Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Hamburg, Germany - educational changes

Germany is often thought to be among the leaders in educational attainment. But, as with many other areas (with strong teacher unions?) it has been hidebound with the past. At least that is the view of many modernizers there. And recently in the Hamburg region there has been a change in the year within which young students must take standardized tests. It was moved up two grades (from grade 6 to grade 8, roughly). This was to reduce the alleged disparities occurring among less well off youngsters with those better off. This, in turn should, the theory went, help more students succeed sufficiently to be admitted into the "gymnasiums" and help to ensure more access later into the universities, instead of supposedly more mundane technical trades.
But, many "conservative" families felt that this was a retrograde process.
And so, they have mounted a successful initiative to force a referendum on the subject.
"The parents feel that their children will be dragged down by academic laggards in the name of social justice" - according to the Economist Magazine of Mar. 13.
Now it does not matter what your individual view might be on this subject. What does matter is that a democratic manner of determining the issue is being permitted. Maybe the "conservative" parents will win the ultimate vote; maybe not. But, at least all will have a say.
And isn't that the is essence of democracy. The majority view should prevail - not just what may be thought to be correct by some elite.
My book YOU Can Control Your Government indicates just how this method can work - in Canada, also, as well as in Hamburg Germany. Perhaps our educational system could be improved, if we permitted more people to have a say in how it works.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Iceland's vote results:

On March 7, 62% of Icelandic citizens voted in a referendum to counter the result of their parliament's decision in January. In terrible weather some 90% of them voted in opposition to their government's decision to reimburse England and Netherlands which in turn had compensated some 400,000 of their own citizens. That compensation ultimately amounted to some $15,000 per Icelandic citizen. The whole issue related to the failure of two Icelandic banks which had provided some temporary high interest to a large number of hopeful, foreign investors. When the banks crashed in 2008, the governments of England and Netherlands had reimbursed the depositors. In turn those countries had expected to be reimbursed by Iceland.
The icelandic parliament had by a narrow margin agreed. The Icelandic citizens did not see why they should become indebted for such goings-on.
Negotiations will have to be renewed. IMF assistance to the hard-pressed country and its possible inclusion into the European Union may depend upon an ultimate resolution of the problem.
But, the citizens clearly expressed their opposition to the initial solution in a carefully worded, simple ballot explaining the situation and asking for a Yes or No answer.
This is a very simple use of Direct Democracy.
Why do not we have such possibilities about aspects of life in Canada? Read my book - YOU Can Control Your Government. It explains how such citizen involvements can be accomplished here, just as in other countries, such as Iceland.