As the child of an educational psychologist and a teacher, it’s no
surprise that I advocate for providing Canadians with access to a world class educational
system, nor should it come as a surprise that I am an advocate for diversity, equality,
and universal human rights.
Mere school attendance does not guarantee improved economic status for
Canadians. Research demonstrates that cognitive skills and the quality of
education have a far greater influence on individual earnings, income distribution,
and economic growth. We must provide quality education as a long term financial
investment in Canada
However, I believe one of the greatest strength’s our educational system
is its formal contribution to the enculturation of our children; the deliberate
socialization process by which our children learn the obligations of Canadian culture and
acquire the values and behaviours appropriate and necessary to broader Canadian
society.
While informal enculturation may have Canadians identifying closely with
Molson’s “I am Canadian” rant, hockey and Tim Hortons, it’s the formal
enculturation through our educational system that have the majority of
Canadians identifying closely with the higher ideals of multiculturalism,
diversity, and equality.
This brings me to a tale of two cities, our Toronto
