When my career in education (now in its fifty-first year) began to move towards administration, I enrolled in a course called "In the Vice-Principal's Chair". It was an event on Thursday evening and all day Friday. On Thursday evening, … Read more

It is a beautiful, but brisk, evening here on Manitoulin Island in northern Ontario, as I am writing. In contemplation, I am sitting in our parlour in front of our wood-burning fireplace. In the fireplace, a maple log is burning … Read more

During the mid 1950s, when I was in my teens, we had no television set. They were out of our "price range". We did, however, have a very good radio which provided many hours of excellent entertainment for the entire … Read more

When I was in my early teens, I read Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island many times — and was intrigued every time! The thoughts of privateering on the high seas and amassing huge amounts of treasure held great appeal and … Read more

There are many sets of "Commandments". As a hunter safety training instructor, I teach the "Ten Commandments of Hunter Safety" to every class, and strongly recommend compliance. Then, there are the "Safety Patrol Commandments" which we taught student Crossing Guards, … Read more

Throughout my 45 years of teaching, I have found that positive feedback, or an earned compliment, usually brought a positive response: a bright smile, a happy "Thank You!" and even tears! Whenever a student, no matter how young or old, … Read more

As far back as I can remember, I heard my parents saying, "Robbie, remember — first things first!" Every day, my parents arose first, washed, dressed, and prepared for the day, and then got my sisters and me up — … Read more

One day, I received an urgent call from the local co-ordinator of the Cancer Society, asking if I would possibly consider canvassing our street for donations. She had exhausted her list of volunteers, and was in great need of help. … Read more