Technolandy

Day 56 (of 2025/26) 3 news stories that seem a bit more ‘attack focused’ than should be in education…

1. What is a “professional degree” – definitely a focus on female majority professions…hmmm…. https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/full-list-of-degrees-no-longer-considered-professional-by-trumps-education-department-nursing-and-accounting-article-153187736 and this impacts: How much of a student loan can be obtained; which means more will turn to private loans and supporting the 1% with generational wealth continuing passive income growth. On paper, this is about student loans… implicitly it will limit who & how many will apply to take up these jobs… nursing, teaching, social work to touch the tip top of the metaphorical iceberg.

2. Alberta not liking nicknames… government names only please! https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-notwithstanding-clause-bills-9.6983786 “sections of the Education Act that require schools to obtain parental consent when a student under 16 years of age wishes to change his or her name or pronouns for reasons related to the student’s gender identity, and require parental opt-in consent to teaching on gender identity, sexual orientation or human sexuality” I trust that this means that adults will also not be able to just call a student by a nickname nor a shortened/adapted name – such as including a last initial when two students have the same first name…as adding an initial can be connected with how many authors would hide their gender… without first getting consent from the family? I know I would likely be the parent to call in with a wish for names and pronouns that I wish my kid to be referred to one way in the morning and differently in the afternoon… and I assume that a) schools will have a way to confirm any changes with a record of the confirmation and b) adults in particular will face some sort of consequence if they opt not to use the name that I, as a parent, have decided to have my child called?

3. Field Trips carry risks… https://vancouversun.com/news/bear-attacks-students-bella-coola-leaving-them-with-severe-injuries – many of us in rural-ish areas are always aware that scary events like this are possible… and indeed have been the #1 reason I have had to do a ‘secure and hold/lockdown’ drill; but the scariest was just seeing a bear coming up the stairs to our wide open school doors – easy enough spring to close the doors – we know these things can happen… but it’s horrible to read that this actually did happen – best wishes to everyone in Bella Coola!