“Canadian high school”

My spouse, daughter and I watched this, and we ALL thought exactly the same thing.

It’s justified.

I understand though that the Biebs didn’t finish school…actually he was hardly ever there.

It’s not a compliment to our Canadian high schools—it was a dig at Justin and our education system because Justin called the Sistine Chapel the Sixteenth Chapel.

Funny, AND NOT FUNNY !

Yeah, it’s really funny, the whole piece of the Letterman show with Letterman laughing his head off and Biebs dumbfounded and seemingly unaware … I went and found the whole session which put it into context.

Yeah, the Anniston/Vaughn clip is funny too.

But, who is the ignorant one here.  I think Letterman was the dummy here.

Where in the American school system do students become aware of the SISTINE CHAPEL?  It’s not likely something in the “Canadian High School” either.

Why does Letterman come across as superior and holier-than-thou here?

This clip is no reflection on Canadian education or whether Biebs went to school or not!

In fact, this does raise a good question.  How much “schooling” did Bieber get?  And if none or little, so what?

He is enormously successful in his talent.  He is a good son to his mother.  He is, from all reports, a respectful boyfriend.  He is a charming and gracious public figure.  I’m sure he and his accountants do not fudge his income tax. A model of a self-supporting, law-abiding, respectable and respectful person. I think I’m going to read his story a lot more carefully now.  I was really bothered by this put-down and making Biebs out to be a “yokel”!

So, what is compulsory attendance at a government teacher-union dominated school all about anyway?  Are there expectations?  And are American expectations being met?  Are Canadian expectations from all this compulsory attendance being met?

With all the efforts at reforming “deforming”, quashing of reform, etc. and the polarizing going on I think this clip might be useful as a starting point for some real philosophical discussions and questions.

This clip really got my hackles up! As I keep talking to myself, I think I now know what bothered me the most about this incident.  It was the assumption by Letterman, an elder public figure, that what education is about is “one-size-fits-all”.  It is the PERSISTENCE of this notion — that there is a universal and conforming norm — about what constitutes a proper education.  AND, furthermore, that this must be a MONOPOLY, state-provided public service and dependent on who wins out in the school wars – whether it’s the Marxists, the progressives, the Deweyites, the liberals, the traditionalists, etc.

It’s still a war as to whose monopoly will prevail.  The “Canadian High School” is an understood package as is the “American High School”.  No diversity !!!!

When, Oh When, will we be serious about authentic choices and alternatives in education?

You’re right Tunya. Justin Bieber isn’t a good example of the Canadian high school system - because he was rarely there. Could be he wasn’t cut out for the public system like many other kids and did better, in virtual school?

from the National Post - Monday July 3rd

“Turns out his world also included electronic courses to finish high school

Justin Bieber may have the No. 1 album on the Billboard chart, throngs of adoring fans, legions of top producers at his disposal, his own fragrance and a head of hair that seems capable of influencing the tides themselves. But until last week he did not have a high-school diploma. That was rectified on Thursday when Bieber, 18 was named a graduate of St. Michael’s Catholic Secondary School in Stratford Ontario. Bieber, did not attend the school’s commencement ceremony.  The school offered electronic course to the busy Bieber, who travelled to Alberta with his mother at the age of 13 to break into the music industry, but declined to offer other details about his studies or his graduation.  “I guess if it happened quietly it’s because Justin chose to keep aspects of his education quiet,” Dan Parr, a superintendent with the Huron Perth Catholic District School Board, told the news agency QMI”

It is locally speculated that Bieber took on-line courses but not with either of the two public boards. Maybe THAT’S why the no-show to his graduation?