John Shaw, Newmarket, Ont.
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Crisis 101
There is no doubt that the priority placed on research in universities is much greater today than it was 40 years ago, and there is no doubt that this has had a detrimental impact on the attention paid to undergraduate teaching, at least in the larger universities (Universities Get An F In Quality – Oct. 21). This has been correctly described, in your newspaper and elsewhere, as a “crisis” in university education.
However, no journalist I have read has been more consistent in praising the initiatives of the Chrétien and Harper governments in support of university research than Jeffrey Simpson, especially those initiatives that “commercialize research” in the interests of greater productivity. Perhaps we should add to the list of usual suspects responsible for the decline of undergraduate teaching – always including “the professoriate, with its collective bargaining agreements, tenure” etc. – those in the media who promote the need for ever more research that contributes to economic productivity.
Ken Dewar, Halifax
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Speak up
I disagree with tightening the rules on language competence for arriving immigrants (Freedom With Speech – editorial, Oct. 20). In my experience, immigrants are motivated to learn English as quickly as possible. They want to participate in mainstream events and listen to debates, as well as increase their earning power by having English proficiency. As landed immigrants or refugees, they can learn English before becoming citizens. There are many English (and French) language schools available to them.
I speak as an immigrant myself, albeit English-speaking when I arrived, and as a volunteer with one of these services in my community.
JoAn Lynch Maurer, North Vancouver
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If Canada is going to insist on language competency rules for those wanting to become citizens, shouldn’t we also require existing Canadians to take the same tests?
I suggest starting with Don Cherry.
Peter Shier, Toronto
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Speak out
Maybe it is time for the citizens of Ontario and all other underrepresented provinces to contemplate a Canadian Spring, come spring (Don’t Dilute Rep-By-Pop – editorial, Oct. 20). Only by vocalizing your displeasure can you ever get politicians’ attention away from their navels.
Tony Burson, Campinas, Brazil
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Donne in
Claudette Claereboudt’s letter about her high school English teacher’s recitation of John Donne’s No Man is an Island was moving (Class Dismissed – Oct. 21). Unfortunately, a repetition of that teaching moment is unlikely these days, when the poem could well be shunned as patriarchal (“No man”), Euro-centric (“Europe is the less”) and elitist (“a manor of thy friends”).
Philip Siller, New York
