SCHOOL BOARD STUPIDITY AND "DISCOVERY LEARNING"

As if some of us had any doubts as to the amateurism, incompetence, flavour of the month educational fads and overall drivel promulgated by our "educrats" at the Waterloo Regional District School Board as well as others; we now have "discovery learning". According to Gwyn Morgan in today's Waterloo Region Record article titled "Why parents should worry about student math scores"; this latest educational fad is quite simply nonsense. Mr. Morgan states "If you suspect this destructive teaching fad was designed by math and science - phobic humanities graduates, your suspicions are well founded, considering that only a small proportion of teachers and administrators have significant post-secondary math and science training.".

The opposite of this mickey mouse 'discovery learning" is fact-based learning. For math and science training it is the only way. One other issue which is the elephant in the room is the competentcy of many teachers. Qualified and effective teachers must replace those whose qualifications are measured solely by their years of seniority. Teaching is far too important a career to be left in the hands of either unions or their in-bed together school administrations ie. boards.