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Why Aren’t Teachers Able to Work?
“We are measuring people against goals they never chose.” -Ray Bennett Recently, our new Minister of Education asked a deceptively simple and deeply provocative question: “Why are teachers unable to work?” Only sheer ignorance or rare brilliance can produce a question that clean. I would add another: Why are so many children refusing to go to school at all? We talk endlessly about burnout, absenteeism, an

Barry Smith
Jan 173 min read


11 Things No One Tells You About Becoming a Child & Youth Care Worker
Becoming a child and youth care (CYC) worker is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you can choose. The work is deeply emotional, often messy, and rarely straightforward. Here are 11 hard truths about the job that no one really tells you before you step into it. 1. You’ll Have to Give Bad News Delivering bad news is part of the job, and it’s never easy. Children in care have often faced constant instability, moving from placement to placement, struggling in scho

Barry Smith
Dec 17, 20253 min read


My Dad Never Counted Shots
My dad never counted shots. What he did do was drape me in Montreal Canadiens attire. I played out for the first couple of years, but...

Barry Smith
Aug 28, 20254 min read


Beyond Privilege
Whole brain learning is an approach to human development incorporating 9 elements that ultimately engage all of our learning systems. ...

Barry Smith
Sep 10, 20246 min read


Understanding the Different Levels of Player Engagement
“We only know a tiny proportion about the complexity of the natural world. Wherever you look, there are still things we don’t know about...

Barry Smith
Feb 18, 20242 min read


So You Want to Be the Goalie?
The feeling of having no power over a situation in generally unbearable. When we feel helpless we feel miserable. Even if you have the...

Barry Smith
Dec 30, 20234 min read


The Sour Kangaroo
"Horton Hears a Who!" written by Dr. Seuss , tells the story of Horton the Elephant , who discovers a tiny civilization called Whoville...

Barry Smith
Sep 16, 20232 min read
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