You know what’s really

Liberal caucus, learning to carry a tune

getting on my wick? All these apologists who think that whatever disasters the Liberals propagate, they should be forgiven as long as they appear “contrite” and “rueful”, as long as they “learn.” Of course, Graham and Lamrock set the tone themselves and their supporters are only too happy to take the hint. This from the government that wants to give merit raises to government bureaucrats. That wants performance-based contracts. That wants to “measure outcomes” and impose repercussions for anyone who doesn’t “produce”. And we are supposed to wryly shake our heads after each cock-up and say indulgently, “Well, I bet they won’t do that again! Kids, eh? But did you see how abashed they looked? How cute is that? Look at Shawnie with his hands in his pockets, and little Kelly, shuffling his feet.” The ever-consistent Marcelle Mersereau writes, “The Graham government has survived its first serious crisis. There have been lessons learned from this exercise that will not be quickly forgotten.” Not very reassuring from someone who herself seems to have forgotten the serious crisis of last fall, for starters.

Me? I say, “spare the rod.”

[Cross-posted to Living in interesting times.]

It’s … Alive??

The final countdown

has started to Minister Kelly Lamrock’s announcement on August 5 about the future of K-12 education — at least for the next 2-3 years — in New Brunswick.

I hope he is thinking of the history books while pondering his decision.

Recruitment poster

I’d have preferred a dart board, myself …

Introducing the Kelly Lamrock bobblehead.

You will likely think

that I have a nasty, suspicious mind, but I have to say it:

I am growing uneasy about the online “consultation” site. Don’t misunderstand: the whole process is shockingly inappropriate, a deeply cynical move on the part of the Minister.

What I mean is, the comments themselves indicate a whiff of being … how shall I put this delicately? “Supplemented”? “Augmented”? Or perhaps “edited.” Not that one could prove it, of course. But the ratio of pros to cons has shifted precipitately over the past twenty-four hours, though no-one has been quite so foolish as to sign their comment since the earlier instance.

And why, I wonder, has my contribution of two days ago not yet shown up?

The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It’s a three-parter.

Update: Others report the same problem (scroll down to comments).

I am too

disgusted with Kelly Lamrock to make any more photoshop mash-ups, at least right now. He has been given two opportunities for a graceful out, but he is rampaging ahead. It will bite him in the a …er, arm, and hard, but he’s causing a lot of grief in the meantime.

I predict a noticeable drop in “voter apathy” at the next provincial election.

LOL

This takes the proverbial cake. I am reading the comments on the govt. “consultation” site — which by my count are running 27/62/21 (for Lamrock/against/unclear or mixed) — and came across the following on p.5 which I reproduce in its entirety:

Dear Mr. Lamrock,
Your course of action is absolutely, 100% correct, here is why: We placed our son in FI grade 5 in BC. When we returned home he continued in FI, if I had not been teaching Math and Science at home he would have become a great student in speaking French and understanding the culture and that’s all. When he entered High School we placed back into the English system to learn Math and Science. FI is elitist, do they not profess that Francophone children learn in their own language first? All studies I have read implore parents to educate their children in their Mother tongue to gain the very basics. The first four years of a child’s life may be the most important.
Keep up the fight, stand up for the children,do not falter.
Your employee

You can’t make this stuff up, people.

Update (June 28/08): This comment is no longer there. The comments appear to be being edited.

How else can this be explained?

Education Minister Kelly Lamrock, who has the double distinction of being “unfair and unreasonable” as well as winning the prize for the “worst example of public engagement,” who is flirting — and some would say he has gone all the way — with contempt of court, is now on record as thumbing his nose at the provincial ombudsman.

How can this be happening?

There can only be one explanation.

N.B. education as a B movie

N.B. education as a B movie

And did you know

that there is a new Facebook group, Kelly Lamrock Must Resign? Several MLAs have joined. Okay, I made that last part up. But there really is a group.

N.B. education as a B movie

For those following from home:

Some legal definitions:

Quash: to overthrow; to abate; to vacate; to annul, to make void.

Abate: to thrown down, to beat down, destroy, quash. … to bring entirely down or demolish, to put an end to …

The debate continues

back and forth in the media, with a steady and growing groundswell of opinion against Kelly Lamrock’s desperate circling of the wagons. Well, the wagon. It’s increasingly clear that there is only one.

And that it’s wheels are loose.