You can use this week to reflect on broader learnings we have gained throughout the course or focus on news specific events that have dominated the headlines recently (and there have been a lot!).
I would like to reflect on what i've learned throughout this course. The most important thing I think i've learned in this course is teamwork and communication. Though, we were taught many important facts about our government I think the one thing I took the most out of during this course were the activities and team building exercises we did in class.
I found that at the beginning of the semester our class seemed somewhat scared of each other and we would all barely talk to one another. Through team building exercises and class discussions we all warmed up to eachother and began to realize that we could all share and even argue about our opinions amongst eachother.
Teamwork and strong communication skills are extremely important to develop in life, especially for gifted-cluster students. It is important for these students to develop these skills because it is very common for gifted students to have social issues
I disagree with the fact that the classmates were scared of each other at the beginning, but I do agree with the fact that all the teamwork exercises that we completed brought the class much closer together and we all became more comfortable with each other. I personally loved showing up to both civics and careers because I felt like I was in a safe and fun environment to learn.
Personally, I always find it difficult to talk to new people or people that I do not know well. So I agree with you, Emma, because it did feel like some of us were a bit scared. But through all of the team building activities and discussions we have done as a class, I believe it made us more comfortable with each other. And I agree with you that communication and teamwork skills are very important to have.
The Montreal Monorail Justin Trudeau has announced a 1.3 billion dollar project for a monorail in Montreal. The light rail train will connect Montreal’s outskirts to its airport and to the downtown. The monorail is supposed to heavily clear up traffic in the city, as well as reduce air pollution from other vehicles. The construction will begin this fall. It will be nearly 70 kilometres long and will operate nearly constantly. I personally think that the monorail is a great idea. Traffic in large cities is always an issue, and this light rail train will save many people time and money. It’s environmentally friendly too, meaning that this will be beneficial in many ways. Although the project will be costly, in the long run it will eventually save far more than it cost. http://globalnews.ca/news/3530007/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-set-to-announce-1-28-billion-toward-major-montreal-transit-project/
I agree with your opinion. Thank you for sharing this information, I visit Montreal quite frequently and I'd love to see this project put into place. I hadn't heard of the idea before this but I'd personally like to put more research into it.
Course Reflection I would like to dedicate this blog post on my experiences and new learnings from the past few months of civics. Firstly, this class was one of my favourite to show up to, I felt safe and accepted. Everyone showed up with an open mind and a smile on their face. The activities were fun, and the class was overall just enjoyable. Second, I feel that Mr. Forsyth did an amazing job of teaching the curriculum as well as so much other useful information that we can use in, and out of the classroom. I loved the structure and the different themes of each and every day. I learned so many new valuable skills in this class such as virtual responsibility, how to plan ahead, and how to act upon matters. Third, I made so many new friends in this class. During the trip to the Barrie Native Friendship Centre I was introduced with lots of students that I go to school with, but didn’t know. I also became closer with the students that I was stuck in Collingwood with. In conclusion I have gained so much from this course and I highly recommend that M. Forsyth continues to teach it to future generations.
I believe everything you said is very true. What are your thoughts on it being mandatory for students to take these two courses? If you could recommend one thing to Mr. Forsyth to change about the course, what would it be?
I agree with what you are saying. Our class is a very welcoming place and an excellent environment for learning. You said you learned many valuable skills, how will these skills help you out in your future? Also, which lesson did you enjoy learning about the most?
I have learned a lot throughout the course. This makes me to have a lot to reflect on. However, I think I think the Charter of Rights and Freedom was the most important thing to know. During the course, we learned a lot about our government and different cases encompassing the big three concepts, which are informed citizenship, active citizenship, and purposeful citizenship. Informed citizens seek to know different aspects of politics, sociology, and economy that could affect them. Active citizens get involved with democracy at local communities, provincial level politics, and even to the federal level politics. They are to propose or to change some aspects that need to be improved in our democratic society. Lastly, purposeful citizens get involved within the community and do their roles as citizens. They would follow rights that they have and provide feedback and interact with the community. They are purposeful and useful by actively participating. Nevertheless, behind all of these knowledges that we have obtained there was a basic fundamental concept, which is Charter of Rights and Freedom. There are some governments types that don’t guarantee these rights such as anarchy, aristocracy, and autocracy, but at least for Canada, with the constitution acts, we freely can learn how our governmental system works, how it’s formed, or how it’s corrupt.
We learned how the citizens can fight against unfair laws that infringes on our rights through the Supreme Court of Canada. The four fundamental freedoms that we have as Canadians are: freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. The case studies that we had were on the Bill C-51 and Quebec protesters and the Curpan issue with the school board. We learned how organizations or laws infringe on individuals’ lives. We also expanded our knowledge to how pressure groups and lobby groups try to change or make laws that best suit for their interests. This opened up a new career choice for me and a fresh new perspective in political current events. However, most importantly, I opened up my eyes to the reality and some interesting and tragic facts about the first nations.
With my visit at the Barrie Friendship center, I had to totally rethink about the government's treatment towards the Native people. Especially hearing to the native survivors from the residential schools and blanket exercises, I learned how the Canadian government was flawed in sense of not treating every citizens equally, and I became civically aware of the issue. We learned that the Canadian government try to integrate and assimilate the First Nations into Euro-Canadian society by Indian Act. Though the history of Canada, the politicians added different terms and policies such as residential school. Residential School restricted the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. They “[killed] the Indian inside” the child by punishing them if they practiced Native cultures and languages. As it forcefully collected and captivated the children from aboriginal communities, the Indian Act was also against the mobility rights. Ultimately, the Canadian government made laws that infringe on rights of the Natives. However with active citizens who try to fix the problem, the situation is getting better gradually. To conclude, the case studying, we learned that not all citizens were equally treated. Now as an informed citizen, I must act out and make changes in our society.
I agree that this class has helped us to understand what it means to be an informed citizen, as well as an active citizen and a purposeful citizen. I also agree that learning about the treatment of Native people forced me to rethink some things about the government, what are some things that you think the government should do to solve this issue? Also, if you were to have one thing changed about this course, what would it be?
Well I think the government should encourage the School Board and encourage teachers to be more like Mr.Forsyth. If we didn’t have a teacher who extensively is interested or aware of the First Nations issue, we would not have been able to know about the issue at the first time. The government of Canada currently supports and funds elementary and secondary education for First Nation students ordinarily resident on-reserve, but I think there should be also funds on educating high school students about the issue and how the government treated them. This is because as we grow to become an adult, we will have to encounter the First Nations people. As we aren’t aware of the aboriginal right issues, we will be essentially treating them the same as the previous generations did. I think we must teach the students to be more responsible and aware so that we can prevent the discrimination and improve the whole situation.
I agree that more teachers should take the approach on this course that Mr. Forsyth took. I think that is is very important that we are informed of Canada's terrible treatment of Native people and the discrimination and struggles that they still face to this day. Many people seem to think that everything is better now that the Residential Schools are shut down, but it's not. There is so much discrimination that still exists in Canada, and it is our responsibility to put a stop to that. I am glad that we are all informed about this now.
I would like to reflect on my civics course on my personal growth. As discussed on the first day of civics, the only thing that classmates really need to take away from this course is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unless they’re going to go into politics when they’re older, as civics is about the basics and grounds of politics. So overall I have learned less about civics but more about myself. I think that civics helped me realize that, through the blog posts, I have to keep on schedule with my school work or it will get me back in the end. Punctuality is one of the most important skills that needs to be applied in an everyday life, and through civics I learned that this is one of my weaknesses,and that I need to improve my working habits drastically. Transitioning from the Careers course to the Civics course, I took a step down from being the ‘leader’ a lot. People always say that people need to get out more and do all these things, make their name mean something to the world - by being a leader and not a follower. One thing that I think is important is to not force that, and sometimes it’s better to step down from that role. Especially since this is a gifted class, many students are leaders. In the end, there can only be one. So, I needed to work on things like team working. I believe I’m a great team leader, but I don't like taking orders from people. For example, on the Native Studies poster board that the whole class made, I was being told to cut out pictures and write things about the field trip. We were given a time limit, and I didn’t end up doing what I was completely supposed to. Had this scenario been a real world problem, like a job, if I had disagreed I would be punished or even fired. Lastly, I really enjoyed the environment in civics. All the people in there including the teacher, I felt like I was invited most days to be there, everyone happy to be with each other. I’ll miss this class, thanks for a great year Mr. Forsyth and fellow classmates.
Very good reflection on what you learned about yourself through the course. The weekly blog posts are a good example of how managing your time is very important. Work will start to pile up and become unmanageable if this happens. It is good that you have recognized that this isn't your strength and that you want to improve upon it. I understand what you are saying about leadership. Especially in our class, where many people want to be the main leader, it can be hard to have everyone listen to your ideas. The competition to be the "leader" can sometimes be overwhelming, and sometimes your best option at the time is just to help however you can. While I think everyone should have the opportunity to be a "leader" if they want to be, everyone needs to understand that sometimes they may not be leading and directing the group, but all group members are valued and should be able to express their ideas.
I have personally learned a lot in this course, and have much to reflect on. In this course I learned not only the curriculum, but also many more things that have much more practical uses. In this course I learned to, write, and keep up with a blog. I believe this will be a useful skill in University, which is where I currently envision myself. This is probably one of the most practical skills that I have learned in this class. While writing this blog, I also was forced to keep up with current events, which were actually quite interesting, and during my research, has helped me to better understand many procedures and inner workings of the Canadian government, as well as other governments around the world. In class, I learned about the charter of rights and freedoms, and for the first time, I know my fundamental rights as a Canadian citizen. In this class, I also learned about the different branches of the government, and things such as the senate, and the house of commons. I now know how a bill becomes a law, and that Canada is split into ridings. More practical are the skills that I learned in this class. In class we did several activities that supported teamwork, and forced us to use communication and effective planning to complete tasks. As a result, I learned how to manage time, and work as part of a group.
Another thing I learned that actually came as a great shock to me was the government treatment towards Native people. The Native centre field trip helped me to understand that first nations had been treated poorly, and, thanks to many class discussions, I learned about Native towns in the north that are stranded, and as a result have high suicide rates. I think this was extremely important because in the past, I had no idea that this was even an issue, and assumed that these types of villages had the same standard of living. I now know that there is much that the government can, and should do to help these people, and make up for the mistakes of the past.
When it came to the in-class environment, I found that the students in the class were particularly friendly towards one another, and it was definitely the nicest class environment I have been in during high school. The multiple class discussions and debates helped me better understand the people in the class, and by the end of the year, I felt safe debating extremely controversial topics. Mr. Forsyth has done an excellent job in his teaching of both Civics and Careers, he managed to teach everything that was necessary while also covering many other topics that are much more useful to students. I have had a lot of fun in this class, and I will miss the entire class. Thank you for an excellent year Mr.Forsyth.
Very good reflection on the things that you learned through this course. The blog was a very good learning experience for all of us. It taught everyone the importance of keeping on top of our work and managing our time. It also helped keep us informed of events going on around the world. Personally, I probably would not have been as aware of some of the things going on around the world if we didn't learn about them in class.
I learned many important things throughout this course. Out of all the topics we discussed, I believe that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was one of the most important things we covered. Before this course, I was not aware of the Charter. Of course I knew that Canadians have rights, but I didn’t know specifically what the Charter was. It outlines our rights and freedoms, and the things we are responsible for. Through many class lessons or discussions, we went through stories where someone’s rights were infringed upon, so they had to prove that they had the right to do whatever they were doing, such as carrying a kirpan, a religious dagger worn by Sikhs, with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While learning about the Charter, we focused specifically on one section: Fundamental Freedoms. That includes freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including the freedom of the press/media, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.
I learned how some people misuse the Charter, in the case that they have the right to belief, opinion, and expression. Some people believe that they can use those rights to say hateful things to other people, because they believe they are simply expressing their opinion. That is not okay to do. That is because it infringes on the other person’s rights. According to the Charter, a person is allowed to have those opinions, but as soon as they say those thoughts directed at a person, that person’s rights have just been violated and they can seek legal action if they choose to do so.
Another topic related to the Charter we have covered would be protesting. A topic for one of our earlier blog posts was about protesting and if the government had the right to suspend our right to peaceful assembly. While we all had different opinions and views, the main theme in most of our class’s posts was if the protest was violent or nonviolent. What I expressed in my post was that the police/government should not get involved with a protest if it is not violent, but if they start to notice signs of potential violence, they should keep an eye on the protest. As Canadians, we all have the right to peacefully assemble, so none of us should have that right taken away from us. The keyword here is “peaceful.” As soon as the protest turns violent, other people’s rights are at risk, and that’s when police or the government needs to step in. As Canadians, we all need to be aware of the difference between violent and nonviolent protesting, because as I learned in this class, we all have the right to peacefully protest.
Overall, I learned many important things regarding the Canadians Charter of Rights and Freedoms in this class, and what I should do if my rights are infringed on.
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-15.html http://www.dictionary.com/browse/kirpan Mr. Forsyth’s lessons and discussions on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I agree, our learning on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was probably one of the most important topic in our civics class. It will have a lasting impact on myself, as I truly understand my rights and my freedoms, as well as what I can do if they are violated.
President Donald Trump has rolled back some of former President Obama’s policies and executive orders concerning the communist regime of Cuba. Laying out his new Cuba policy in a speech in Miami, Trump signed a presidential directive rolling back parts of Obama’s historic opening to the Communist-ruled country after a 2014 diplomatic breakthrough between the two former Cold War foes. Canada and the Holy See played a key role in this diplomatic breakthrough.
"We will not be silent in the face of communist oppression any longer," Trump told a cheering crowd. Cuba later denounced Trump’s directive as a “setback”, saying Trump had been badly advised and was resorting to "coercive methods of the past" that were doomed to fail. At home, Trump has faced pressure from businesses that rely on Cuba, as well as Republican senators, forcing him to leave intact some of his Democratic predecessor's steps toward normalization. The new policy bans most U.S. business transactions with the “Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group”, a Cuban conglomerate involved in all sectors of the economy. But it makes some exceptions, including for air and sea travel, according to U.S. officials. This will essentially shield U.S. airlines and cruise lines serving the island.
Canada is impacted by this roll back, as several Canadian businesses who also operate in the US are subject to these new sanctions. Last week the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control announced it had reached a settlement with the American Honda Finance Corporation — the institution that finances the sale and leases of Hondas and Acuras in North America. The civil liability settlement requires the company to hand over $87,255 US for violating the sanctions. The American Honda Finance Corporation is based in California, and the fine will likely be paid in the U.S., but the transaction that brought it on occurred in Canada.
"Canada has consistently opposed the extraterritorial application of United States sanctions, which interfere with the right of Canadian companies to conduct their business in a manner consistent with international trade practice and the laws of Canada." - Brittany Venhola-Fletcher of Global Affairs Canada.
Russia also criticized Trump’s move, with Russia's Foreign Ministry saying in a statement that Trump is "returning us to the forgotten rhetoric of the Cold War." Moscow maintains close ties with Cuba, and in March signed a deal to ship oil to Cuba for the first time in over a decade.
Very interesting information. We all should be aware of this. How does this relate to other events in the news recently? Any similarities with other events?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned in this course is communication, and the importance of it. When we talked about types of Native governments and how they work, the way communication was used was not only effective but inclusive. Allowing each member of the group to have time to speak their opinion, this method makes decision making fair as a consensus is needed. By the time the circle is done all members are happy and were able to get their thoughts in.
Another lesson I’ve taken from this course is be involved in your government. Knowing what is going on in your community and country is important. Being able to be critical of your government and challenge their ideals. Voting and participating in elections that will shape your country's future. We need to make an effort to help shape our government as much as we can, because it is not always fair so we need to try to get our input in.
We also talked a lot about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and how it affects us as Canadians. Religious freedoms was a very prominent topic of discussion when it came to the Charter. We talked about safety vs religion, and freedom of expression. I really enjoyed these conversations, because we were able to have a open talk about our feeling. Sometimes we agreed and other time we did not, both were great, as we got to hear differing opinions. What I got from these discussions is that even if someone has a differing opinion than you, it is always important to listen to them has their opinion matters just as much as yours. This is something that can be applied to our political standings.
Mr. Forsyth’s lessons http://www.histori.ca/voices/page.do?pageID=420 http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/05/the-importance-of-voting/
Those are all very important things to have learned from this course. I agree that learning about Native governments helped give us a deeper understanding of what we were learning. Also, so we could learn from a different perspective. I enjoyed how we often used the feather to take turns taking. It helped make sure that everyone was given the opportunity to talk, which does not always happen. Also, being involved with our government and understanding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are also very important.
I would like to reflect on what i've learned throughout this course. The most important thing I think i've learned in this course is teamwork and communication. Though, we were taught many important facts about our government I think the one thing I took the most out of during this course were the activities and team building exercises we did in class.
ReplyDeleteI found that at the beginning of the semester our class seemed somewhat scared of each other and we would all barely talk to one another. Through team building exercises and class discussions we all warmed up to eachother and began to realize that we could all share and even argue about our opinions amongst eachother.
Teamwork and strong communication skills are extremely important to develop in life, especially for gifted-cluster students. It is important for these students to develop these skills because it is very common for gifted students to have social issues
(not complete)
http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10065
I disagree with the fact that the classmates were scared of each other at the beginning, but I do agree with the fact that all the teamwork exercises that we completed brought the class much closer together and we all became more comfortable with each other. I personally loved showing up to both civics and careers because I felt like I was in a safe and fun environment to learn.
DeletePersonally, I always find it difficult to talk to new people or people that I do not know well. So I agree with you, Emma, because it did feel like some of us were a bit scared. But through all of the team building activities and discussions we have done as a class, I believe it made us more comfortable with each other. And I agree with you that communication and teamwork skills are very important to have.
DeleteThe Montreal Monorail
ReplyDeleteJustin Trudeau has announced a 1.3 billion dollar project for a monorail in Montreal. The light rail train will connect Montreal’s outskirts to its airport and to the downtown. The monorail is supposed to heavily clear up traffic in the city, as well as reduce air pollution from other vehicles. The construction will begin this fall. It will be nearly 70 kilometres long and will operate nearly constantly.
I personally think that the monorail is a great idea. Traffic in large cities is always an issue, and this light rail train will save many people time and money. It’s environmentally friendly too, meaning that this will be beneficial in many ways. Although the project will be costly, in the long run it will eventually save far more than it cost.
http://globalnews.ca/news/3530007/prime-minister-justin-trudeau-set-to-announce-1-28-billion-toward-major-montreal-transit-project/
I agree with your opinion. Thank you for sharing this information, I visit Montreal quite frequently and I'd love to see this project put into place. I hadn't heard of the idea before this but I'd personally like to put more research into it.
DeleteThank you for sharing this information. This will definitely benefit many citizens as well as the world for the decrease in air pollution.
DeleteCourse Reflection
ReplyDeleteI would like to dedicate this blog post on my experiences and new learnings from the past few months of civics. Firstly, this class was one of my favourite to show up to, I felt safe and accepted. Everyone showed up with an open mind and a smile on their face. The activities were fun, and the class was overall just enjoyable. Second, I feel that Mr. Forsyth did an amazing job of teaching the curriculum as well as so much other useful information that we can use in, and out of the classroom. I loved the structure and the different themes of each and every day. I learned so many new valuable skills in this class such as virtual responsibility, how to plan ahead, and how to act upon matters. Third, I made so many new friends in this class. During the trip to the Barrie Native Friendship Centre I was introduced with lots of students that I go to school with, but didn’t know. I also became closer with the students that I was stuck in Collingwood with. In conclusion I have gained so much from this course and I highly recommend that M. Forsyth continues to teach it to future generations.
I believe everything you said is very true. What are your thoughts on it being mandatory for students to take these two courses? If you could recommend one thing to Mr. Forsyth to change about the course, what would it be?
DeleteI agree with what you are saying. Our class is a very welcoming place and an excellent environment for learning. You said you learned many valuable skills, how will these skills help you out in your future? Also, which lesson did you enjoy learning about the most?
DeleteI have learned a lot throughout the course. This makes me to have a lot to reflect on. However, I think I think the Charter of Rights and Freedom was the most important thing to know. During the course, we learned a lot about our government and different cases encompassing the big three concepts, which are informed citizenship, active citizenship, and purposeful citizenship. Informed citizens seek to know different aspects of politics, sociology, and economy that could affect them. Active citizens get involved with democracy at local communities, provincial level politics, and even to the federal level politics. They are to propose or to change some aspects that need to be improved in our democratic society. Lastly, purposeful citizens get involved within the community and do their roles as citizens. They would follow rights that they have and provide feedback and interact with the community. They are purposeful and useful by actively participating. Nevertheless, behind all of these knowledges that we have obtained there was a basic fundamental concept, which is Charter of Rights and Freedom. There are some governments types that don’t guarantee these rights such as anarchy, aristocracy, and autocracy, but at least for Canada, with the constitution acts, we freely can learn how our governmental system works, how it’s formed, or how it’s corrupt.
ReplyDeleteWe learned how the citizens can fight against unfair laws that infringes on our rights through the Supreme Court of Canada. The four fundamental freedoms that we have as Canadians are: freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. The case studies that we had were on the Bill C-51 and Quebec protesters and the Curpan issue with the school board. We learned how organizations or laws infringe on individuals’ lives. We also expanded our knowledge to how pressure groups and lobby groups try to change or make laws that best suit for their interests. This opened up a new career choice for me and a fresh new perspective in political current events. However, most importantly, I opened up my eyes to the reality and some interesting and tragic facts about the first nations.
With my visit at the Barrie Friendship center, I had to totally rethink about the government's treatment towards the Native people. Especially hearing to the native survivors from the residential schools and blanket exercises, I learned how the Canadian government was flawed in sense of not treating every citizens equally, and I became civically aware of the issue. We learned that the Canadian government try to integrate and assimilate the First Nations into Euro-Canadian society by Indian Act. Though the history of Canada, the politicians added different terms and policies such as residential school. Residential School restricted the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression. They “[killed] the Indian inside” the child by punishing them if they practiced Native cultures and languages. As it forcefully collected and captivated the children from aboriginal communities, the Indian Act was also against the mobility rights. Ultimately, the Canadian government made laws that infringe on rights of the Natives. However with active citizens who try to fix the problem, the situation is getting better gradually. To conclude, the case studying, we learned that not all citizens were equally treated. Now as an informed citizen, I must act out and make changes in our society.
Citations:
Mr.Forsyth’s lesson
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-15.html
https://www.quora.com/What-is-meant-by-the-term-informed-citizen
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/active-citizenship-can-change-your-country-better
http://rikkucivics.weebly.com/what-does-being-a-purposeful-citizen-mean-to-you.html
I agree that this class has helped us to understand what it means to be an informed citizen, as well as an active citizen and a purposeful citizen. I also agree that learning about the treatment of Native people forced me to rethink some things about the government, what are some things that you think the government should do to solve this issue? Also, if you were to have one thing changed about this course, what would it be?
DeleteWell I think the government should encourage the School Board and encourage teachers to be more like Mr.Forsyth. If we didn’t have a teacher who extensively is interested or aware of the First Nations issue, we would not have been able to know about the issue at the first time. The government of Canada currently supports and funds elementary and secondary education for First Nation students ordinarily resident on-reserve, but I think there should be also funds on educating high school students about the issue and how the government treated them. This is because as we grow to become an adult, we will have to encounter the First Nations people. As we aren’t aware of the aboriginal right issues, we will be essentially treating them the same as the previous generations did. I think we must teach the students to be more responsible and aware so that we can prevent the discrimination and improve the whole situation.
Deletehttps://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033601/1100100033605
I agree that more teachers should take the approach on this course that Mr. Forsyth took. I think that is is very important that we are informed of Canada's terrible treatment of Native people and the discrimination and struggles that they still face to this day. Many people seem to think that everything is better now that the Residential Schools are shut down, but it's not. There is so much discrimination that still exists in Canada, and it is our responsibility to put a stop to that. I am glad that we are all informed about this now.
DeleteI would like to reflect on my civics course on my personal growth. As discussed on the first day of civics, the only thing that classmates really need to take away from this course is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, unless they’re going to go into politics when they’re older, as civics is about the basics and grounds of politics. So overall I have learned less about civics but more about myself.
ReplyDeleteI think that civics helped me realize that, through the blog posts, I have to keep on schedule with my school work or it will get me back in the end. Punctuality is one of the most important skills that needs to be applied in an everyday life, and through civics I learned that this is one of my weaknesses,and that I need to improve my working habits drastically.
Transitioning from the Careers course to the Civics course, I took a step down from being the ‘leader’ a lot. People always say that people need to get out more and do all these things, make their name mean something to the world - by being a leader and not a follower. One thing that I think is important is to not force that, and sometimes it’s better to step down from that role. Especially since this is a gifted class, many students are leaders. In the end, there can only be one.
So, I needed to work on things like team working. I believe I’m a great team leader, but I don't like taking orders from people. For example, on the Native Studies poster board that the whole class made, I was being told to cut out pictures and write things about the field trip. We were given a time limit, and I didn’t end up doing what I was completely supposed to. Had this scenario been a real world problem, like a job, if I had disagreed I would be punished or even fired.
Lastly, I really enjoyed the environment in civics. All the people in there including the teacher, I felt like I was invited most days to be there, everyone happy to be with each other. I’ll miss this class, thanks for a great year Mr. Forsyth and fellow classmates.
Very good reflection on what you learned about yourself through the course. The weekly blog posts are a good example of how managing your time is very important. Work will start to pile up and become unmanageable if this happens. It is good that you have recognized that this isn't your strength and that you want to improve upon it. I understand what you are saying about leadership. Especially in our class, where many people want to be the main leader, it can be hard to have everyone listen to your ideas. The competition to be the "leader" can sometimes be overwhelming, and sometimes your best option at the time is just to help however you can. While I think everyone should have the opportunity to be a "leader" if they want to be, everyone needs to understand that sometimes they may not be leading and directing the group, but all group members are valued and should be able to express their ideas.
DeleteCourse Reflection
ReplyDeleteI have personally learned a lot in this course, and have much to reflect on. In this course I learned not only the curriculum, but also many more things that have much more practical uses. In this course I learned to, write, and keep up with a blog. I believe this will be a useful skill in University, which is where I currently envision myself. This is probably one of the most practical skills that I have learned in this class. While writing this blog, I also was forced to keep up with current events, which were actually quite interesting, and during my research, has helped me to better understand many procedures and inner workings of the Canadian government, as well as other governments around the world. In class, I learned about the charter of rights and freedoms, and for the first time, I know my fundamental rights as a Canadian citizen. In this class, I also learned about the different branches of the government, and things such as the senate, and the house of commons. I now know how a bill becomes a law, and that Canada is split into ridings. More practical are the skills that I learned in this class. In class we did several activities that supported teamwork, and forced us to use communication and effective planning to complete tasks. As a result, I learned how to manage time, and work as part of a group.
Another thing I learned that actually came as a great shock to me was the government treatment towards Native people. The Native centre field trip helped me to understand that first nations had been treated poorly, and, thanks to many class discussions, I learned about Native towns in the north that are stranded, and as a result have high suicide rates. I think this was extremely important because in the past, I had no idea that this was even an issue, and assumed that these types of villages had the same standard of living. I now know that there is much that the government can, and should do to help these people, and make up for the mistakes of the past.
When it came to the in-class environment, I found that the students in the class were particularly friendly towards one another, and it was definitely the nicest class environment I have been in during high school. The multiple class discussions and debates helped me better understand the people in the class, and by the end of the year, I felt safe debating extremely controversial topics. Mr. Forsyth has done an excellent job in his teaching of both Civics and Careers, he managed to teach everything that was necessary while also covering many other topics that are much more useful to students. I have had a lot of fun in this class, and I will miss the entire class. Thank you for an excellent year Mr.Forsyth.
Source: Mr.Forsyth's lessons
Very good reflection on the things that you learned through this course. The blog was a very good learning experience for all of us. It taught everyone the importance of keeping on top of our work and managing our time. It also helped keep us informed of events going on around the world. Personally, I probably would not have been as aware of some of the things going on around the world if we didn't learn about them in class.
DeleteI learned many important things throughout this course. Out of all the topics we discussed, I believe that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was one of the most important things we covered. Before this course, I was not aware of the Charter. Of course I knew that Canadians have rights, but I didn’t know specifically what the Charter was. It outlines our rights and freedoms, and the things we are responsible for. Through many class lessons or discussions, we went through stories where someone’s rights were infringed upon, so they had to prove that they had the right to do whatever they were doing, such as carrying a kirpan, a religious dagger worn by Sikhs, with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. While learning about the Charter, we focused specifically on one section: Fundamental Freedoms. That includes freedom of conscience and religion, freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including the freedom of the press/media, freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association.
ReplyDeleteI learned how some people misuse the Charter, in the case that they have the right to belief, opinion, and expression. Some people believe that they can use those rights to say hateful things to other people, because they believe they are simply expressing their opinion. That is not okay to do. That is because it infringes on the other person’s rights. According to the Charter, a person is allowed to have those opinions, but as soon as they say those thoughts directed at a person, that person’s rights have just been violated and they can seek legal action if they choose to do so.
Another topic related to the Charter we have covered would be protesting. A topic for one of our earlier blog posts was about protesting and if the government had the right to suspend our right to peaceful assembly. While we all had different opinions and views, the main theme in most of our class’s posts was if the protest was violent or nonviolent. What I expressed in my post was that the police/government should not get involved with a protest if it is not violent, but if they start to notice signs of potential violence, they should keep an eye on the protest. As Canadians, we all have the right to peacefully assemble, so none of us should have that right taken away from us. The keyword here is “peaceful.” As soon as the protest turns violent, other people’s rights are at risk, and that’s when police or the government needs to step in. As Canadians, we all need to be aware of the difference between violent and nonviolent protesting, because as I learned in this class, we all have the right to peacefully protest.
Overall, I learned many important things regarding the Canadians Charter of Rights and Freedoms in this class, and what I should do if my rights are infringed on.
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-15.html
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/kirpan
Mr. Forsyth’s lessons and discussions on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I agree, our learning on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was probably one of the most important topic in our civics class. It will have a lasting impact on myself, as I truly understand my rights and my freedoms, as well as what I can do if they are violated.
DeletePresident Donald Trump has rolled back some of former President Obama’s policies and executive orders concerning the communist regime of Cuba. Laying out his new Cuba policy in a speech in Miami, Trump signed a presidential directive rolling back parts of Obama’s historic opening to the Communist-ruled country after a 2014 diplomatic breakthrough between the two former Cold War foes. Canada and the Holy See played a key role in this diplomatic breakthrough.
ReplyDelete"We will not be silent in the face of communist oppression any longer," Trump told a cheering crowd. Cuba later denounced Trump’s directive as a “setback”, saying Trump had been badly advised and was resorting to "coercive methods of the past" that were doomed to fail. At home, Trump has faced pressure from businesses that rely on Cuba, as well as Republican senators, forcing him to leave intact some of his Democratic predecessor's steps toward normalization. The new policy bans most U.S. business transactions with the “Armed Forces Business Enterprises Group”, a Cuban conglomerate involved in all sectors of the economy. But it makes some exceptions, including for air and sea travel, according to U.S. officials. This will essentially shield U.S. airlines and cruise lines serving the island.
Canada is impacted by this roll back, as several Canadian businesses who also operate in the US are subject to these new sanctions. Last week the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control announced it had reached a settlement with the American Honda Finance Corporation — the institution that finances the sale and leases of Hondas and Acuras in North America. The civil liability settlement requires the company to hand over $87,255 US for violating the sanctions. The American Honda Finance Corporation is based in California, and the fine will likely be paid in the U.S., but the transaction that brought it on occurred in Canada.
"Canada has consistently opposed the extraterritorial application of United States sanctions, which interfere with the right of Canadian companies to conduct their business in a manner consistent with international trade practice and the laws of Canada." - Brittany Venhola-Fletcher of Global Affairs Canada.
Russia also criticized Trump’s move, with Russia's Foreign Ministry saying in a statement that Trump is "returning us to the forgotten rhetoric of the Cold War." Moscow maintains close ties with Cuba, and in March signed a deal to ship oil to Cuba for the first time in over a decade.
SOURCES:
http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN1970EC-OCATP
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cuba-trudeau-honda-embassy-1.4165416
http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/russia-criticizes-trump-for-cold-war-rhetoric-on-cuba-1.3464702
Very interesting information. We all should be aware of this. How does this relate to other events in the news recently? Any similarities with other events?
DeleteThe biggest lesson I’ve learned in this course is communication, and the importance of it. When we talked about types of Native governments and how they work, the way communication was used was not only effective but inclusive. Allowing each member of the group to have time to speak their opinion, this method makes decision making fair as a consensus is needed. By the time the circle is done all members are happy and were able to get their thoughts in.
ReplyDeleteAnother lesson I’ve taken from this course is be involved in your government. Knowing what is going on in your community and country is important. Being able to be critical of your government and challenge their ideals. Voting and participating in elections that will shape your country's future. We need to make an effort to help shape our government as much as we can, because it is not always fair so we need to try to get our input in.
We also talked a lot about the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and how it affects us as Canadians. Religious freedoms was a very prominent topic of discussion when it came to the Charter. We talked about safety vs religion, and freedom of expression. I really enjoyed these conversations, because we were able to have a open talk about our feeling. Sometimes we agreed and other time we did not, both were great, as we got to hear differing opinions. What I got from these discussions is that even if someone has a differing opinion than you, it is always important to listen to them has their opinion matters just as much as yours. This is something that can be applied to our political standings.
Mr. Forsyth’s lessons
http://www.histori.ca/voices/page.do?pageID=420
http://www.vancitybuzz.com/2013/05/the-importance-of-voting/
Those are all very important things to have learned from this course. I agree that learning about Native governments helped give us a deeper understanding of what we were learning. Also, so we could learn from a different perspective. I enjoyed how we often used the feather to take turns taking. It helped make sure that everyone was given the opportunity to talk, which does not always happen. Also, being involved with our government and understanding the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are also very important.
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