Category: Children

What is Happening in Our Schools? (Part Three)

There was a time when I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) thought I’d heard and seen it all, but clearly, I haven’t. Being a former teacher, I have always taken note of what is happening in our schools because I care about our youth. I’ve devoted most of my life working with youth, and I hope I’ve impacted their lives for the better. Seeing what’s happening in our schools is discouraging. My last two posts were about, ‘What is happening in our schools,” so here is what I’ve learned since my last blog post.

Global News talks about a Controversial West Kelowna billboard which had to be taken down. The billboard reads: What are your kids really learning in school? That is a question all parents should be asking. A Fox News article, A message from parents to schools — stop sexualizing our kids, says:

In recent months, parents have grown more and more upset by curricular content within public schools, demanding changes for the sake of their children. While their concerns include issues like critical race theory, they have also expressed outrage at sexually explicit materials in schools, easily accessible by young children…Schools have moved beyond the initial boundaries of “sex education” to ask our children for intimate details about their lives, making it seem as if young teenagers and even children should have sex. 

Parents are outraged here in Canada like in the United States. Schools seem to be presenting sex as a normal thing for children. Why are schools doing this? I discuss one possible reason in my last post. Many argue that it is Christians and conservatives that oppose sexually explicit materials in schools, but, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs protest against the sexual indoctrination of kids in BC schools. Yet, school boards try to silence concerned parents as, Ottawa school trustees shut down parent critical of trans policy. Parents are being bullied. (#bullying, #antibullying)! The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (The Charter) says Canadians have freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression… Based on what I’ve observed, ‘The Charter’ is a spineless document. This is why the National Post says, Canada was designed as a free country, but no longer is, so even Mainstream Media admits Canada is no longer a free country.

Even more disturbing is a School board in B.C. collecting photo ID, personal data of concerned parents. As I said in my previous post, Big Brother is watching you. Watch Tucker Carlson’s interview a Canadian Catholic school student arrested for saying men and women are different.

Then there are the B.C. child educators who will soon be learning how to ‘decolonize’ daycares and implement ‘gender-diverse’ curriculums. The article speaks of instruction being given to early childhood educators on how to use “intentional language to better include gender diverse children” saying these children are “worthy of being embraced and celebrated.” These public policies and training practices are being given to daycare workers who work with preschoolers; children 6 or younger. Do these children even know what gender is? I doubt it. This is indoctrination, the repeating of an idea or belief to someone until they accept it without criticism or question. Then there is the Ontario school board that focuses on divisive woke race-based hiring.

Watch this video of a school board that cuts off a Mother, only to have her son step in to point out the hypocritical board policy. This student explains that if he tries to google an “inappropriate” website he is immediately flagged, yet he can walk into his school library and find sexually explicit materials. That is hypocrisy! If you’re going to have sexually explicit materials available in school libraries, then allow students to access porn sites. Please understand, I am not advocating for that. I am merely pointing out the hypocrisy of these policies. Canada’s insanity is making world news as Tucker CANNOT believe what the school did to this girl after she made the wrong complaint. This girl was suspended for complaining about a trans person-with male genitalia-in the girl’s change room. As Mark Twain once said, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Listen to Tuckers interview. It is eye opening.

Another controversy schools will face in the not so distant future is the use of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools that can generate humanlike stories, essays, poems and other written forms, according to the opinion piece, Educators: why not embrace artificial intelligence writing tools. Let’s make cheating even easier, why don’t we?  This will become an educator’s nightmare, but there are those who like this technology as a mother whose teen son struggles with a learning disability urged him to turn in an essay written by ChatGPT. I am so grateful I don’t have to deal with AI technologies.

Many Canadians believe critical race theory (CRT) isn’t prevalent in Canadian schools, falsely believing critical race theory is just an American issue. The article, Critical Race Theory In Canadian Schools, suggests otherwise. I touched on CRT in schools in my previous post. What is CRT all about? The article, What Is Critical Race Theory? describes CRT as a “way of thinking about America’s history through race,” and it focusses on the idea that racism is systemic in a country’s institutions. This theory argues that a country’s institutions work to keep white people in a powerful position. Those against CRT say it is trying to rewrite American history, and tells white people that they are innately racist, and should feel guilty because of their white privilege. Those in favour of CRT argue that students get an incorrect picture of American history without this curriculum, and that it is damaging for students to think that racism, discrimination, and past injustices have no affect on society today.

You’re likely wondering what I think as a former educator. CRT should not be taught in our schools.  The problem with CRT is it focuses on what divides us—our differences—instead of what we have in common. No matter what a person’s beliefs, skin colour, or culture is, we are all united as humans. We need to focus on what unites and not what divides us. You may not think my view as worth much being I belong to the “privileged race,” so listen to what this African American says about CRT. He speaks truth.

CRT is indoctrination, and as the gentleman in the video says, it “keeps racism alive.” The Association for Psychological Science says, Young Children Are Especially Trusting of Things They’re Told. “Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth” is a law of propaganda which is often attributed to Joseph Goebbels who was Hitler’s Reich Minister of Propaganda. Watch the video of Black ELEMENTARY Students Forcing White Kids To Pledge that black lives matter. That is what happens when kids become indoctrinated by CRT.

I’ll reiterate what a censured teacher said in an interview with the National Post who said, “Teaching is now a political act that involves indoctrinating children instead of educating them. There’s a lot of reason to be afraid. We are in a kind of cultural revolution and people really do need to pay attention.”

This insanity isn’t just affecting our schools. Parents are furious about ‘naked man’ entering a girls’ locker room in a Calgary swimming pool. I wrote about this in my last post. Then there is the Storytime drag protester to spend weeks in custody. This is a story about a Calgary man who protested a drag show geared towards kids who was denied bail after refusing to distance himself from future shows and drag performers. These protests prompted the mayor to outlaw protests by increasing enforcement at Calgary city hall. This new law prompted Calgary cops to plot to grab anti-drag protester. The Charter says Canadians have freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, but that’s only if you have the “right” viewpoint. In the province of Saskatchewan, there’s Steadfast support of Saskatoon’s trans community at a city council discussion. Saskatoon’s city council chambers were filled to capacity when people came to speak on the topic of public change room access for trans people. Listen to the video where an 11-year-old expresses fears about the policy.

Ontario considering banning TikTok in public schools. This is not a bad policy as the app has consequences for children. There are concerns about potential data breaches, and for the mental and physical health of children. The article refers to a survey that says many young Canadians believe excessive use of social media negatively impacts children’s mental health. Why just target TikTok? What about other social media platforms?

American Politician, Tom Allen said, “I think we have a moral obligation to our children that can be easily summarized: number one, protect them from harm.” Kids are being harmed with these absurd policies. As I said in my last blog post, “leave them kids alone.”

What is Happening in Our Schools? (Part two)

When I wrote (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) What is Happening to Our Schools? I thought our schools couldn’t get any worse, but it turns out I’m wrong. The school insanity continues.

When I began teaching in my first school, I was told there was a dress code for teachers which meant male teachers had to wear a tie. My, how things have changed. In September of 2022 a Canadian school backed trans teacher with giant prosthetic breasts, with the stance they’re protecting “gender rights.” It seems anything goes nowadays, including males wearing prosthetic breasts. I would have been fired, and likely put into a mental institution, if I’d pulled such a stunt. Ironically, now it is being reported that this Trans teacher with Z-size prosthetic breasts dresses as man outside of school. One would think if you sincerely want to be a female, you would dress like one on all occasions. Even more insane is A British Columbia secondary school is promoting a workshop for students between 14-year-olds to 19-year-olds on how to access “gender affirming care. Now we’re teaching kids how to change genders.

We Canadians think we live in a country where there is freedom of speech, but that is an illusion. A Canadian Student was Kicked Out of Catholic School for Expressing Biblical Beliefs on Gender. You can say what you want if it agrees with authorities, but the reality is Big Brother is watching you. In case you don’t know, the phrase ‘Big Brother Is Watching You’ comes from the novel 1984 by George Orwell, a novel I studied in high school. It has since become a phrase that refers to threats of government scrutiny.

Watch the news cast about a High School that Orders Removal Of All Urinals In The Name Of Gender Equity. These school board believes All-gender washrooms are a big sign of inclusion in these Canadian schools. Do students support this? Not all of them as Students protest multiple ‘gender neutral’ bathrooms at Alberta high school. My great niece attends one of these schools with ‘gender neutral’ washrooms, and she avoids going to the washroom all day because of fear of meeting boys there. That signals there’s a problem with ‘gender neutral’ washrooms.

I just read about a Parent furious a transgendered men was allowed into girls’ changing room at Calgary pools. Is this what is happening in our schools? If the school has gender neutral washrooms, it is happening. Watch the video below about a student who leaves woke school board SPEECHLESS. This kid is amazing! He reveals truth. This grade 11 student tells about his experience in school and why he is changing schools.

You can also watch it on Rumble should censorship happen. The censorship going on is not only about gender, but it’s also about racism as  Anti-Anglophone “Wokeness” Dominates Canada’s Education System. Being a white (Caucasian) is a bad thing now. Then there is the pronoun confusion. The pronoun thing confuses the hell out of me, so I’m sure our young people are confused too. Watch the video, This Is Really Where the Pronoun Madness Has Led to. The video is about a middle school student in the United States being charged with sexual harassment because he refused to use pronouns. This is bullying (#bullying, #antibullying)! and it’s not only happening in Canada.

I recently read that Dr. Seuss was re-classified as adult fiction, gets “racism” complaints: Ottawa Public Library.  The thing about our schools is books are being censored because they are deemed as racist, yet a Canadian dad feels the need to rip school board for sexually explicit book available to young children, gender policies. Watch this 11-year-old SILENCE a School Board as he reads from a sexually explicit book found in his school library. You can also watch it here. If you’re a parent, ask why: Are These 7 LGBT ‘Kids’ Books in Your Child’s Classroom or School Library?  A Father exposes child grooming books in Canadian schools. Is this what is happening? Are our children being groomed? The article suggests sexually explicit books are being used as tools by predators to aid them in child grooming. Are people trying to normalize pedophilia? If you’re a parent or grandparent, read this article. It’s alarming to think this may be why these types of books are showing up in school libraries.

As far as I’m concerned, our school system is warping the minds of our children. We are confusing kids about gender and teaching them to be racist. That is what Critical Race Theory does in my view, and many others agree. Is there an agenda? You bet.  ‘A lot of reason to be afraid,’ says censured teacher critical of the woke revolution in classrooms. In an Interview with the National Post, this teacher said, “Teaching is now a political act that involves indoctrinating children instead of educating them. There’s a lot of reason to be afraid. We are in a kind of cultural revolution and people really do need to pay attention.”

In a February state of the nation speech, Russia’s President Putin said Western nations are trying to “‘distract people’s attention’ from corruption scandals … from economic-social problems…Look at what they do to their own people: the destruction of families, of cultural and national identities and the perversion that is child abuse all the way up to pedophilia, are advertised as the norm … and priests are forced to bless same-sex marriages.” Mainstream Media (MM) maintains Russia is our enemy, but are they? If you have been reading my blogs in past years, you know what I think of the MM. Is Putin merely trying to warn us about the insanity in our Western world?

Here are some other ridiculous things happening in our schools. A N.S. school fires coach after he makes late team members run exercises. When I was teaching, kids were taught to be responsible to their team, and there were consequences for being late. Is that no longer the case? Seems so. School boards placing equity lens as priority even for tree pruning jobs. Equity means staff should reflect the “diversity of the community.” The article states, “It used to be…that prospective employers were not permitted to ask or discriminate against candidates based on age, sexuality, religion and any other personal details that really have nothing to do with one’s ability to perform a particular job. That was when one’s ability to nab a job was based on merit.” I guess ability to do a job doesn’t matter anymore. Human rights are protected for transgender people, but not for those who belong to a majority ethnic group.

 Then there is the Canadian school board who votes to terminate teacher who dared to teach truths about Residential School deaths. You’re not allowed to have an opinion or speak truth anymore. It makes people too uncomfortable. “Truth is only visible to those who are able to question everything that they have been taught to believe.” I don’t know who said that, but he or she is bang on. People don’t want to hear truth. It seems Youngsters are becoming infected with adult climate cult hysteria, govt data shows. Let’s panic our youth more. No wonder teachers don’t want to teach anymore. I personally know of a few. It’s why Ontario school boards are hiring uncertified emergency staff.

Yet another survey shows people think things are broken in Canada. This survey says 65% of Canadians agree it feels like many things in Canada are broken. That means 65% are willing to admit something is wrong in Canada. The fact is, all our institutions—schools, government, judicial system, religious institutions and many others—are broken. Things are broken in Canada, and not just in Canada. All of North America and the Western world are broken. As a veteran teacher of 35 years, I find what is happening in our schools very upsetting. I’m happy I am no longer teaching or have children in school. If you’re a parent, or grandparent, you need to pay attention to what’s happening in our schools. Are our children being indoctrinated to think a certain way? Are you okay with that? As a former teacher, I know how easy it is to influence young people, and persuasion can be used for both good or evil. To quote the Pink Floyd song, Another Brick In the Wall, I bet many kids are saying, “Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone.” I say, “leave them kids alone.”

What is Happening to Our Schools?

Those of you who read my (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) blog know that I am a retired school teacher. Over the years, I’ve participated in and supervised many school events that were fun and brought joy to students. We’ve just had Valentine’s Day, and at one of the schools I taught at the High School Student Council would organize events like sending a flower, along with a message, to their boyfriends or girlfriends, to someone they secretly liked, or to someone they admired. Even I received a flower on occasion. This tradition made people feel special and appreciated. I always thought it was a wonderful activity, so you can imagine how shocked I was to read about an Ontario school who banned Valentine’s Day. What is so wrong with Valentine’s Day?  It’s a day of tradition where one’s beloved is honoured. Their reasons for prohibiting this day are lame to say the least.

Then there is the BC elementary school cancels Mother’s Day, introduces ‘The Grownups Who Love Us Day’. Why are they trying to erase motherhood and fatherhood from our culture? The school’s reasoning behind the name change is so that all students can feel included in card-making. They claim students with one parent or with a deceased parent are excluded. I went to school with classmates whose mother or father had passed away. It wasn’t an issue then, so why now?

Then there is the New Brunswick (NB) school that silences Oh Canada, Canada’s National Anthem. That’s insanity. NB is a province in Canada. Apparently, Oh Canada is no longer a daily morning event at Belleisle Elementary as the school’s principal dropped it to accommodate parents who didn’t want their children taking part singing the anthem. The principal wouldn’t say why the parents objected to their kids taking part, citing privacy reasons. I guess the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” The trend nowadays is if something offends just one person, you ban it. As American conservative political commentator, Rush Limbaugh says, “It’s impossible to go through life not offending people. All you have to do is basically have an opinion on anything, and you’re gonna offend people,” or as English-born American political activist, Thomas Paine said, “He who dares not offend cannot be honest.” Stop banning things for a few whiners.

Something is terribly wrong. It seems our schools are becoming places where fun and tradition are banned, but some things schools are doing border on craziness. A Hamilton high school students fired from a hospital co-op placement over “OK” hand gesture. The student’s employer alleged that an “OK” hand gesture she made in a social media photo was a symbol of white supremacy. What? It usually denotes approval, agreement, and all is well or “okay.” Who decided it was a hate symbol? The best one yet is Math now racist according to Ontario court. Say what? Apparently Math Proficiency Tests are “unconstitutional” as it impairs non-white teacher candidates. I’m baffled! Ban proficiency tests, because they’re unfair to immigrant teachers, and allow the quality of teachers to decrease. Seems logical. I’m being sarcastic of course.

Spirit days were huge in the schools I worked in. We had crazy hair days, pajama days, crazy hat days, dress as your hero days, formal dress day, to name a few. They were fun for both teachers and students. Yet, an Ontario school board bans spirit days, wacky hair days for woke reasons. You see, fun days are banned because the school board claims spirit days need to be reimagined because many are racist, ableist (discrimination based on disability), exclusionary and push colonialism. Pardon me? Are they saying crazy hair days are racist or exclusionary? I guess the bald students are excluded, but in my 35 years of teaching, I never taught a student without hair. I worked with colleagues who lacked hair though. Forbidding kids to have fun in school is bullying (#bullying, #antibullying) plain and simple.

A University lecturer is disciplined for wearing Indigenous costume as teaching aid. Yes, you read that correctly. The professor dressed up as an Indigenous person because he was discussing a book about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He says he dressed up as an Indigenous person to get his students’ attention, and had reportedly worn other costumes in the weeks leading up to this incident while teaching other lessons. His behaviour was deemed inappropriate although the article fails to say how it’s inappropriate. I guess creative teaching is banned. No wonder students are bored. Then there is the Ontario teacher who is allowed to keep license after criticizing WOKE ideology, but we live in a country where free speech is allowed, right?

Where things really get bizarre are the positions taken by authorities regarding sex education and gender issues. Take for example the Waterloo school board trying to obliterate debate over sexualized children’s books. The board decided not to post the video of a controversial public meeting where a long-serving teacher was cut off for questioning the value of two highly sexualized children’s books in school libraries. Another School Board cuts mom’s mic for reading GRAPHIC assignment given to daughter. I guess it’s okay for 15-year-olds to read these assignments but inappropriate for a mother to read it to the School Board whiling expressing her horror. You can’t make this stuff up, folks.

Then there is the Ottawa school board gender guide that says teachers can’t question washroom preferences. The board orders teachers to accommodate students who wish to use the opposite sex’s change rooms, affirming that “self-identification” is the only determinant of a student’s gender. When I was in school, students were disciplined for going into the opposite sex’s washrooms. I guess it’s okay in today’s schools. Most disturbing is the Masturbation homework given to B.C. junior kindergarten students. Yes, you read that right; kindergarten students. Kindergarten students are as young as 4 years old. The teacher sent home a masturbation worksheet taken from a guide called “Body Smart: Right From the Start.” When I was teaching, we would have been severely reprimanded, if not fired, for doing such a thing.

Then there is the university Professor who says let’s ditch the term pedophile for ‘minor-attracted person’. I have nothing to say about that, except to quote author Mike Lew who said, “The rape of a child is a violent act of contempt, not an expression of sexuality or affection.”

Edmonton, an Alberta city, is embedding “anti-racism” into the kindergarten-to-grade 6 curriculum, as explained in the news article, Edmonton to teach kindergarteners “anti-racism” curriculum. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is controversial to say the least, and that’s a whole other blog post. True North columnist Sue-Ann Levy says, “School boards…are already trying to indoctrinate kids as young as kindergarten with this very dangerous CRT philosophy, which is divisive and racist in its selectivity.”  I couldn’t agree more. CRT is indoctrination.

The National Post columnist, Rex Murphy: Toronto school board takes lunacy to a whole new level. He talks of a Toronto School board who is contemplating censoring a Jewish trustee who complained about anti-Semitic materials. What is there to say about that?  I guess it is okay to have students read anti-Semitic books as well as sexualized children’s books.

A new Leger poll reveals reports that Canadians agree with Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre that Canada is broken. The poll says 67% of Canadians agree with the statement made by a Canadian politician who stated that “it feels like everything is broken in this country right now”. I have to agree! Canada’s schools certainly are broken. American football player, Justin James (J.J) Watt, said, “What I remember most about high school are the memories I created with my friends.” I guarantee you those memories were not teacher lessons. Memories came from fun. Stop taking the fun out of schools. Stop this madness!

Has the World Gone Insane?

English actor and comedian, John Cleese, once said, “The World is insane. With tiny spots of sanity, here and there… Not the other way around!”  I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors)  think he’s right. An online Dictionary defines insanity as “extreme foolishness or irrationality.” It was Albert Einstein who said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We’re told that we are now in the 4th wave—some say fifth—of COVID driven by the Omicron variant. CTV News says ‘We are in for the long haul’: Canadians experience pandemic fatigue amid fourth wave. It’s more than fatigue; people are fed up considering an Australian man sets himself on fire to protest COVID restrictions.

In the National Post, Jordan Peterson wrote a piece, Open the damn country back up, before Canadians wreck something we can’t fix, describing how insane our world has gotten. He writes, “the country is growing more authoritarian in response to fear,” and “We are pushing the complex systems upon which we depend and which are miraculously effective and efficient in their often thankless operation to their breaking point.”  World citizens are fed up demonstrated by Millions protested vaccine mandates, and the media barely mentioned it.

The CDC Director Admits Vaccines Don’t Prevent Transmission, and that  Over 75% Of COVID Deaths In Vaccinated Had ‘At Least 4 Comorbidities’.  The British gov’t admits efficacy of face masks is ‘not conclusive’. Nearly 15,000 Deaths, More than 700,000 Injuries Reported to VAERS Since December 2020 Rollout of COVID Vaccines in U.S. yet the CDC says vaccines are safe and effective. We’re told vaccines are the only way  out of the alleged pandemic, and Ivermectin is unsafe, yet the WHO’s Own Website: Even When Taken In Animal Doses, Ivermectin “NOT Hazardous To Humans!” Canada’s top doctor, Theresa Tam, says there’s No data suggesting vaccine passports work. Most interesting is the Food and Drug Administration or FDA Now Wants 75 Years to Release Pfizer Vaccine Documents. What are they hiding? And why has the Trudeau Government Exempting Immigrants From Medical Testing. This much confusion can only be described as insane!

Global News reports on a January 2022 poll suggesting a slim majority of Canadians support the latest round of lockdowns and other government-imposed restrictions. It says 56% of respondents in the poll agreed governments are making the right decisions to limit the spread of Omicron and keep the health system from being overrun. The fact is, government restrictions failed to stop the spread of COVID, and many restrictions are ridiculous like Canada’s Top 10 worst and weirdest winter COVID restrictions.

What’s irrational is the lack of concern for the casualties of lockdowns and restrictions such as how Lockdowns killed more Canadians under 65 than COVID-19: Statscan. Very alarming is the 4 million cries for help: Calls to Kids Help Phone soar amid pandemic. Most insane is Washington State Elementary Students Are Eating Outside In 39-Degree Weather While Teachers Dine Indoors – For ‘Safety’  Even the New York Times Admits America Sacrificed Children’s Well-Being For Sake Of Adults’ Safety In The Name Of COVID-19, stating: [Some] have begun backtracking on previously held beliefs regarding COVID-19. From Jen Rubin admitting COVID-19 is not as deadly as it first appeared, to Dr. Anthony Fauci saying we’re ‘overcounting’ come cases…

The Toronto Sun has a opinion piece titled, As more people get mild Omicron, they’re questioning the need for restrictions. It states that “If we hadn’t been tested and knew it was Omicron, we would have thought it was just a cold.”  It’s irrational, and all out insanity to ignore the damage caused by government-imposed restrictions. I haven’t even got into damage done to our economies.

Remember when ‘conspiracy theory’ people were laughed at for suggesting in 2020 and 2021 that a nationwide vaccine passport system was coming; a ‘conspiracy theory’ that became truth like the 7 COVID ‘Conspiracy Theories’ That Came True in 2021. As Brazilian lyricist, Paulo Coelho says, “If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid.”  The article, Inside the Omicron fear factory says, “Public health chiefs and the media are working overtime to gin up hysteria.”  Yet Many Seem To Think The Loss Of Freedom Will Only Impact ‘Other People, according to Spencer Fernando who says:

Putting our faith in any one politician or party will only continue to perpetuate the cycle of hope & betrayal that comes with expecting people to be anything other than focused on using powerful centralized systems to further their own interests at our expense.

Maybe this is why our hypocritical political elites don’t appear to be afraid of the Omicron variant since hours after Alberta’s premier called for holiday restrictions, his political party holds Xmas party for hundreds, and Alberta’s top, Doctor Hinshaw will not ‘judge’ UCP for having Christmas party despite recommendations. Irrational behaviour was exposed when Alberta Health Services CEO was Caught Spreading Misinformation About ICU Bed Capacity.

Restrictions are causing major havoc on our planet. Jordan Peterson, who I mentioned earlier, clearly shows that in his article. He describes extensively his Christmas trip experience—not a good experience—discussing his frustrations due to staff shortages caused by job losses from mandatory vaccinations and COVID restrictions. It’s not just him saying it. The Counter Signal says Lockdown stresses linked to labour shortages which will be filled with immigrants.  Kelowna airport temporary shut down of food, beverage service ‘unprecedented’ due to lack of staff. After Christmas our daughter flew back to Europe where she currently lives. She had difficulty finding food in Toronto International Airport as most food outlets were closed. Then there is the Mounting pressures: Alberta sees ambulance red alerts, hospital closures, and staff redeployments. Extreme foolishness on the part of government COVID policy is causing this staffing crisis.

As Albert Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” and that is what our governments are doing. They continue to lock us down, force us to wear masks, isolate, and shove the vaccines. This is shown with Quebec announces a 3rd booster will be required for vaccine passport and Quebec to impose ‘significant’ financial penalty against people who refuse to get vaccinated. Trudeau plans on vaccinating Canadians 2 to 3 times every year, even as experts denounce his plan. Does he know something we don’t? All these actions, and still Omicron: Infections in Canada exceed total cases for all of 2020. If that isn’t insanity, I don’t know what is.

Most insane is a September 16, 2021 interview with Justin Trudeau where our Prime Minister said this about the unvaccinated. You can watch a clip here.

“We are going to get through the pandemic with vaccinations…there is a part of the population fiercely against it. They are extremists, they don’t believe in science, they’re often misogynists, and also racists…This leads us, as a leader and as a country. to make a choice. Do we tolerate these people?” 

Canada’s leader endorses hatred towards the unvaccinated. In this video, he committed a hate crime (see Canada’s Criminal Code). He is a bully (#bullying, #antibullying).  Canada’s Opposition shockingly silent on PM’s hatred of unvaccinated Canadians, according to Toronto Sun. Also, the UK media pummels Trudeau for rant against “racist, misogynist” unvaxxed. Spencer Fernando says Trudeau’s Dangerous & Dictatorial Rhetoric Is An Appeal To The Worst Aspects Of Human Nature. A New York academic slams Trudeau for dehumanizing the unvaccinated. A Jewish author calls Trudeau “unethical, immoral” and “evil” over comments on unvaccinated. I couldn’t agree more. The Counter Signal comments on The one group of people Canadians openly discriminate against: the unvaccinated. Insanity ensues when a country’s leader promotes hatred toward a group of its citizens.

The Federalist reports Canadian Ronald McDonald House Plans To Evict Unvaxxed in Vancouver revealing “everyone five years and older who are working, staying, or visiting our facilities must show proof of full vaccination.” Ronald McDonald House Charities is a nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. The family was staying in Ronald McDonald house while their 4-year-old son received treatment for leukemia. I know of a local family who were asked to leave their relative’s house when it was discovered they were unvaccinated. These things would never happen if leaders didn’t pit its citizens against one other by promoting hatred towards the unvaccinated. The most ridiculous headline I recently saw was the UK’s Daily Mail headline,  Wearing a facemask makes you more attractive to the opposite sex, study finds. That folks is extreme foolishness! How can you be attracted to someone when you’re unable to see their face? That’s insanity. Try to convince me otherwise.

Are We Playing Simon Says?

You probably noticed I’ve (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) taken a break from blogging, instead, spending time in nature, camping with my wife and occasionally with some of my children. It was my way to disconnect from all the craziness in this world of ours. I’m sure you’ll agree, sometimes we need a break.

Coming back to reality, I see the craziness continues. It feels like I’m in a game of ‘Simon Says,’ a game I played as a kid. If you are unfamiliar with the game, it is a children’s game where one player takes the role of “Simon” and issues instructions to the other players, which should be followed only when prefaced with the phrase “Simon says.” Players are eliminated from the game by either following instructions that are not immediately preceded by the phrase, or by failing to follow an instruction which does include the phrase “Simon says.” It teaches the ability to distinguish between genuine and fake commands. The object for the player acting as Simon is to get all the other players out as quickly as possible; the winner of the game is usually the last player who has successfully followed all commands.

Simon—really, I mean the government, health professionals, and legacy(mainstream) media—says Covid cases are rising, no, Covid cases are dropping, stay indoors, wear a mask, wear two masks, only 10 can gather outside, no, now Simon says 20 can. Stay 6 feet or 2 metres apart, but only when you’re not wearing a mask.  Wear a mask outdoors, no, you’re safe outdoors without a mask since Covid doesn’t spread easily outdoors, masks work, masks don’t work, vaccinations protect you, vaccinations may not protect you, unvaccinated are spreading virus, no, the vaccinated are spreading virus. As in the game, the directives and narratives are constantly changing.

Let me tell you what I see happening these days. The narrative has been (or shall we say Simon says) get vaccinated as the Unvaccinated People Are Increasing the Chances for More Coronavirus Variants and Unvaccinated Albertans are majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, deaths: Hinshaw, Alberta’s designated top doctor. But then Simon says (narrative changes) as Fauci: Amount of Virus in COVID-19 Breakthrough Delta Cases ‘Almost Identical’ to Unvaccinated. Now Simon says Vaccinated people spreading Delta variant just as quickly as the unvaccinated: Leaked CDC document. Now that’s a 180 degree turn. Simon says this is partly based on a CDC study shows 74% of people infected in Massachusetts Covid outbreak were fully vaccinated. I am so confused. I always taught in my biology classes that vaccinations artificially made people immune to the virus because it induced the production of antibodies. Do the shots protect us or not? Seems not since the PHE released a report revealing 62% of alleged Covid deaths are people who’ve been vaccinated. Are Covid vaccines effective? I have to wonder since Simon is now saying  Covid Delta variant: Two vaccine shots may be ineffective, booster shots needed [details].

Simon says  COVID Vaccines Aren’t Dangerous, but then he says, FDA Approval Of Pfizer COVID Vaccine Does Not Mean It’s ‘Safe’, Liberty Counsel Says. Simon even says there are Possible Side Effects After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine. Even serious ones as Simon says, CDC Finds More Cases of Heart Inflammation Than Expected in Vaccinated Young Males. Simon even says the COVID Vaccine Injury Reports Jump by 27,000 in One Week, FDA Pulls ‘Bait and Switch’ With Pfizer Vaccine Approval. Do Covid shots work? I cannot listen to Simon anymore when he contradicts himself.

Now Simon says our children should be jabbed as Alberta schools to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics this fall. Why would Simon say that? when the Majority of COVID-19 victims were very old and had serious health problems: StatsCan. Even the CDC says 0.04% of COVID-19 Deaths Are in Children 17 and Under. That means youth (17 and under) have a survival rate of 99.96%. Nova Scotia releases COVID comorbidity stats also say this. Why would Simon say our youth need the shot? Seems to me they have natural protection. Yet, PA Push For Kids To Get Vaccine Without Parental Consent Advances. Why would Simon say such things? Is Simon trying to confuse us? Is Simon up to something?

What about Travel? Simon says you can travel if vaccinated as Trudeau doubles down on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for domestic travel, but then Mixed vaccines could keep British Columbians from cruise travel. But if you traveling over the southern border in the US, Simon says it’s okay, even though there is a  900% Increase In Migrants Coming Over Border Testing Positive For Covid. Simon is so confusing.

Simon first told us the PCR Tests: Gold Standard in Fighting COVID-19, but now Simon says The CDC Is Withdrawing Its Original PCR Test for COVID—Here’s Why That’s a Good Thing. In other words, the CDC Revokes Emergency Use Authorization To RT-PCR For COVID-19 Testing. The CDC now says that many of the COVID-19 cases this past year could NOT be distinguished from “flu cases.” That explains why flu cases in Alberta decreased to zero in 2020. If the PCR is the gold standard, as Simon says, then why does Simon sometimes say Up to 90% of PCR Tests for COVID-19 May Be False Positives. Plus the inventor of the PCR test said that the PCR test was not made to detect any type of infectious disease (see Never Said). Simon changes his mind a lot.

Now Simon says New Zealand Locks Down After Single Suspected Covid Variant Case, but then says Despite ‘Delta’ Alarmism, COVID-19 Deaths Hit 16-Month Low and 35,000 Americans Getting Symptomatic COVID-19 a Week Despite Being Vaccinated: CDC. Simon is so puzzling. In the US McConnell hints at LOCKDOWNS if more Americans don’t get vaccinated, but then Fauci predicts US will not return to lockdowns despite Delta variant risks. Do lockdowns work or not? If this is the forth wave of Covid, then clearly they aren’t working (What will Canada’s 4th COVID-19 wave look like? Here’s what the experts, data say). Furthermore, why would Simon promote more lockdowns when Lockdowns killed more Canadians under 65 than COVID-19: Statscan? The Use of fentanyl, cannabis and methamphetamines in Canada skyrocketed during pandemic: report tells me that lockdowns do more harm than good, since more people die from the lockdowns than the virus.

What about masks? What does Simon say about that? Canada’s top doc encourages Manitobans to keep masks on, and Wear a mask during sex, skip kissing, Canada’s top doctor suggests. So, More Winnipeg school divisions mandate masks, vaccines. Then Simon says masks are needed outside as Joe Biden tells parents to make their children wear masks OUTSIDE to keep them safe from COVID, then Simon says, Penn State AD says no masks will be required for outdoor seating at Beaver Stadium. Make up your mind, Simon! Curbing Covid Spread Requires Wearing Masks, Fauci Says, but then Simon says, CDC: Students Wearing Masks No Longer Need Quarantine, Even if ‘Close Contact’. Then Simon confuses me more, saying FINALLY a Clinical Trial on Facemasks in Children – Parents Take Note! saying masks harm children.

When Covid started, Simon said Here’s how scientists know the coronavirus came from bats and wasn’t made in a lab, and No evidence of novel coronavirus originating from a laboratory. Then Simon changes his mind, and says, BOMBSHELL: House Committee finds COVID-19 leaked from Wuhan lab. Then he says something disturbing, saying Coronavirus is a Biological Warfare Weapon. Simon, you are scaring me.

It’s not just me who is confused by Simon. WATCH: Police officer vents his frustration at inconsistent Covid rules and Confused on COVID rules? You’re not alone. As a kid, when I was tired of playing a game, I simply quit playing the game. I am tired of playing Simon’s Covid game. So, I quit. The truth is, I quit listening to Simon (government leaders, health officials, and Legacy or Mainstream Media) long ago. I would rather trust my own thinking, and not Simon’s. His directives are just too damn mystifying. Plus, I have to wonder if Simon is a tyrant as Why the Silence in the Face of Covid Tyranny? – AIER. Tyrants are cruel, unreasonable, and like to use power or control. Simon, are you just being a bully (#antibullying, #bullying)? Are you a tyrant?

There is Something Wrong in Canada

Former Residential School in Alberta, Canada

In early June, News from Kamloops shook Canada when the remains of 215 children on a former residential school site in Kamloops, British Columbia (BC) were found. A week later, 751 unmarked graves at a former Saskatchewan residential school were located. The Marieval Indian Residential School site was operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1899 to 1997 (source BBC). On June 30th, once again, First Nations in Cranbrook, BC reported 182 unmarked gravesites discovered near the location of a former residential school site close to the former St. Eugene’s Mission School (source CBC). I’m sure there will be more remains discovered.

Like most Canadians, I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) was outraged by this news, since these deaths resulted from bullying (#bullying #antibullying) by the governments of the day and Christian churches who ran the schools, half of which were Catholic Churches. However, I was surprised by the level of anger. It seems that Canadians either forgot about the revelations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission or didn’t pay much attention to it. ­In the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, in a document titled, Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials, it was recommended that a study be done to identify the location of cemeteries and gravesites in which students were believed to be buried. The project was to collaborate with communities to identify options for commemoration, ceremony, and further community-based research. In 2009, the Commission requested the government cover the cost of this research, but the request was denied. I have to wonder, was the Canadian government trying to cover this up? The Commission revealed that there were many children buried in unmarked graves on former residential school sites.

Since the discovery of over 1000 unmarked graves, church vandalism in Canada has exploded and “suspicious” burnings of Christian (mostly Catholic) churches became widespread.  The US is experiencing similar events (see Catholic churches have been torched and vandalized in the US). From June 21 through June 26, four Catholic churches located on tribal lands in British Columbia burned to the ground. Nova Scotia RCMP report suspicious fire at Catholic church in First Nations community. An Anglican church burned on June 26, but was extinguished with minor damage. In the province of Alberta, a fire was extinguished in the early morning hours of June 28 at the Siksika Nation Catholic Church. One June 30th,  Alberta woke up to the headline, Century-old Catholic church in Morinville, Alta., destroyed by fire, a church I visited years ago. These fires appear to be intentionally set, and these attacks on churches continue. These attacks are hate-crimes directed towards the Christian community, and some even argue this is a war on Christianity (see Rebel News). I have to wonder why it took Canada’s prime minister 11 days to condemn attacks on christian churches (see Trudeau denounces church burnings, vandalism in Canada) when the October defacing of the mosque in Cold Lake, Alberta, provoked Trudeau to denounce it the next day.

Since the discovery of unmarked graves, a debate brewed in June over whether to hold Canada Day celebrations. According to the article, Cancel Canada Day: ‘Nothing to celebrate’ amid unmarked graves, many Indigenous community leaders and advocates have promoted the cancelation of celebrations, instead, asking for the day to be one to reflect on the real history of Canada and to support Indigenous people. Many communities across Canada have heeded to that call (see Timeline).

Another debate also erupted: What should Canada do about the statues that regard the very men who started the schools where these children died? Many institutions and local governments are acting to remove statues of Canada’s first prime minister, and other politicians, plus renaming streets and schools of those directly connected to Canada’s residential school program. Statues, including Religious statues, in Canada are being vandalized like the Six religious statues beheaded at Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, in Sudbury, Ontario. Vandalization of Catholic churches is rampant with at least 10 Calgary churches defaced with red paint on Canada Day. Not all Indigenous leaders agree with what’s occurring since some Indigenous chiefs and leaders decry church burnings and vandalism.

The level of reaction to discoveries on former residential school sites is unprecedented. Don’t get me wrong, the reaction should be strong. It’s a collective call for justice, and a call for all Canadians to be united with Canada’s First Nations people. The question is: Does justice mean burning churches, removing statues, vandalizing, and dumping Canada’s national day?

Sheila North, the former Grand Chief of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO) says;

“These things are perpetuating the racism and perpetuating the hatred towards Indigenous people without even realizing.”

I have to agree! The ways Canadians are directing their anger is only keeping division alive. Such activities do nothing to further reconciliation. They are actions of revenge which divide us by perpetuating hatred towards Indigenous people, catholics, or some other group.

Not everyone thinks residential schools were bad. An Indigenous person once told me that she felt she benefited from residential schools. There are even some who believe residential schools were a good thing as a Priest under fire after sermon on the ‘good done’ by Catholic Church on residential schools. Personally, I fail to see how any good can come from government-sponsored religious schools established to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture. How can any good come from an estimated 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children who were isolated from their culture, and who suffered abuses in the form of excessive physical abuse and sexual predation?

I understand the anger. I stand with the First Nations people and it saddens me the way our European ancestors treated them. There needs to be justice and reconciliation. However, Cancelling Culture—the phenomenon of “canceling” people, brands, shows, and movies due to problematic or offensive remarks, ideologies, and branding—is not the answer. In the article, What is the Cancel Culture Movement, it says:

One of the biggest problems with cancel culture is that people are quick to cancel, but never so quick to forgive…It ignores the idea that people can pay for their mistakes, and insists that we should all be perfect beings who have never – and will never – make a mistake. The problem is that humans aren’t infallible. Who hasn’t made a mistake in the past?

Our history should never be cancelled, instead, it needs to be studied so mistakes of the past are never repeated. We need to forgive past leaders for the damage their decisions caused, and right those wrongs. Statues should not be torn down, but serve as reminders of people who made mistakes. To cancel history doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Cambridge Dictionary defines justice as “fairness in the way people  are dealt with.” Most Canadians and Americans would agree Indigenous people were treated unfairly. Canada’s prime minister is calling on the Pope to apologize for the Catholic Church’s role in residential schools, and is urging Canadian Catholics to demand action from their church.  Churches should take responsibility, but why isn’t our government taking responsibility, since all residential schools were mandated by them? Did the PM forget that Pierre Trudeau, his father, was Prime Minister (PM) of Canada from 1968 to 1979, and during that time, the maintenance of residential schools were run by his government?

Yes, the Catholic church and governments need to apologize, but NOT just words. Apologies require actions to correct the wrongs done to survivors. PM Justin Trudeau promised to end all long-term boil-water advisories within five years during his 2015 campaign. If the PM really felt First Nations people were wronged, then he would keep that promise. Instead, Indigenous Services minister says Trudeau government won’t end boil-water advisories by March 2021. Actions speak louder than words Mr. PM.

Adam Soos from Rebel News says:  

Reconciliation is a vital conversation that we must have, but please, for the sake of any progress that we have made on the path towards reconciliation, do not associate these hate crimes with progress or justice for the tragedies of our history. This is not justice. This is just the start of another dark chapter in Canadian history.  

I couldn’t agree more. This must be a time to unite with our Indigenous people, to reconcile with our history, and to start acting as one people. Mahatma Gandhi says, “Relationships are based on four principles: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation.” It is time to respect and understand First Nations people, their culture, and what they endured. It is time to accept them as equals, and appreciate Indigenous people for who they are. Let’s stop this nonsense that Canadians are inherently racist as Critical Race Theory would have us believe. This theory reasons that racism is systemic, is inherent in much of the American or Canadian way of life, and paints “white” people as racist. Racism is learned, and is designed to divide us. As I said in Does Media Mirror Culture, or Create Culture? “We humans are innately good, naturally cooperative, and instinctively altruistic.” It is time to start being who we truly are.

Who Are Those Characters?

Are those characters based on actual people?

Someone asked me (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) a while back if the characters in my book, A Shattered New Start, were based on real people. That is a great question, and the short answer is no. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, here is a teaser.

I’ve worked with thousands of students, and hundreds of teachers, during my 35-years of teaching, and each person is unique in their own way. Having said that, there are definitely certain types of students and teachers. To answer the question, my characters are based on categories of students and teachers. I’ll start with the teaching staff at Rabbit Hill Academy, the setting for the book.

For convenience, I’ll refer to an article, What Is Your Teaching Personality Type? which uses Myers-Briggs personality types to identify types of teachers.

In A Shattered New Start, the Science teacher is what the article refers to as “a Purist.” These teacher types are passionate about education, zealous about their subject, have a positive and optimistic outlook, and often inspire both teachers and pupils to greatness. I like to think I was one of those teachers, however, I’m sure there are former students and colleagues who disagree. The science teacher in my book was based a lot on how I approached teaching. In my experience, these teachers were dedicated professionals who loved working with young people and wanted to make a difference in their student’s lives.

The Math teacher in Rabbit Hill Academy is what the article refers to as “The Teacher.” They are imaginative and observant, authoritative and patient, loyal and hardworking. These teachers take their job seriously.

“The Renegade,” in my story is the Physical Education (PE) teacher, as she tends to take her perfectionism and planning to the extreme. In A Shattered New Start, she is the ‘rookie teacher’ who fears failing and who is out to change the world. Most teachers start off idealistic and enthusiastic. I certainly did.

The English teacher is “The Inspirer.” These teachers bounce around the classroom shouting like maniacs about a subject, and imploring pupils to get involved. They are the passionate and energetic teachers, typically getting excited about a topic that students couldn’t care less about. In my experience, these are the teachers who like to be in the spotlight, are dramatic, and like to perform for their students.

The article called some teacher types “The Thinker.” The Social teacher in my school story is that. These educators bring a questioning approach to their teaching. In my experience, they try to get students to think. I’ve worked with many colleagues who taught this way, and I too liked to ask students thought provoking questions.

The Principal of the school is “The Supporter,” a leader with honestly good intentions and who works hard for school improvement and execution. The principal in A Shattered New Start is also “The Conventionalist,” who is honest and dutiful, and a role model. I worked with these types of leaders and those were some of the best years of my career. After all, the school principal sets the tone of the school.

For the students in my book, I’ll use the articles, 13 Types of Students…. and Types of kids in High School for reference.

The victim in my bullying (#bullying #antibullying) school story is what the article, 13 Types of Students, calls the “Intellectual Outsider.” They are the outcasts and are used to their classmates ignoring him. These students are often odd and distrustful, and usually very smart. The victim in A Shattered New Start has an impediment that makes him a prime target for bullies. I’ve comforted many victims of bullies over the years.

Neither article describes the victim’s best friend in my story. This character is very loyal, to the point where he’s jealous of anyone else his friend pays attention to. This is the friend who would do anything for his best friend. The label I would use for my character is “Hothead.”  These students become worked up easily and are seldom afraid to express themselves, often seeming aggressive to others.

 The Bully of my book, both articles refer to as “The Bully.” This is the kid that has no friends and appears very threatening. This article also has a type called “EMO.” These kids look sad or pissed off at the world. They wear the same clothes over and over again. EMO kids want attention and would do anything for it. I’ve had many of these types in my classes over the years.

The new kid in my story is the “Hard Worker.” The article, 13 Types of Students, says these students are highly motivated, know what they want, and know how to achieve their goal. They are not always the smartest student, but they try hard. In my experience, these students are positive, happy, self-confident, and pleasant to be around. These students I admired.

The annoying student in A Shattered New Start is what the article, 13 Types of Students, calls “Overactive.” This student always has a question to ask and comment to make. They often become irritating for both teachers and their classmates.  In my experience, these are the students who ask the very question the teacher just finished answering. These students would make their classmates groan and shake their heads, and frustrate us teachers.

Indian actress, Deepika Padukone, when she spoke about her battle with depression and anxiety said:

When you look at a person, any person, everyone has a story. Everyone has gone through something that has changed their life. Anxiety, depression and panic attacks are not signs of weakness. They are signs of trying to remain strong for way too long.

American writer, Nick Flynn says, “Perhaps everyone has a story that could break your heart.” I learned as a teacher, sometimes the hard way, that every child has a story and many of their stories regarding their home life and social life were tragic. My characters in A Shattered New Start all have a story, and many of those stories—or shall I say challenges—were issues my students faced. The article, Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids, outlines many of those issues. My characters were no different.

John Holt is a teacher who became disillusioned with the school system after several years of working within it. In his book, How Children Fail, he said:

We destroy the disinterested (I do not mean uninterested) love of learning in children, which is so strong when they are small, by encouraging and compelling them to work for petty and contemptible rewards — gold stars, or papers marked 100 and tacked to the wall, or A’s on report cards… in short, for the ignoble satisfaction of feeling that they are better than someone else…. We kill, not only their curiosity, but their feeling that it is a good and admirable thing to be curious, so that by the age of ten most of them will not ask questions, and will show a good deal of scorn for the few who do…The anxiety children feel at constantly being tested, their fear of failure, punishment, and disgrace, severely reduces their ability both to perceive and to remember, and drives them away from the material being studied into strategies for fooling teachers into thinking they know what they really don’t know.

Another teacher, John Taylor Gatto, taught thirty years in the public school system and wrote the book, Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling. In his book, he argues that conventional schooling is destroying the natural curiosity and problem-solving skills everyone is born with, and replacing it with rule-following, fragmented time, and disillusionment.

I have to agree with both authors. I started reflecting on the school system I was a part of for 35 years after I retired from teaching; a profession I loved. In July of 2019, I wrote a blog titled, Was I One Those Teachers Who Smothered Creativity, or Indoctrinated Children? During that time I wondered if that were true, and I now believe it to be true. We teach kids to regurgitate facts and give us what we want, then reward them with good grades. The most common question I got from students was, “What do I need to know for the test?” We squelch creativity, critical thinking, and curiosity. Many of the kids I taught were artistic and creative, but were disillusioned with school, and didn’t want to be there. Now I understand why.

My book, A Shattered New Start, gives an understanding to Factory model schools which are used today. Isaac Asimov, an American writer says, “Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” Maybe he is right. At least that way people might think for themselves instead of rule-following and becoming disillusioned. The time is ripe to create an education system that promotes curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills; a system that makes students better human beings.

Is the Cure Worse Than the Virus?

A commentary on COVID restrictions.

The Washington Times has a September 15th opinion piece titled, America’s pandemic: Why the cure has become worse than the virus. I (#blogger #blog #somseason #YA #authors) happen to agree with the commentator. Especially for young people, the cure is worse than the virus. The mainstream media (MM) continues to tout the dangers of COVID-19, instilling fear by constantly telling us that COVID numbers are on the rise. Yet, the article states that coronavirus COVID-19 has killed 0.058% of the U.S. population, assuming they were actually COVID deaths. As I stated in previous posts, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has admitted that 94% of people said to be killed by the virus had two or more other health conditions which likely contributed to their deaths. The opinion piece goes on to state that the Associated Press, for months has said: “For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a few weeks.” 

I intend to remain neutral, not pointing fingers or judging the decisions that our leaders have made. Instead, I carefully analyze the information available to me, asking questions, drawing my own conclusions, and speaking my truth. It may not be your truth and that is perfectly fine.

I recently saw a September 23rd Calgary Herald article titled, Opioid deaths more than double in Alberta during COVID-19 pandemic.  This article states that more than twice as many Albertans died of opioid overdoses in the second quarter of 2020 than the first, an increase of 28%, according to new data. Finally, the MM and the province’s government are starting to talk about the effects of COVID restrictions. Alberta’s associate minister of mental health and addictions, Jason Luan, stated, “The past few months have led to increased fear and anxiety, isolation, disruption to in-person services, job uncertainty and more.” He admitted that these problems are not unique to Alberta as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario have seen a similar rise in overdose deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The Huffpost’s September 24th article, Statistics Canada Reports Record High Level Of Youth Not In School Or Work, reveals that Statistics Canada found that 24% of Canadians aged 15 to 29 were “NEET” ― not in employment, education or training ― as of April of this year. That’s double the rate in February, before the pandemic. The article also states that the jobless rate for youth was 23.4% in August, compared to 10.2% for Canada as a whole.

Are our youth affected by COVID restrictions more so than adults? The information suggests so. I would even go so far as to say our youth, more so than any other demographic, are being bullied (#bulling #antibullying) because of COVID restrictions. I have to wonder if COVID restrictions are really necessary?

CTV has an August article titled, How deadly is COVID-19 for children? Here’s what we know. According to the article, one death out of 7,888 cases in children and teenagers means that less than 0.013% of young COVID-19 patients in Canada have died. In the US, only about 0.2 % of patients under the age of 17 have died, according to the article. A study of 100 children who contracted the coronavirus in Italy, a country touted is one of the worst affected by COVID back in March, found that no children died. In China, a study reveals only one of the first 2,135 pediatric patients to have contracted the virus later died. Research from Ontario concluded that it is “rare” for children to die after contracting COVID-19 in high- or middle-income countries.

I have to ask: If our children and teens have a less than 1% death rate because of coronavirus, then why are there such harsh COVID restrictions placed on them? Are these restrictions—forced masking, social distancing, insisting they sanitize their hands before entering school rooms, and fear mongering affecting their mental well-being—a too high of a price?  Shouldn’t our youth’s mental health be priority? The cure—at least for our young people—is far worse than the threat of the virus.

The Daily Signal—not a MM source—has an September 29th article titled, COVID-19 Linked to Rising Suicide Rates Among Teens. The article states:

Many experts say that the stringent social distancing measures put in place to combat the spread of COVID-19 have significantly worsened teen mental health. Because teenagers are social by nature and developmentally reliant on their peers, the pandemic has exacerbated mental health issues among an age cohort already vulnerable to begin with. 

I can tell you as a retired teacher who worked with children and teens for over 35 years, that our youth are emotionally fragile at the best of times. The most important thing for a teenager or child is being with their friends, and with COVID restrictions, this is being taken away from them. It seems to me that decisions concerning our youth are being made out of fear of the virus when decisions should be made from the perspective of what what the data says and what is best for young people.

The New York Post has an August 13 article titled, One in four young adults in the US contemplated suicide during pandemic.  The article sites a CDC study that states:

The percentage of respondents who reported having seriously considered suicide in the 30 days before completing the survey (10.7%) was significantly higher among respondents aged 18–24 years (25.5%)

In another article by Health News Florida titled, The Pandemic Has Researchers Worried About Teen Suicide, it states:

“Teenagers are in a developmental space where it is critically important that they have regular contact with their peers and are able to develop close and ongoing relationships with adults outside the home, such as their teachers, their coaches, their advisers,” says Lisa Damour, an adolescent psychologist.” And I worry very much about what it means for that to be disrupted by the pandemic.”

Are COVID restrictions, said to be implemented to protect our children and teens, worth damaging their mental health when the death rate of the virus is less than 1%? Forcing kids to wear masks and social distance is harming them more than the virus threatens them. The cure has become worse that the virus for our youth. That is bullying. In one of my May posts, I suggested a simple definition of bullying, which was; ‘when a person is made to feel threatened or unsafe by another person.’  Now I would define bullying as: ‘When a person, or group of people, are made to feel threatened, unsafe, or restricted by another individual, group of people, or authority.’  COVID restrictions are affecting young people’s mental well-being, so they are being bullied. The question remains: Is protecting our children and teens from a virus where less than 1% are said to have died from COVID worth causing 25% of young people to consider suicide because of COVID restrictions? I say NO. It is illogical. The data says NO. And most of all, NO because it is bullying. That is my truth!