carefully crafted anti-bullying policies are at their disposal. Also, what about some plain and common sense? How about displaying some tough love toward those students who bully aggressively and without remorse? It’s a question of will, which teachers and their bosses do not seem to have: they would sooner sweep the problem under the rug for fear that any attempts to deal with violence might affect the public image of their schools or force them to deal with parents who might perceive it a problem that their kid is a bully. Miss Black was a case in point. Her parents repeatedly sought action from the school, but the principal, even though she had disciplinary tools she could have employed, like week-long suspensions, did not use them. Her inaction only enabled the students who victimized the young woman. That, in itself, is a sad statement. Not only are our public schools delivering a touchy-feely curriculum – particularly in math, literacy, andwriting – that is leaving kids ill-prepared for college, university, and the workplace, but they have also chosen to take a back seat when it comes to meting out proper consequences for bad behaviour. As a consequence, the board has become enablers of the very abusive behaviour they have put policies in place to prevent.
—
AT TORONTO CITY HALL, officials and the politicians have become so decidedly focused on hiring visible minorities to show they run a “positive and progressive workplace” – a policy that seemed to ramp up during Mayor David Miller’s time in office – that a reverse discrimination has developed. I’ve heard it over and over again that white males need not apply for management jobs at the city. Don’t get me wrong. I believe everybody deserves a fair chance, regardless of their gender, race, or country of origin. But it is clear to me that in an attempt to bend over backwards to ensure that the right mix of visible minorities appears in every office at City Hall, adherence to standards, including a proper dress code, has been severely relaxed. This is political correctness at work – placing greater value on how things appear rather than what makes good old common sense.
I don’t consider myself old-fashioned. However, I was constantly amazed by the number of female employees, even in management at City Hall, dressed like they had just left their night job on Jarvis Street, or were about to go to the gym or take out the trash. Managers showed up to meetings like they’ve never even heard of a jacket or tie. My goodness, it wasn’t as if they weren’t making enough to afford a suit or two. In my mind, it represents a complete lack of respect forthe job. How can one have pride in one’s job if there is no effort instilled to look like one comes to work ready to work? I also lost count of how many times I phoned City Hall offices and not for the life of me was able to understand the administrative assistant or clerk at the other end of the line – their command of the English language was so weak. Surely it isn’t too much to expect people in those jobs to have a better command of English. One would think not, but try and say this in “polite” company and you risk being called a racist.
Nearly from the moment I walked into City Hall as the
Toronto Sun
’s columnist, I had trouble understanding the purpose of what were called “access and equity grants.” This was a pot of money that was given every year to a variety of groups such as those from Afghan, Aboriginal, Asian, African, Somali, or Arab backgrounds or representing the LGBT population that would propose politically correct, touchy-feely projects intended to help stamp out racism and oppression. It came as no surprise to me when that pot nearly doubled to $750,000 per year during Mayor David Miller’s two terms. How these groups were supposed to eliminate racism I was never quite sure. Let us consider that while the money was being spent, I would repeatedly hear that
—
AT TORONTO CITY HALL, officials and the politicians have become so decidedly focused on hiring visible minorities to show they run a “positive and progressive workplace” – a policy that seemed to ramp up during Mayor David Miller’s time in office – that a reverse discrimination has developed. I’ve heard it over and over again that white males need not apply for management jobs at the city. Don’t get me wrong. I believe everybody deserves a fair chance, regardless of their gender, race, or country of origin. But it is clear to me that in an attempt to bend over backwards to ensure that the right mix of visible minorities appears in every office at City Hall, adherence to standards, including a proper dress code, has been severely relaxed. This is political correctness at work – placing greater value on how things appear rather than what makes good old common sense.
I don’t consider myself old-fashioned. However, I was constantly amazed by the number of female employees, even in management at City Hall, dressed like they had just left their night job on Jarvis Street, or were about to go to the gym or take out the trash. Managers showed up to meetings like they’ve never even heard of a jacket or tie. My goodness, it wasn’t as if they weren’t making enough to afford a suit or two. In my mind, it represents a complete lack of respect forthe job. How can one have pride in one’s job if there is no effort instilled to look like one comes to work ready to work? I also lost count of how many times I phoned City Hall offices and not for the life of me was able to understand the administrative assistant or clerk at the other end of the line – their command of the English language was so weak. Surely it isn’t too much to expect people in those jobs to have a better command of English. One would think not, but try and say this in “polite” company and you risk being called a racist.
Nearly from the moment I walked into City Hall as the
Toronto Sun
’s columnist, I had trouble understanding the purpose of what were called “access and equity grants.” This was a pot of money that was given every year to a variety of groups such as those from Afghan, Aboriginal, Asian, African, Somali, or Arab backgrounds or representing the LGBT population that would propose politically correct, touchy-feely projects intended to help stamp out racism and oppression. It came as no surprise to me when that pot nearly doubled to $750,000 per year during Mayor David Miller’s two terms. How these groups were supposed to eliminate racism I was never quite sure. Let us consider that while the money was being spent, I would repeatedly hear that
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