.......OK friends, the Ian Reid crowd wants Simon`s head on a platter, why, because he spoke up on Carole James`s lackluster performance......

Simons spoke up for children, he` s a lock to win his riding, Simons didn`t risk his MLAship for power, and to be honest, I don`t believe Simons really believes he can win but man, can Simons carry the message, he is a perfect candidate to get the ball rolling, we couldn`t get a better man to run, if you care about human equity and equality, education for all, Simons`s priority is your children.....

I wanted to talk about education for a minute, Falcon has come out with a ridiculous plan to reward teachers, Kevin Falcon really is a dinosaur when it comes to brains, Falcon`s cranium contains but a pea for a brain...

I know nothing about education, being one of the smartest children in school I was unteachable, all children need is someone to listen, the needs, human interaction, there is no better technique,  rewarding teachers for results, the first thing that happens when you go that route, teachers teach to a particular test, meaning this, once the teachers know what the criteria is they merely teach the test, similar to what happens in private schools, private school teachers pander to the Fraser Institute tests, they all fight for top marks, the problem is, private schools aren`t forced to teach the troubled kid, the poor kid, the child with mild autism, with attention deficit disorder, depression and all the other afflictions.......

Most teachers have the best intentions for children, they fight for smaller classrooms, for more special education aides, more staff, over 5000 classes are well above the Provincial law regarding class sizes, with cuts to special education teachers, ESL, special needs children go lacking, can you make a teacher better by offering more money, Nicholas Simons knows how to reach children, the answer isn`t in a fancy new test, the answer for teaching your children is qualified staff that can identify each child`s deficiency early on and address the problem, there is no miracle cure, there is no magic teacher, staff and students must connect on a level, not everyone is going to be a doctor, a scientist, some children with problems are born for music, autistic children that see music like colours in the sky, mentally challenged kids who live for paint, for art, for expression, ADD kids who can be tuned to math, slower kids with big strong bones and hearts who gravitate to sport.....

There is no magic formula, raising these babies, your children require nurturing, we as a Province can raise our overall education standards, but it will require money and staff, early intervention can spare a child a life of despair, in and out the courts and jails, with the proper level of support we can graduate all children, everyone has something to offer...The plan for rewarding teachers by simple grade results will produce cookie cutter children, devoid of free thought and imagination, Nicholas Simons understands that early investment in Children will pay dividends, but what Nicholas Simons understands more than any other politician in British Columbia....

Hungry children don`t learn, kids in poverty will grow to be adults in poverty in many cases, I don`t know that the public is in the mood to put British Columbia children ahead of oil n gas subsidies, I know Nicholas Simons is!

The Straight Goods

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

12 comments:

Hugh said...

I agree, paying teachers based on merit is a dumb idea.

How about paying BC Liberals based on merit?

Let's see,

HST screw-up,
BC Rail corruption scandal,
$400 million stadium roof,
budget fudget,
huge deficit,
screwball Ministry re-org,
BC Hydro being bankrupted,
etc, etc.

terrence said...

I don't have the details at hand, but I have seen figures that show that teachers and classrooms get a small portion of the money spent on education; the biggest portion goes - surprise, SURPRISE - to the education bureaucracy (which has NO contact with schools, let alone children).

If this is true (and I am sure it is), the education bureaucracy should be gutted, scrapped, MASSIVELY reduced in size.

Anonymous said...

What disgusted me the most about Campbell and the BC Liberals is, our over 121.000 children living in poverty. So does, our children being so hungry, they can't focus on their school work. It takes a very sadistic, cruel entity willing to harm children. The BC ministers and mla's, back Campbell up. They are just as bad as he is. All of the BC Liberals, need to be driven out of this province. What Campbell has done to this province, is treason. De Jong should go to prison with Campbell regarding, the corrupt sale of the BCR. Every one of them involved in that crime, should have their assets seized, to give back what was thieved, from this province and the people in it. If you or I committed such crimes, we would do time, for grand larceny. How ever, there are two sets of laws in BC. One for the politicians. Another set for the everyday BC citizens. And, you had dammed well believe...The RCMP would be at our doors in an instant, to arrest us. They too assist Campbell and, refuse to do a further investigation of, Campbell's corrupt sale of the BCR. Many of us believe, we would be better off, with the provincial police.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Thanks Grant for your blog and especially your comments on education and poverty. I'm an elementary teacher in Mission whose students by and large are from low income (poverty) families. We've lost nearly all our teacher aids and services for special needs students over the past few years do to a lack of funding by these crooks.Randy Hawes has publicly voiced his preference for private schools over public. These bastards don't care if they condemn a whole generation just so they and their friends get richer.I'm off work right now recovering from an operation but I wish these bastards could actually come to work with me just for one day to see what damage they continue to inflict on the most vulnerable of us

Grant G said...

Thanks for teaching our children 11:05 am.

I can see the passion in your words.

Bless your sweet soul, I envy you...

God speed on your recovery from surgery.

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

Anonymous said...

It is always the children in BC, who suffer the most. A minimum wage starting at, $6.00 per hour, adds to the children's plight. We see Ida Chong eating away, $6,000 for her fine dining. Campbell gave his useless self, a 53% salary hike. His henchmen were given a 27% increase. A pathetic expenditure, of a retractable roof, that is practically useless. At the top of Campbell's list is himself, and his business buddies. What ever Campbell could thieve and sell for his own coffers, he did so. The children, aren't even on his list, never have been for nine years. Health care, education and such, costs him money, so they are the first to be slashed the most. It is not beneath Campbell's dignity, to kick our teachers and kids in the face. Decent, good people, just don't behave as Campbell does. To normal, sane people, children come first.

Anonymous said...

You know what they say about attracting CEOs, you have to offer them lots of money. As a teacher in this province for far too long I saw a great profession that did get good results, that supported those with learning disabilities, the hungry, the emotionally bankrupt, the extremely bright change into a completely bankrupted system. At one point there were rewards for being the 'star' teacher who only took on the best. It sickened me as the rest of the hard working professionals that lit a fire in students were virtually ignored. Now our results don't show up in the top. We are no longer the leaders in sciences and maths.
It is a direct result of the crap that this liberal government has spewed on the education system.
There is little evidence that 'rewards' produce results. There is much evidence that funding a system to educate our 'most valuable natural resource' well and making it about 'learning for all' produces educated societies.
It seems that the liberals believe as Hitler did; that an educated society is a danger to anyone in power.
Remember the definition on a 3rd world country is no education and health care.

kootcoot said...

If anyone should be paid on a "merit" system it is the Campbell Gang. We would save money and they could all live (or die) on the DTES.

Anyone who signs thirty year hydro deals to buy high and sell low, at our expense, deserves DEMERIT pay. Anyone who can kill the forest industry in BeeCee during the biggest building boom in US history, doesn't even deserve DEMERIT pay, they should be fired. And so on.......

as to:

"The plan for rewarding teachers by simple grade results will produce cookie cutter children, devoid of free thought"

That's exactly what they want!

Anonymous said...

Grant, Here is a read for you by Baldrey, Palmer in regards to Nicholas Simons.

http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/viewfromtheledge/archive/2011/01/05/one-of-the-baker-s-dozen-seeks-the-ndp-leadership.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+canwest%2FF259+(Vancouver+Sun+-+News+%2F+Vancouver)

Henri

Anonymous said...

Grant here is that story address again on the bakers dozen(Nicholas Simons)

http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/viewfromtheledge/default.aspx

Henri

Anonymous said...

Grant, sorry about those addresses, I cant get em right.
Henri

Grant G said...

Henri...Your links work fine for me....

I merely left click your link to highlight it...Then right click, a display comes up and I click copy...

I then clear the address bar, then right click, then click paste, the link appears in the address bar and

Shazzam...The links work.

Thanks Henri.....Our contributers are very wise, no need to apologize...Your mom must be proud of you..

So well mannered.

Cheers