Be That as it May!

About the Book

Parents of school children frustrated and confused by the way the public school system seems to shut them out of any meaningful contribution to the education of their children should find this book informative and very helpful. The author recounts many of her experiences in the Public Education System from the inside where she taught in a wide variety of places and grades throughout Western Canada, over a period of 46 years. She recounts the many changes that have taken place in that time frame. Roberta (as she prefers to be called) prides herself on the courage to face difficulties head on and challenge authority when it appears to be self-serving rather than dedicated to its founding principles. This pursuit has led her to run for public office three times and enter several other fields, some in the private sector, which gives her a different perspective than souly as a public servant. The topics covered range from new trends since the end of W.W. II to whether uniforms should be instituted to what can be done about bullying. Many authorities are quoted and brought into the discussion from Statistics Canada to Hilda Neatby. Education is a hot button topic these days, second only to Health Care in Canada it seems. Roberta wonders whether we are due for some real fundamental changes in the way we teach our children. This book encourages us to open a true dialectic on the subject.

About the Author

Roberta Maclise McDonald (1940- )is presently retired from teaching after 45 years, but still keeps vitally interested in what happens in the classroom on a volunteer basis and from extensive reading and research. Roberta was raised on a farm in Saskatchewan, then taught in various cities and country areas throughout the Western provinces giving her a wide range of experience. Her grandchild presently attends primary school in the Public Education system, a personal reason for focusing on reasons to improve the system, or to do away with it altogether. She readily acknowledges that a child's teacher is very influential in the child's present and future life. Sadly, the system does not always support students and teachers to their best advantage educationally. She draws heavily on her personal experiences as a student, teacher, mother, and grandmother to expose some of the flaws and shortcomings therein. By also pointing out certain positive aspects, she attempts to present a balanced approach. Roberta passionately believes that education plays a major role, if not the most important one, in prospects for our future happiness and prosperity, both as an individual and as a nation.