Released Earlier Today
December 28, 2011
Early learning needs action, not public relations
NDP Education Critic Dale Kirby (MHA, St. John's North) reacted with disbelief today to a government announcement of a $100,000 public relations campaign to promote the value of play-based learning.
“Does Minister Jackman really think anyone in this province who has anything to do with early childhood education needs to be told about the importance of play-based learning? What our children need is a solid commitment to their early years, not another government-funded public relations campaign,” Kirby said today.
“The families of Newfoundland and Labrador have had enough platitudes and nice talk,” he added. “Parents and early childhood educators alike already know 'that learning begins at birth and continues throughout the pre-school years,' as Minister Jackman says in his release.
“The ministers involved are insulting parents with yet another information campaign, when what the children of this province need – and need now – is a concrete plan for early learning programs and a clear strategy .with timelines for universal publicly-funded and administered child care programs.”
A recent national report, The Early Years Study 3, ranked Newfoundland and Labrador lowest in the country on its early childhood programs.
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For more information, contact Jean Graham, ph. 693-9172.
Wednesday, 28 December, 2011
Early learning needs action, not public relations
Saturday, 24 December, 2011
Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
I am fortunate to be spending Christmas with my family in Lord's Cove on the Burin Peninsula. It's nice to be together with my folks and friends to pause and reflect on family traditions of holidays past.
When my brother Sandy and I were little, one of our Christmas holiday highlights was watching "Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas" with our Dad. The story told in the one-hour Christmas television special was adapted by Jim Henson from a children's book of the same name, and it is, I believe, one of the most under-rated pieces of magic created by the puppet-master Henson.
Here, in a clip from the show, the Frogtown Hollow Jubilee Jug Band plays their song "Barbecue".
Best of the Christmas Season to you all!
Wednesday, 21 December, 2011
Tuesday, 6 December, 2011
Remembering the École Polytechnique Massacre
The December 6 Vigil at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s St. John’s campus will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Room 2006 of the S.J. Carew (Engineering) Building.
