Employment Discrimination in the US

[trailmix 77]

For the second point, it's a shame that people think we are a nation that is not modern. As part of the G8, and a completely independent, industrialized nation, it amazes me how people are so uneducated to the point where they don't even realize that if not for Canada, the US would not get a lot of what it needs to sustain life on. Again, that is just ignorance though.

It's unfortunate in that it my not allow for some job opportunities for some who are in the U.S.

I don't think it is important that the U.S. does not generally acknowledge us - in my personal opinion. I already have a pretty good idea what Canada is - well what it is to me - I really don't need to see that reflected back in a U.S. mirror.

[thetreble 19]

For the second point, it's a shame that people think we are a nation that is not modern. As part of the G8, and a completely independent, industrialized nation, it amazes me how people are so uneducated to the point where they don't even realize that if not for Canada, the US would not get a lot of what it needs to sustain life on. Again, that is just ignorance though.

It's unfortunate in that it my not allow for some job opportunities for some who are in the U.S.

I don't think it is important that the U.S. does not generally acknowledge us - in my personal opinion. I already have a pretty good idea what Canada is - well what it is to me - I really don't need to see that reflected back in a U.S. mirror.

I don't think it is important to get acknowledgment either. I think it is ignorant, though, that somewhere down the line people are being taught or NOT being taught that Canada is in fact an industrialized nation. Not from a "pay attention to me" perspective, from a literacy and education perspective. I'd say the same thing about any other country that people are being taught or not taught about really.

[trailmix 77]

For the second point, it's a shame that people think we are a nation that is not modern. As part of the G8, and a completely independent, industrialized nation, it amazes me how people are so uneducated to the point where they don't even realize that if not for Canada, the US would not get a lot of what it needs to sustain life on. Again, that is just ignorance though.

It's unfortunate in that it my not allow for some job opportunities for some who are in the U.S.

I don't think it is important that the U.S. does not generally acknowledge us - in my personal opinion. I already have a pretty good idea what Canada is - well what it is to me - I really don't need to see that reflected back in a U.S. mirror.

I don't think it is important to get acknowledgment either. I think it is ignorant, though, that somewhere down the line people are being taught or NOT being taught that Canada is in fact an industrialized nation. Not from a "pay attention to me" perspective, from a literacy and education perspective. I'd say the same thing about any other country that people are being taught or not taught about really.

I can see your point.

Interestingly my nephew had an assignment at school yesterday. They were all given a map of N.A. and asked to write in all the States and Provinces.

Which seems a bit odd for a high school class

Anyway he got Canada - the U.S. - not so much.

[JillA 2]

For the second point, it's a shame that people think we are a nation that is not modern. As part of the G8, and a completely independent, industrialized nation, it amazes me how people are so uneducated to the point where they don't even realize that if not for Canada, the US would not get a lot of what it needs to sustain life on. Again, that is just ignorance though.

It's unfortunate in that it my not allow for some job opportunities for some who are in the U.S.

I don't think it is important that the U.S. does not generally acknowledge us - in my personal opinion. I already have a pretty good idea what Canada is - well what it is to me - I really don't need to see that reflected back in a U.S. mirror.

I don't think it is important to get acknowledgment either. I think it is ignorant, though, that somewhere down the line people are being taught or NOT being taught that Canada is in fact an industrialized nation. Not from a "pay attention to me" perspective, from a literacy and education perspective. I'd say the same thing about any other country that people are being taught or not taught about really.

It really surprised me to see how little education people receive here in schools about Canada - or other countries for that matter. In high school, we had to take history which covered USA history and world history, as well as Canadian. We learned alot about the states, yet here so many people are utterly ignorant about their neighbours to the north. They couldn't name our Prime Minister or barely any provinces either. They learn about their own country and that's pretty much it.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I remember being taught U.S. history, Texas history and World history.

I hated Texas history. It's not bad in of itself (some of it is actually interesting), but we were taught it nearly every year -- and it was the same damn information! There's only so many times you can read about the Alamo.

U.S. history is self explanatory. We had two courses over it in junior high and high school. Oddly enough, they teach the first part of U.S. history in 9th grade and then the second part in 11th. Why there's such a large gap is beyond me. It would seem to me that it'd make more sense to teach the second part right after the first. Otherwise, it seems highly unlikely that students would remember a damn thing from their previous course.

In 10th grade, we were taught World history. While I did have an excellent teacher (I was in a Honors class), the course mostly covered an all-encompassing view of history around the world. One thing I hated about World history was that we had to somehow cover the Sumerians to post-WWII in the timespan of a single high school course.

There was a World Geography class, but hardly anyone took it (the course was an elective) and it didn't cover nations, but geographical features. Usually these geographic features were in reference to the United States. Every once in a while something was taught that was outside the country.

I was never taught anything about Canada. I didn't even have to learn the major cities or even the capitol of Canada, as well. The U.S. was covered, but Canada was never considered important enough to warrant any instruction.

Fortunately for my wife, I like doing independent research. That's how I learned about Canada. If I were to rely on the education system, I would barely know Canada even exists.

[jhunjhun 7]

For the second point, it's a shame that people think we are a nation that is not modern. As part of the G8, and a completely independent, industrialized nation, it amazes me how people are so uneducated to the point where they don't even realize that if not for Canada, the US would not get a lot of what it needs to sustain life on. Again, that is just ignorance though.

It's unfortunate in that it my not allow for some job opportunities for some who are in the U.S.

I don't think it is important that the U.S. does not generally acknowledge us - in my personal opinion. I already have a pretty good idea what Canada is - well what it is to me - I really don't need to see that reflected back in a U.S. mirror.

I don't think it is important to get acknowledgment either. I think it is ignorant, though, that somewhere down the line people are being taught or NOT being taught that Canada is in fact an industrialized nation. Not from a "pay attention to me" perspective, from a literacy and education perspective. I'd say the same thing about any other country that people are being taught or not taught about really.

It really surprised me to see how little education people receive here in schools about Canada - or other countries for that matter. In high school, we had to take history which covered USA history and world history, as well as Canadian. We learned alot about the states, yet here so many people are utterly ignorant about their neighbours to the north. They couldn't name our Prime Minister or barely any provinces either. They learn about their own country and that's pretty much it.

You're right, when I was in high school, I took history and native study classes which covered USA history, world history and Canadian as well. But I was surprised when my friend in USA asked me which part of Canada I'm living, I told him that from Saskatchewan....what state? huh! no, it's a province.......I haven't heard about the province, what is province?........my friend doesn't know what is a province.....I was surprised!

Edited January 27, 2009 by jhunjhun

[Sprailenes 47]

Uh you think thats bad? My husband calls them "Providences"

[hheaven67 2]

"Perhaps you should volunteer to gain some references locally?"

I would BUT, that can get expensive as well...I don't go anywhere unless I absolutely HAVE TO...money is TIGHT, EI is hardly anything in USD and having a teenage son with hardly any child support is REALLY tough...

Regarding the discrimination thing...found another company that says they're Equal Opportunity Employers but yet one position that I'm more than qualified for says "Must be a US Citizen". I emailed them & the HR Manager said that because they work with ITAR, they have to be a Citizen. I Googled ITAR and it is documented that employees dealing with this company can be PR's. I copied and pasted that into a reply to the HR Mgr...told him I was a PR and legally admitted...NO RESPONSE (shocking!)!

Another thing about the education system...my son in Grade 11, taking Math that he learned 2 yrs ago in Canada! Also, in Saskatoon, he earned more credits as they take 12 classes a yr there, only 10 here. He has enough credits to have graduated already, even before he started school here but needs the required classes. He hasn't heard ANYTHING about Canada in his history class as of yet and looking at the course outlines, he won't be at all. I do have to say that they've been great about giving him full credits for his classes from Canada...they use the alphabetical marking system here so we'll have to get them to translate them into grade marks when he's done (as he'll probably go back to Canada for post-secondary education). Also, passing mark here in classes is 60% whereas in Canada, 50% will give you a pass.

Edited January 28, 2009 by hheaven67

[jhunjhun 7]

"Perhaps you should volunteer to gain some references locally?"

I would BUT, that can get expensive as well...I don't go anywhere unless I absolutely HAVE TO...money is TIGHT, EI is hardly anything in USD and having a teenage son with hardly any child support is REALLY tough...

Regarding the discrimination thing...found another company that says they're Equal Opportunity Employers but yet one position that I'm more than qualified for says "Must be a US Citizen". I emailed them & the HR Manager said that because they work with ITAR, they have to be a Citizen. I Googled ITAR and it is documented that employees dealing with this company can be PR's. I copied and pasted that into a reply to the HR Mgr...told him I was a PR and legally admitted...NO RESPONSE (shocking!)!

Another thing about the education system...my son in Grade 11, taking Math that he learned 2 yrs ago in Canada! Also, in Saskatoon, he earned more credits as they take 12 classes a yr there, only 10 here. He has enough credits to have graduated already, even before he started school here but needs the required classes. He hasn't heard ANYTHING about Canada in his history class as of yet and looking at the course outlines, he won't be at all. I do have to say that they've been great about giving him full credits for his classes from Canada...they use the alphabetical marking system here so we'll have to get them to translate them into grade marks when he's done (as he'll probably go back to Canada for post-secondary education). Also, passing mark here in classes is 60% whereas in Canada, 50% will give you a pass.

hey, are you from Saskatoon? I'm from Saskatoon too....nice to see someone here that came from the same city! Which school did your son go when he was in high school back there? I was graduated from E.D Feehan Catholic Hiigh School batch 2006!

[Flames9_RN 358]

I'm from prince Albert, parent snow reside in Stoon. I think Stoon is about the only place in Sask. i would want to reside in,lol

[Sprailenes 47]

"Perhaps you should volunteer to gain some references locally?"

I would BUT, that can get expensive as well...I don't go anywhere unless I absolutely HAVE TO...money is TIGHT, EI is hardly anything in USD and having a teenage son with hardly any child support is REALLY tough...

Regarding the discrimination thing...found another company that says they're Equal Opportunity Employers but yet one position that I'm more than qualified for says "Must be a US Citizen". I emailed them & the HR Manager said that because they work with ITAR, they have to be a Citizen. I Googled ITAR and it is documented that employees dealing with this company can be PR's. I copied and pasted that into a reply to the HR Mgr...told him I was a PR and legally admitted...NO RESPONSE (shocking!)!

Another thing about the education system...my son in Grade 11, taking Math that he learned 2 yrs ago in Canada! Also, in Saskatoon, he earned more credits as they take 12 classes a yr there, only 10 here. He has enough credits to have graduated already, even before he started school here but needs the required classes. He hasn't heard ANYTHING about Canada in his history class as of yet and looking at the course outlines, he won't be at all. I do have to say that they've been great about giving him full credits for his classes from Canada...they use the alphabetical marking system here so we'll have to get them to translate them into grade marks when he's done (as he'll probably go back to Canada for post-secondary education). Also, passing mark here in classes is 60% whereas in Canada, 50% will give you a pass.

Well then I don't know. Have you thought of joining a temp agency for the time being? Going to see an employment counselor and revamping your resume?

[Krikit 1,165]

Regarding the discrimination thing...found another company that says they're Equal Opportunity Employers but yet one position that I'm more than qualified for says "Must be a US Citizen". I emailed them & the HR Manager said that because they work with ITAR, they have to be a Citizen. I Googled ITAR and it is documented that employees dealing with this company can be PR's. I copied and pasted that into a reply to the HR Mgr...told him I was a PR and legally admitted...NO RESPONSE (shocking!)!

I think that's a little tidbit I might pass on to the labor board.

[Sprailenes 47]

When we moved here my son had to complete 3rd grade again, even though he passed it in Canada. It wasn't a "must" but it was strongly suggested by his school because it was a new country, he'd be with his age group etc etc. To be honest he knew more than the other kids when it came to math and reading, and was pretty much bored through the entire grade. I should have fought it but I was new here and figured I would just go with the flow.

Yesterday my son said though:

"You know what I like about American schools? They teach you their history when you're young and talk about their own country a lot"

I found this funny. He likes it that way. They make sure you know who the "founding fathers" are when you're young and they keep pounding it into you. My son said that in Canada he didn't know who the first prime minister was, and I agree, he woudln't have learned that until later on.

Edited January 29, 2009 by Sprailenes

[Sprailenes 47]

I should add that I don't think its important to drill the information of the "founding fathers" into kids at a young age, I would rather them learn how to spell and add first. But I guess thats the way its done here.

But my son could tell you the presidents in order and who they were. He finds American history more interesting than Canadian history. I guess he's already been assimilated into the culture.

Edited January 29, 2009 by Sprailenes

[hheaven67 2]

Yup, from Saskatoon....my son was attending Walter Murray...

Signed up with THREE employment agencies...most of them are a scam...weren't interested in me as my references were from out of country...they list bogus jobs and try to recruit your references! anytime I see a job posted by a recruiter, I Google them...MANY have REALLY bad reps...I discovered that too late...

I already mentioned that I've worked with my hubby's client (retired HR Mgr.) to revamp my resume to US lingo...I really don't need help in searching for work but thanks to everyone for their suggestions...it was all about the discrimination thing...I know it's gonna take time due to the economy and in SoCal things are pretty bad...have some things on the burner that I'm hoping will come thru...