Ian Doktor
@iandoktor.bsky.social
Science educator and doctoral candidate.
We are all searching in the dark. Be the light for others and help everyone find their way.
We are all searching in the dark. Be the light for others and help everyone find their way.
When was the last time someone crossed the floor in federal politics? I can't even remember.
November 5, 2025 at 3:31 AM
When was the last time someone crossed the floor in federal politics? I can't even remember.
Clarity by making things less clear.
What couldn't be clear about that type of clarity.
What couldn't be clear about that type of clarity.
October 21, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Clarity by making things less clear.
What couldn't be clear about that type of clarity.
What couldn't be clear about that type of clarity.
This is such a gong show. There are actual problems the government could try and address instead of made up performative actions that have no chance of having meaningful affects.
October 21, 2025 at 12:56 AM
This is such a gong show. There are actual problems the government could try and address instead of made up performative actions that have no chance of having meaningful affects.
I don't understand how limited people on the ballot affects voter fraud 🤨
October 21, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I don't understand how limited people on the ballot affects voter fraud 🤨
What problem is this trying to solve? I mean aside from the obvious tilting of the field towards the UCP.
October 21, 2025 at 12:49 AM
What problem is this trying to solve? I mean aside from the obvious tilting of the field towards the UCP.
I made a similar argument with respect to the teachers strike. Respect and collaboration would have built goodwill that probably would resulted in the current deal.being accepted.
Instead, as time goes on, more and more teachers refused.
Instead, as time goes on, more and more teachers refused.
October 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I made a similar argument with respect to the teachers strike. Respect and collaboration would have built goodwill that probably would resulted in the current deal.being accepted.
Instead, as time goes on, more and more teachers refused.
Instead, as time goes on, more and more teachers refused.
Maybe he watched the Matt Damon movie Elysium and confused it for reality.
That would actually explain a whole lot about his presidency.
That would actually explain a whole lot about his presidency.
September 28, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Maybe he watched the Matt Damon movie Elysium and confused it for reality.
That would actually explain a whole lot about his presidency.
That would actually explain a whole lot about his presidency.
I fear that the advantages our education system had when I was in school will continue to eroded and destroyed by the same government mismanagement we've seen during the last 8 years.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I fear that the advantages our education system had when I was in school will continue to eroded and destroyed by the same government mismanagement we've seen during the last 8 years.
While I'm still hopeful a last minute deal can be reached I find that increasing unlikely and it makes me sad.
Alberta once had what I considered the best education system in the world (again, having taught all over the world for more than 20 years I have a somewhat unique perspective).
Alberta once had what I considered the best education system in the world (again, having taught all over the world for more than 20 years I have a somewhat unique perspective).
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
While I'm still hopeful a last minute deal can be reached I find that increasing unlikely and it makes me sad.
Alberta once had what I considered the best education system in the world (again, having taught all over the world for more than 20 years I have a somewhat unique perspective).
Alberta once had what I considered the best education system in the world (again, having taught all over the world for more than 20 years I have a somewhat unique perspective).
Like many teachers I'm a father and I'm dismayed that my two children will have their school year interrupted. This has been a long time coming and is the result of the government constantly and consistently displaying disrespect, ignorance, and a lack of caring towards the entire education system.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Like many teachers I'm a father and I'm dismayed that my two children will have their school year interrupted. This has been a long time coming and is the result of the government constantly and consistently displaying disrespect, ignorance, and a lack of caring towards the entire education system.
I'm offended not only for the way teachers have been treated, but as a fiscally responsible Albertan, I'm dismayed by the waste that's being demonstrated. Building respect with Alberta teachers would have cost less than the new carpet in Danielle Smith's office.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I'm offended not only for the way teachers have been treated, but as a fiscally responsible Albertan, I'm dismayed by the waste that's being demonstrated. Building respect with Alberta teachers would have cost less than the new carpet in Danielle Smith's office.
Instead, teachers were essentially accused of purveying pornography to students.
Change the way the UCP engaged with teachers wouldn't have cost the government a single dollar but I'm sure it would have moved enough teachers to vote for the contract they offered.
Change the way the UCP engaged with teachers wouldn't have cost the government a single dollar but I'm sure it would have moved enough teachers to vote for the contract they offered.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Instead, teachers were essentially accused of purveying pornography to students.
Change the way the UCP engaged with teachers wouldn't have cost the government a single dollar but I'm sure it would have moved enough teachers to vote for the contract they offered.
Change the way the UCP engaged with teachers wouldn't have cost the government a single dollar but I'm sure it would have moved enough teachers to vote for the contract they offered.
I've already written about this elsewhere so I won't go into tons of detail here but to say the UCP could have talked with the ATA, school boards, or the individual schools where the FOUR books were. Any of those approaches would have engaged teachers and demonstrated respect for the work we do.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I've already written about this elsewhere so I won't go into tons of detail here but to say the UCP could have talked with the ATA, school boards, or the individual schools where the FOUR books were. Any of those approaches would have engaged teachers and demonstrated respect for the work we do.
Again, that wouldn't have cost the government a dime and it would have built good will that would be very useful right now.
And of course there is the ham-fisted UCP book ban.
And of course there is the ham-fisted UCP book ban.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Again, that wouldn't have cost the government a dime and it would have built good will that would be very useful right now.
And of course there is the ham-fisted UCP book ban.
And of course there is the ham-fisted UCP book ban.
There has never been any evidence of that; not to mention the new system has been completely ineffective. Properly managing that transition should have involved consulting and working with teachers instead of insulting them.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
There has never been any evidence of that; not to mention the new system has been completely ineffective. Properly managing that transition should have involved consulting and working with teachers instead of insulting them.
in investigating complaints against teachers so I knew how and why that system worked. However, I quickly changed my mind as the government suggested and stated that the move was necessary because teachers and the ATA were in some way hiding teacher misconduct.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
in investigating complaints against teachers so I knew how and why that system worked. However, I quickly changed my mind as the government suggested and stated that the move was necessary because teachers and the ATA were in some way hiding teacher misconduct.
But wait, there is more. A few years ago the government decided the ATA should not be in charge of teacher discipline. This upset a great many teachers, but honestly, I wasn't one of them. At first. I worked in BC where the BCTF is not directly involved
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
But wait, there is more. A few years ago the government decided the ATA should not be in charge of teacher discipline. This upset a great many teachers, but honestly, I wasn't one of them. At first. I worked in BC where the BCTF is not directly involved
As I said, having taught in both private and charter schools, I'm not against them on principle. But like most teachers, it is impossible for me to support increasing funding there when we aren't funding our public system properly.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
As I said, having taught in both private and charter schools, I'm not against them on principle. But like most teachers, it is impossible for me to support increasing funding there when we aren't funding our public system properly.
If they did it would be significantly more expensive for everyone. Yet while the public money to education has increased by about 4% per year, charter schools have see increases of closer to 16%.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
If they did it would be significantly more expensive for everyone. Yet while the public money to education has increased by about 4% per year, charter schools have see increases of closer to 16%.
I believe there is a place for charter schools in Alberta but they are a very (very) niche set of options that will never make up the bulk of the educational landscape here. They simply don't have the ability to educate the masses of students we have.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I believe there is a place for charter schools in Alberta but they are a very (very) niche set of options that will never make up the bulk of the educational landscape here. They simply don't have the ability to educate the masses of students we have.
This doesn't just upset teachers and school boards, it makes the entire system worse off. I've worked all over the world (I've taught in four different countries, several provinces in Canada, worked in public, private and charter schools).
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This doesn't just upset teachers and school boards, it makes the entire system worse off. I've worked all over the world (I've taught in four different countries, several provinces in Canada, worked in public, private and charter schools).
meaningfully including teachers and recognizing their expertise would have built goodwill that would have led to some of that 15% who voted no having a different opinion.
What else? The overt redistribution of funds from public schools to private and charter schools.
What else? The overt redistribution of funds from public schools to private and charter schools.
September 6, 2025 at 10:24 PM
meaningfully including teachers and recognizing their expertise would have built goodwill that would have led to some of that 15% who voted no having a different opinion.
What else? The overt redistribution of funds from public schools to private and charter schools.
What else? The overt redistribution of funds from public schools to private and charter schools.