During a pandemic, remote learning is one way to ensure kids and teachers avoid COVID-19 exposure while continuing some dimension of learning. But online learning doesn’t replace what happens for children in classrooms, among peers and in school communities.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Lana Parker of the University of Windsor writes that “despite the lack of data documenting benefits to children, and emerging evidence of several drawbacks and harms, the Ontario government is discussing making full-time online schooling a permanent ‘choice’ in public education.”

Parker finds that the province is pushing to create revenue streams through international student tuition and sales of curriculum to international schools.

Also today:

Regards,

Susannah Schmidt

Education + Arts Editor

Students arrive at Dartmouth High School in Dartmouth, N.S., on Sept. 8, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Ontario’s ‘choice’ of fully online school would gamble on children for profit

Lana Parker, University of Windsor

A policy of “choice” for full-time online schooling would weaken public education, erode funding for in-classroom supports and drive those who can afford it to private education.

Humans are constantly changing our languages in terms of sounds, words, meanings, and grammar, so much so that it becomes increasingly difficult to understand our own distant relatives across time and space. (Unsplash/Lucrezia Carnelos)

Curious Kids: How are languages formed?

Darin Flynn, University of Calgary

A young reader asks: How are languages formed?

A teepee outside the women’s unit of the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, Sask., Jan., 2001. CP PHOTO/Thomas Porter

Indigenous women, transgender and Two-Spirit people need support when leaving prison

Tenzin Butsang, University of Toronto; Karen Lawford, Queen's University, Ontario

To release anyone, particularly Indigenous women, transgender and Two-Spirit individuals without a plan is irresponsible and dangerous and does not demonstrate a commitment to reconciliation.

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher fouls Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game on March 28, 2021 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

What employers can learn from the NBA about returning to work amid COVID-19

Arif Jetha, University of Toronto; Brendan T. Smith, University of Toronto

The NBA has largely managed to keep COVID-19 under control. Its success offers four important lessons for organizations on how to return employees to the workplace during and after COVID-19.

La Conversation Canada

Élèves du Pensionnat indien de Metlakatla, en Colombie-Britannique. (William James Topley. Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, C-015037)

L’action collective réglée, il ne faut pas oublier les histoires des survivants des pensionnats autochtones

Cindy Hanson, University of Regina; Curtis J Shuba, University of Regina; Sidey Deska-Gauthier, University of Guelph

Les archives publiques sont précieuses pour comprendre comment se crée la mémoire collective. Si l’on ne prête pas attention aux voix et aux expériences autochtones, le regard colonial perdurera.

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