Issue 25|Summer / Fall 2009

Issue 25:

Inroads 25’s main theme section is devoted to education, taking its cue from a landmark September 2008 article in a Montreal newspaper by former Quebec premier Jacques Parizeau that drew attention to the school dropout problem, especially among francophone students. Along with a translation of Parizeau’s article, the section includes an analysis of the school dropout problem on a Canada-wide scale by John Richards, an account of the failure of Ontario’s compulsory civic education program by Henry Milner, a discussion of educational issues by Parizeau’s former adviser (and future PQ cabinet minister) Jean-François Lisée, a critique of Quebec’s history curriculum by Christian Rioux and Magali Favre, and a look at Finland’s successful education system by Luc Allaire.

Columns

International

GWOT – RIP

Shortly after 9/11, George W. Bush declared, in apocalyptic tones, a “Global War on Terror” (GWOT). The term prevailed until Barack Obama took office.

By Reg Whitaker

Culture

The High Cost of Something for Nothing

There’s a certain recklessness in this stick-it-to-the-man-and-the-big-corporations attitude. Why pay when you can get stuff free?

By Daphne Bramham

Social Policy

Fixing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside has been a famous hellhole for years. How can it be fixed? Arthur Milner has some ideas.

By Arthur Milner

Canada

Battle on the Plains of Abraham Cancelled

In the end, the reenactment of the battle on the Plains had to be cancelled to prevent another battle.

By Louisa Blair

Editorials and Rejoinders

Social Policy

Education: Who and What?

Bob Chodos introduces the following articles on education in Issue 25

By Bob Chodos

Canada

And Now, the Aftermath

Canadian politics after the election, the near-coalition and the change in Liberal leadership.

By Henry Milner

Articles

Social Policy

Human Resources

This article is an edited excerpt from Jean-François Lisée's book Pour une gauche efficace (Montreal: Boréal, 2008). It was translated by Bob Chodos.

By Jean-Francois Lisee

Canada

School Dropouts

School dropouts is not just a Quebec issue, but rather a Canadian one.

By John Richards

Canada

This is History?

Quebec’s new high school history textbooks are inward-looking and devoid of meaning.

By Christian Rioux

Canada

Civics, Ontario Style

Why did Ontario’s civic education program fail to reduce the democratic deficit? Henry Milner takes a look.

By Henry Milner

International

Recipe for Success?

An earlier version of this article appeared in the winter 2009 edition of the magazine, Nouvelles CSQ. It was translated from the French by Frances Boylston.