Let down by the Education System once again!

Recently, you may have read or heard about Emil Cohen. The Northern Secondary School student who was suspended for calling a spade a spade. If you haven't, the full article is here courtesy of the Toronto Sun.

Emile simply summed up the challenges that faced the soccer team throughout the season. Unfortunately, each of the challenges were caused by the school's lack of support for the team and its players. Emile's recanting embarrassed the phys-ed department, and its teachers. The School backed the teachers lack of initiative, and suspended the student for 2-days. This is comparable to going to writing a news-article, criticizing governmental politics, and being incarcerated for 2-days. Are we living in North Korea? Do we want all our children to grow up as drones, living in fear that they can't publicly express their opinions? Emile spoke about sports at a sports assembly. It's not like he interrupted the annual "Grinch who stole Christmas" holiday musical. Emile took time at the right moment to discuss the challenges of the team.

As a student, I knew what it felt like to be under appreciated, and treated as a nuisance. I can recount many stories of how the education system let me down. If it weren't for a strong family system, and the very, very few educators who took the time to work with me, I could have easily been lost in the shuffle and dropped out. I really felt like most of the teachers didn't care. Most of the educators wanted to exact their life frustrations on a defenseless student.

We should be doing more to encourage our students. Instead of punishing them for wanting more support, we should be encouraging their enthusiasm. Using the interest and buzz generated by Emile, why didn't the school set-up a fund raiser for next year's soccer team, instead of suspending him, and removing all his phys-ed privileges? Evidently, it was easier to try and shut him up, and make an example of him, than to have to actually do something that might motivate the student body.

This is a prime example of the education system failing their students. The Belief today is "I am displeased with my job/boss/coworkers/funding/spouse etc. , so our kids are going to pay for it". What a horrible attitude to have when in a position of encouragement & education. What's worse, is that the school board approves this school's actions.

Our educators and school-board workers have chosen to work in the education field. Why don't they start acting like they care about the students instead of acting like they care about a paycheque?

Honk if you're Horny!

Yeah, so Every couple of years, those of us in Streetsville are serenaded by the sounds of import car horns. Oh, the beautiful sounds of high-toned horns honking endlessly through the streets is like music to my ears. The two nations that show the most horn honking aptitude are Portugal and Croatia.

I would like to take some time to thank said decedents for keeping me abreast of the Euro Cup tournament results. Normally, I wouldn't follow the Euro Cup, but my Croatian and Portuguese friends keep me abreast of their wins through honking parades and public drunkenness.

The Police on the other hand are ding an exceptional job in handling the noise pollution. Throughout the night, as the fanfare continues, and the horn honking cuts through the silence, the Police quell the honking by blaring their siren over top of the honking. If you can't imagine the audio battle between horns and sirens, I don't wish that upon you. If the Police were at all concerned, they'd give out tickets. I can see them giving out warnings until midnight, but as soon as the Horns go past 3:00am, the tickets should be out. Hell, I've been given a ticket for parking in a no-parking zone one minute after the pre-determined parking times. If I was honking my horn 4 hours after the pre-designated quiet time, I'd be surprised if I didn't get a ticket.

Tonight, the battle of the Horns continues. Croatia won a Game that brings them to the Quarter finals, while the Portugese fans are honking to assert their Honk Dominance.

I can only wish that both countries are bumped out of the tournament sooner than later. I'm sure the fans won't smarten up and realize that hinking in a residental zone isn't a cool thing to do.

Magic Spray Allover My Face

Note: To all Doctors, Medical Researchers, Lab Technicians, and Nobel Prize hopefuls:

If you’re looking to cure the world’s most notorious ailments, including but not limited to hang nails, bruises, broken bones, cancer, AIDS, erectile difficulty... look no further than the world’s most popular sport. Soccer has discovered a miracle spray that seems to cure all ailments. I’m sure this miracle spray can cure anything with which it comes in contact.

I have had the privilege of watching many Soccer events. No matter if you watch World teams, Premier leagues or Amateur leagues, Soccer trainers seem to have an abundant supply of this “Magic Spray”. Regardless of the magnitude injury, you’ll be sure to see a trainer run out on to the field with a stretcher in one hand and the “Magic Spray” in the other. With the “Magic Spray”, the trainers ease the pain, rejuvenating players and allowing the noble soccer start to continue on with their elite play.

I can recount numerous occasions where a player has been laying on the turf, writhing in pain, tears running down his face, and as soon as the yellow card is issued to the offending player, and the magic spray is applied, to the injured player miraculously curing him and allowing him to continue his play as if he no longer hurts. I know it sounds fantastic and impossible, but believe me! It’s true! The “Miracle Spray” does possess powers beyond my comprehension.

I implore all medical experts to test the powers of the “Magic Spray”. I have seen the noble soccer player, tackled in mid-field; the tackled player’s arms flailing, followed by a six foot leap into the air and finishing with a tuck and roll technique, only to land squarely on his side, grimacing and shrieking in pain. A fall this gruesome could only be accompanied by broken bones and ruptured spleens, yet, the one and only thing that can cure his anguish is to wait for acknowledgment from the ref and to have a member of the trainer staff apply the mystic mist from the “Magic Spray”