Well I retired before the first cohort of early learners graduated but the evidence is pretty strong internationally. But I am pretty sure this will have been one of the best things we could have done. It was expensive as poop though.

One of the biggest explanations of successful outcomes is simply family circumstances. Kids growing up in with parents that go to post-secondary are way more likely tom go themselves.

Parental involvement, and setting expectations even when the parents haven't gone on themselves is important.

School principals are really important. A good principal can really do a lot to improve outcomes in their schools.

All in all, Canada/Ontario does really well and has the best or one of the best post secondary attainment rates in the world.
- Canada Cup

and that is the huge challenge to overcome in many U.S. communities. I don't know what needs to be done, but expectations need to be changed.

Policies of throwing money at the problem only seem to create a perpetual cycle of people in poverty.

People need to be empowered. Republicans and Democrats need to stop blaming each other. Until bi-partisan support is achieved, nothing will get better ... the odds of Leafs winning the cup seem astronomically higher than that.

Side note: I have a relative in PA that heads up a large social worker agency. The only stories he has ever told are about the terrible situations he has seen. Never once talked about a family/person whose life improved.

He seemed completely demoralized and was on anti-depressants.

Just because some people write signs for protests and not for presidential campaigns is no reason to go all moderate Zezel. Moderate (by American standards) is what has been (frank)ing people over and what has helped elect Trump. Time for a positive change.

Also, I think demographics might be a factor in violent crime going down as the percentage off young males has dropped.
- Canada Cup

Interesting points about demographics.

I just wish we could stop this thing where the blue people blame all the things on the red people and vice versa. Therefore each group doesn't notice their guy is (frank)ing them over too. Negative partisanship lets both wings take turns having cart blanche from their partisans instead of citizens being the harshest critics of the party they voted for. Each group thinks their guy can do no wrong. Nothng can change until we start viewing the guy we voted for with suspicion and hostility, like he's an employee who is trying to (frank) us over. Which he is.

Just because some people write signs for protests and not for presidential campaigns is no reason to go all moderate Zezel. Moderate (by American standards) is what has been (frank)ing people over and what has helped elect Trump. Time for a positive change.

Also, I think demographics might be a factor in violent crime going down as the percentage off young males has dropped .
- Canada Cup

Selective justice pisses me off. I think about the poor bastard rotting in a prison cell for a 30 year sentence for possession of a couple of joints while Trump commutes the sentence for a major crime at the highest level for that piece of sh!t Stone.

You demonstrate against somebody we like
I'll slip on my wig, and see if I can start a riot
Transform into an angry mob
And all your leaders go to jail for my job

I still can't believe we traded David Clarkson.

And then reacquired David Clarkson.

My unpopular opinion is pretty simple. We give cops a tonne of responsibility and power but we give/ask very little of them in terms of training and experience. And then we pay them like poop.

You want to motivate a better cross section of society to become police officers then regulate better education, training and pay them better.

Better laws (decrim drugs) and better cops mean less cops needed. It pays for itself down the road. .....as long as it doesn't get abused like every other public $$.
- The Law

Not sure if training is really the issue. Cops are far more restrained than most may realize. The barrage of insults, yelling, and threatening words/actions is constant. The vast majority have the ability to stay calm, cool and collected far more often than not.

The piece of poop in Minneapolis is not reflective of most cops imo.

Also, can't forget that cops are just regular (frank)ing people too. They have gone through months of being overworked, under-appreciated, insulted and attacked; because of the actions of a small number of their co-workers.

A demoralized police force will not be good police force.

and that is the huge challenge to overcome in many U.S. communities. I don't know what needs to be done, but expectations need to be changed.

Policies of throwing money at the problem only seem to create a perpetual cycle of people in poverty.

People need to be empowered. Republicans and Democrats need to stop blaming each other. Until bi-partisan support is achieved, nothing will get better ... the odds of Leafs winning the cup seem astronomically higher than that.

Side note: I have a relative in PA that heads up a large social worker agency. The only stories he has ever told are about the terrible situations he has seen. Never once talked about a family/person whose life improved.

He seemed completely demoralized and was on anti-depressants.
- Tumbleweed

Bi-partisan cooperation is antithetical to a westminster style first-past-the-post parliamentary system. It is confrontational rather than collaborative by nature, starting by the voting process and ending with the tendency of the system to be governed by two parties that behave in negative partisanship rather than governing in good faith.

Selective justice pisses me off. I think about the poor bastard rotting in a prison cell for a 30 year sentence for possession of a couple of joints while Trump commutes the sentence for a major crime at the highest level for that piece of sh!t Stone.
- winsix

But I thought trump was draining the swamp.

I'm 49, white, straight, male, raised in a Republican Christian family who all worked middle-class jobs from unionized railroad workers to barbers. My father was a Republican, and so were both of my grandfathers. One of my grandfathers was a highly-decorated "war hero" combat medic who won medals for valor in the Battle of the Bulge. I heard a lot of political talk growing up and the vast majority of it centered around taxes and wars. At no point did any of them dehumanize the other side, accuse them of treason, or call for violence. The dialogue was more civil, rational, and informed. The other side "could kiss my ass" or "didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground", but it stopped there. Nobody was Nazis, rapists, thugs, pedos, phucktards, or anything like that.

That has changed for the worst. And frankly, I blame the decay of respect for science and truth.

I don't care what party somebody is for, as long as they respect science and truth.

Don't put some political appointee in charge of a pandemic response! Put a panel of highly-respected doctors and scientists in charge of the response. Have the politicians enforce the recommendations of the scientific panel. I trust a guy with a doctorate degree, academic awards, and a history of peer-reviewed research over some random assclown who is chosen because of his political loyalities.

Being smart means knowing when you are being dumb. This pandemic is way above Trump's pay grade and nobody in his circle has the credentials, brains, or backbone to direct an effective response.

We need to emphasize science in schools and reward scientific professions with better pay. And we really really need to listen to the experts. It's not weak to admit you don't know something and are willing to be educated on it. Right now, in the USA, nobody can admit they are wrong, so they double-down for fear of looking stupid or weak. And a big part of the reason behind that mentality is that too many kids were eating paste or sleeping during science class.

new blog everyone

Bi-partisan cooperation is antithetical to a westminster style first-past-the-post parliamentary system. It is confrontational rather than collaborative by nature, starting by the voting process and ending with the tendency of the system to be governed by two parties that behave in negative partisanship rather than governing in good faith.
- TheMussel

you used too many big words for me. didn't we go over this earlier?

Let's keep this simple. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

"The greatest good we can do our country is to heal its party divisions and make them one people."

- Thomas Jefferson

Not sure if training is really the issue. Cops are far more restrained than most may realize. The barrage of insults, yelling, and threatening words/actions is constant. The vast majority have the ability to stay calm, cool and collected far more often than not.

The piece of poop in Minneapolis is not reflective of most cops imo.

Also, can't forget that cops are just regular (frank)ing people too. They have gone through months of being overworked, under-appreciated, insulted and attacked; because of the actions of a small number of their co-workers.

A demoralized police force will not be good police force.
- Tumbleweed

I think we're making the same point. Give them more. I'd offer/require a university education to be a cop ...rather than grade 12, first aid and 6 months of training. I'd restrict what they are to do and I'd pay them more for those greater qualifications.

I'm no expert on policing but is the same guy working a traffic corner or "policing" an event the same guy who's expected police a domestic violence call or whatever? I watched a lot of Hill Street Blues back in the day but I'm no expert.

and that is the huge challenge to overcome in many U.S. communities. I don't know what needs to be done, but expectations need to be changed.

Policies of throwing money at the problem only seem to create a perpetual cycle of people in poverty.

People need to be empowered. Republicans and Democrats need to stop blaming each other. Until bi-partisan support is achieved, nothing will get better ... the odds of Leafs winning the cup seem astronomically higher than that.

Side note: I have a relative in PA that heads up a large social worker agency. The only stories he has ever told are about the terrible situations he has seen. Never once talked about a family/person whose life improved.

He seemed completely demoralized and was on anti-depressants.
- Tumbleweed

I'm not sure what throwing more money at the problem means. Certain important programs are horribly underfunded in the US. Again, the differential in funding between white and black schools makes any real efforts to address poverty that much more difficult. DeVos pulling money out of the public program into "choice" which is only relevant for a fraction of the country it make it worse.

More money needs to be thrown at early education in the states, at school meal programs so poor kids don't try to learn hungry. More money needs to be thrown at housing and health care.

People do want to "pull themselves up" and improve the prospects for their families but often face way too many barriers.

Bi-partisanship would be great but to be honest I see very few people in todays Republican Party who are serious about addressing these issues.

After Bush got bis ears boxed, the party did a serious analysis of the future of an older white party in a country that was becoming younger and browner. They concluded that they needed to change their focus and concentrate on a major outreach. They decided that they had to become younger and browner.

Instead they went with Trump and have tried to make the country whiter.

I think we're making the same point. Give them more. I'd offer/require a university education to be a cop ...rather than grade 12, first aid and 6 months of training. I'd restrict what they are to do and I'd pay them more for those greater qualifications.

I'm no expert on policing but is the same guy working a traffic corner or "policing" an event the same guy who's expected police a domestic violence call or whatever? I watched a lot of Hill Street Blues back in the day but I'm no expert.
- The Law

Again, look at when they remade the force at Camden. They fired everyone including the Chief and they all had to reapply for new jobs with new specs and new requirements. These new specs also set a new focus on problem solving, etc

poor you.
but i'm sure you have plenty of great ideas on how to help the victims of poverty..
- MaximusAurelius

My first great idea is to set up an educational system so that idiots on the internet don't actually think I'm a Marxist.

You are the FASCIST. YOU are who you claim not to be.

You are trying to stifle people's voice and opinions on an opinion site. You are applying classic commie tactics using the site authority to come after people like stammer, max, jfj, Drexel, myself, etc etc...

You are so fragile...
- kaptaan

I'm not sure what throwing more money at the problem means. Certain important programs are horribly underfunded in the US. Again, the differential in funding between white and black schools makes any real efforts to address poverty that much more difficult. DeVos pulling money out of the public program into "choice" which is only relevant for a fraction of the country it make it worse.

More money needs to be thrown at early education in the states, at school meal programs so poor kids don't try to learn hungry. More money needs to be thrown at housing and health care.

People do want to "pull themselves up" and improve the prospects for their families but often face way too many barriers.

Bi-partisanship would be great but to be honest I see very few people in todays Republican Party who are serious about addressing these issues.

After Bush got bis ears boxed, the party did a serious analysis of the future of an older white party in a country that was becoming younger and browner. They concluded that they needed to change their focus and concentrate on a major outreach. They decided that they had to become younger and browner.

Instead they went with Trump and have tried to make the country whiter.
- Canada Cup

more money at education - yes.

more money at social programs that create dependence on the govt - no.

need to educate people so that they can grow up and live as independent people; not full sized people hanging off the tit of government for their needs.

republicans suck. democrats suck equally as bad. it's unfortunate that you blame republicans only. perpetuates the victim / i can't succeed because of them attitude.

people need to believe they can succeed - despite whichever of the 2 sh!tty political parties are in power.

Need to change expectations!

- burn

You are the FASCIST. YOU are who you claim not to be.

You are trying to stifle people's voice and opinions on an opinion site. You are applying classic commie tactics using the site authority to come after people like stammer, max, jfj, Drexel, myself, etc etc...

You are so fragile...
- kaptaan

STFU you fascist tweaker.

My first great idea is to set up an educational system so that idiots on the internet don't actually think I'm a Marxist.
- Atomic Wedgie

I’m a huge Marxist. Groucho was my favourite.

more money at education - yes.

more money at social programs that create dependence on the govt - no.

need to educate people so that they can grow up and live as independent people; not full sized people hanging off the tit of government for their needs.

republicans suck. democrats suck equally as bad. it's unfortunate that you blame republicans only. perpetuates the victim / i can't succeed because of them attitude.

people need to believe they can succeed - despite whichever of the 2 sh!tty political parties are in power.

Need to change expectations!
- Tumbleweed

Social Assistance programs are really complicated. One of the critical objectives is absolutely not to create the dependencies you talk about. Every change is reviewed to try to sort out all the down stream impacts. Hoes a rate increase impact tax liabilities or eligibility for child care or transportation? What is the relationship between general welfare and disability assistance? It makes more sense to make disability assistance more generous but when you do docs start to declare healthy people disabled to get them access. How can you introduce low paid work without creating so many disincentives people won't work?

Again, it's all really complicated and people way smarter than me work on it and then politicians have great simplistic answers.

I'm not a fan of either American party but the Republicans as currently constituted on the federal scene are much closer to evil than the bumbling Dems

Social Assistance programs are really complicated. One of the critical objectives is absolutely not to create the dependencies you talk about. Every change is reviewed to try to sort out all the down stream impacts. Hoes a rate increase impact tax liabilities or eligibility for child care or transportation? What is the relationship between general welfare and disability assistance? It makes more sense to make disability assistance more generous but when you do docs start to declare healthy people disabled to get them access. How can you introduce low paid work without creating so many disincentives people won't work?

Again, it's all really complicated and people way smarter than me work on it and then politicians have great simplistic answers.

I'm not a fan of either American party but the Republicans as currently constituted on the federal scene are much closer to evil than the bumbling Dems
- Canada Cup

both parties are only interested in power and enriching themselves. it's the only issue they agree on.

they are pieces of poop. dems are no better than then poopty counterparts.

https://twitter.com/benny...tatus/1272326916641624065

July 28, Habs vs Leafs pre pre playoffs game (friendly) , that's the roomer
- Symba007

Why would they do that just before the playoffs? Hoping for no injuries?