Off Topic Part Deux

[Krikit 1,164]

My daughter has been screwed more by the fact that she came from a smaller (1500) Arts oriented school in Kitchener into a massive (3600) 'Sports are God/ Academics are all that matters' school. They did not do a great job of helping a foreign student integrate - if she hadn't spoken english, at least they would have put her in special classes. Socially she is an ok kid and has friends of all sorts, school wise she failed most of last year (you may have read my saga elsewhere) and continues to have problems - not everything is the school's fault, but much is

I just realized your daughter and I went to the same highschool

Udella, if she needs someone to talk to her, even if it's about home, give her my info. We obviously grew up around the same part of town and I'm still pretty young. If she just needs someone, I'd love to talk to her. That may seem kind of weird but it's just a suggestion.

You are going to make me cry Yep - she wishes she was back at Eastwood big time - she fit in there no problem and they were sooooo easy going about well....everything. I will tell ehr and maybe she'd be into chatting with someone else from home...I'll PM you with her's/my facebook stuff

Awwwww.

I see Satan.

I thought only Jesus or Elvis appeared on the breakfast menu?

[DeadPoolX 9]

The ladies daughter is 17 and was asking about schools because her poor daughter is going to do her grade 12 down here and I told her that she would be fine. I don't want to offend anyone *cough*DPX*cough* () but I feel that the schools in Canada better prepare someone than the schools down here and when asked if they're easier or more difficult I replied with easier. But again it's my opinion.

I'm not offended.

As some others have said here, the schools really depend on the state, city and district. There are always your "good" and "bad" schools. Sometimes the problem is with the other students and not the education. I went to a "good" school but my so-called peers were vicious monsters and made my life a living hell. The students can turn any school into a "good" or "bad" one.

I will admit that history isn't often taught too well. With the exception of one teacher in high school (honors course), the curriculum centered around the positives of the U.S. and completely avoiding the negatives -- unless it related to racial or gender issues.

That pissed me off. The textbooks would spend 10 pages on women's suffrage and barely give a paragraph to World War I. I realize women's suffrage was important to the U.S., but somehow I tend to think WWI was a little more important to both the U.S. and the world as a whole.

Heck, I had a terrible time adjusting to the way Americans do things, period, let alone bringing school into the mix.

I can relate.

There's a number of things in Canada that are taking a while to adjust to, as well. I have to remember to say "university" instead of "college", deal with different forms of dates (sometimes the date is written American-style and other times it's more European-style), the metric system, banking and above all, seeing certain documents reference the Queen or royalty in general. I realize the Queen is a figurehead with no real power in Canada, but it's still annoying.

[Emancipation 2]

There's a number of things in Canada that are taking a while to adjust to, as well. I have to remember to say "university" instead of "college", deal with different forms of dates (sometimes the date is written American-style and other times it's more European-style), the metric system, banking and above all, seeing certain documents reference the Queen or royalty in general. I realize the Queen is a figurehead with no real power in Canada, but it's still annoying.

uh.. she is the official head of state.. so she's not powerless.. just because she hasn't used that power doesn't mean she doesn't have it...

[DeadPoolX 9]

There's a number of things in Canada that are taking a while to adjust to, as well. I have to remember to say "university" instead of "college", deal with different forms of dates (sometimes the date is written American-style and other times it's more European-style), the metric system, banking and above all, seeing certain documents reference the Queen or royalty in general. I realize the Queen is a figurehead with no real power in Canada, but it's still annoying.

uh.. she is the official head of state.. so she's not powerless.. just because she hasn't used that power doesn't mean she doesn't have it...

Isn't that like the UN? Technically there's power but it can't really be enforced? Think about it -- if the Queen ordered this or that, why would Canada have to obey? Canada is its own country with its own elected leaders. In terms of culture, it has more in common with the U.S. than it does the UK. Sure, it's a Commonwealth nation, but that's more of an association; it's no longer a colony and therefore, makes its own laws.

[Sprailenes 47]

Just yankin yer chain

I agree with you, it really does depend on the district. The district here is great, but she's coming from a good school in Toronto as well.

In elementary schools in America, I can say that they start the teaching history quite early and Ethan really likes that because he loves talking about that sort of stuff.

Though the history is different, they learn a lot about black history at his school. Ethan has had to do two different projects on black history this year.

But Ethan enjoys it, he could tell you ####### loads of stuff about Betsy Coleman and others.

[Krikit 1,164]

There's a number of things in Canada that are taking a while to adjust to, as well. I have to remember to say "university" instead of "college", deal with different forms of dates (sometimes the date is written American-style and other times it's more European-style), the metric system, banking and above all, seeing certain documents reference the Queen or royalty in general. I realize the Queen is a figurehead with no real power in Canada, but it's still annoying.

Haha. I related to your post right up until you came to the Queen. Time to read up on your Canadian history and the ties to the Crown, methinks. Also good to read up on "Crown land", "Crown corporations", "Crown wards", "Queen's Counsel", etc, etc.

[Krikit 1,164]

Isn't that like the UN? Technically there's power but it can't really be enforced? Think about it -- if the Queen ordered this or that, why would Canada have to obey? Canada is its own country with its own elected leaders. In terms of culture, it has more in common with the U.S. than it does the UK. Sure, it's a Commonwealth nation, but that's more of an association; it's no longer a colony and therefore, makes its own laws.

You are so wrong, DeadPool.

[DeadPoolX 9]

There's a number of things in Canada that are taking a while to adjust to, as well. I have to remember to say "university" instead of "college", deal with different forms of dates (sometimes the date is written American-style and other times it's more European-style), the metric system, banking and above all, seeing certain documents reference the Queen or royalty in general. I realize the Queen is a figurehead with no real power in Canada, but it's still annoying.

Haha. I related to your post right up until you came to the Queen. Time to read up on your Canadian history and the ties to the Crown, methinks. Also good to read up on "Crown land", "Crown corporations", "Crown wards", "Queen's Counsel", etc, etc.

Well, I just mean that the Queen has no real authority in Canada. Her representative, the Governor General, is supposed to act on behalf of the Queen, but the GG is a Canadian. So the Queen doesn't have a say in how Canada is run, but the GG can step in under certain circumstances. The Queen is more of a figurehead than anything else.

Isn't that like the UN? Technically there's power but it can't really be enforced? Think about it -- if the Queen ordered this or that, why would Canada have to obey? Canada is its own country with its own elected leaders. In terms of culture, it has more in common with the U.S. than it does the UK. Sure, it's a Commonwealth nation, but that's more of an association; it's no longer a colony and therefore, makes its own laws.

You are so wrong, DeadPool.

With few exceptions, I see Canada and the United States have very similar cultural influences. Both have taken ideas from the UK and changed them to suit their own country. Mass amounts of immigrants have also shaped the nature of the U.S. and Canada, leading to far more culturally diverse nations than those in the United Kingdom.

[Krikit 1,164]

Wow. lol. As usual, we will agree to disagree.

[JillA 2]

I like how we get the Queens birthday off work

[DeadPoolX 9]

I like how we get the Queens birthday off work

Now that's a definite positive.

[trailmix 77]

Isn't that like the UN? Technically there's power but it can't really be enforced? Think about it -- if the Queen ordered this or that, why would Canada have to obey? Canada is its own country with its own elected leaders. In terms of culture, it has more in common with the U.S. than it does the UK. Sure, it's a Commonwealth nation, but that's more of an association; it's no longer a colony and therefore, makes its own laws.

Liz does not approve this message!

[Flames9_RN 358]

The queen doesnt even have enough power to get a free Tim hortons coffee!!

Edited March 18, 2009 by flames9

[thetreble 19]

Deadpool, you have insulted us! We consider her VERY important and most of us have ties to Britain. Most of my friends do not have any ties to America whatsoever.

Ahem, Your Majesty, you must forgive Deadpool as he knows not what he says. Send her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

Maybe out there in the good ole West where you live you don't notice an influence, but many of us here on this board are god damn Englishwomen and Englishmen.

Do you know how I know this? I' will give you an example. Look at the types of food people put on the dinner table. I came to live in NJ and realized no one ate roast beef dinners and potatoes. No one had Yorkshire puddings or meat pies. These are things many Canadians eat!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Deadpool, you have insulted us! We consider her VERY important and most of us have ties to Britain. Most of my friends do not have any ties to America whatsoever.

Ahem, Your Majesty, you must forgive Deadpool as he knows not what he says. Send her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us! GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

Maybe out there in the good ole West where you live you don't notice an influence, but many of us here on this board are god damn Englishwomen and Englishmen.

Do you know how I know this? I' will give you an example. Look at the types of food people put on the dinner table. I came to live in NJ and realized no one ate roast beef dinners and potatoes. No one had Yorkshire puddings or meat pies. These are things many Canadians eat!

I her Majesty - growing up, god Save the Queen was one of my favourite songs to play when learning piano.

I used to play the organ for the school assemblies and I aletrnated between Oh Canada and God Save the queen as the ending song

I know, I'm such a sentamentalist