There are a number of words in my house that I don't say because little ears are listening (usually ones that I have to stifle when I stub my toe or burn dinner). But, I skip these words because they are actually bad words. I can't imagine forbidding the use of words related to religious holidays, evolution, or other "controversial" topics. So, when I read this article regarding the New York City Department of Education's banning of words used by school test developers, I was a little thrown.

In an attempt to avoid topics that could make students feel "uncomfortable," approximately 50 words were put on the chopping block. Words, such as "dinosaur" (which might imply evolution), "birthdays" (which are not celebrated by all religions), "Halloween" (which could suggest paganism), and "crime" (which is just plain unpleasant) are a few of the casualties. The list also instructed that tests not mention bodily functions, diseases, natural disasters, celebrities, divorce, politics, homelessness, or even rock-and-roll music.

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With an accountant for a mother, I can't say that I ever had to worry about not making the grade in math class. From the time I was quite small, I was adding, subtracting, dividing, and even creating macaroni algebra charts (scary, but true).

However, these days many young students in Western Canada are facing the challenges of learning basic math without the help of their parents, because the methods by which foundational mathematics is being taught these days are changing.

Forget memorizing times tables (which, if you're anything like me, are permanently burned into your brain), and start thinking exploration-based learning. This can include the use of visual tools, such as blocks or graphs to carry out addition, subtraction, and other basic math processes.

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Every day I take a significant amount of time to prepare food for my family. I use what my kids like to refer to as "ingredients" over packaged food. I read labels and like to think I’m pretty informed about the foods that I choose for my family to consume. I also attempt to educate my kids on the importance of thinking about the foods that we put into our bodies, even when it means using the age-old "you'll thank me when you're older" line.

However, once a week this all goes out the window.

My daughter's school offers a hot lunch program which runs one day a week, and I have to admit, this is when she gets to eat the junky food that I typically give a flat out "no" to. While from time to time there are healthy choices, with a token package of apple slices or carrots and dip thrown in, the bulk of the options consist of pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and tacos.

As a former student of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, I was pretty excited to see that this innovative school is gearing up to provide a degree-worthy education related to sustainable agriculture (a far cry from the typical industry-driven programs that you tend to see).

Rather than responding to the needs of employers, this program is an answer to the needs of our changing world, and will be British Columbia's first production agriculture degree program, teaching students the art and science of small-scale farming.

As a label-reading, organic-conscious mom, I can see the value in knowing that the food my family and I are eating is grown by individuals, rather than corporations. I would far rather spend my money at a farmers market where I can talk to the person who grew my food, than purchase imported produce from a grocery store and wonder why on earth my green peppers need to come all the way from South America, and why they seem to last forever in my refrigerator.

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Are you feeling like your best (and most productive) years are behind you—but are still craving the chance to go back to school for a fresh start, or to take care of unfinished business? Well, rest easy that you’re not alone. These nagging thoughts are common. But, the truth is many individuals are not jumping into college right out of high school, and even if they are, many come back in later years to complete their post-secondary education, or gain further skills and credentials.

This dilemma is close to my own heart. I followed the typical path out of high school: moving right on to college. However, thanks to all of life’s little twists and turns, I’ve never completed my degree, and am haunted by the fact that I didn’t. I want to show myself that I can do it, and I feel strongly that accomplishing my goal will help my children to understand that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve their own goals.

It’s that time of year again. The time when I start making lists of all the things I will and won’t do this coming year. Here are a couple of my typical goals:

I will lose ten pounds (because I ate too many Christmas goodies).

I will save more money (because I spent too much money on Christmas presents).

I think you can see where this is going.

Okay, so some of my not-so-unique resolutions may or may not happen, but the concept of a new year, where we can all start fresh is invigorating—like a field of untouched snow. It’s our chance to write exactly what we want on a blank slate.

This can be an ideal time to get proactive about the future, especially by tackling bigger goals—such as going back to school—which can be a struggle to get off the ground. This type of resolution can seem insurmountable, but with the push of a new year behind you, the momentum can help put your goals within reach.

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Freedom versus security. That’s typically the debate when it comes to considering freelance work over an in-house position. It’s also a reason why many individuals shy away from careers in design, writing, and other fields known for favoring contract work. However, as our global community continues to grow smaller, the door is opening to new ways of connecting with potential employers and clients.

Lugging your portfolio from firm to firm is no longer the only option for obtaining work in contract-based industries. Sites, such as Elance or 99designs are aggregating available projects from across various fields, and providing a practical solution for freelance professionals.

This is how it works:

Businesses and individuals post projects related to everything from computer programming and web design to administration and finance, allowing them to connect with talented professionals that are ready, willing, and able to complete the work.

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Maybe you’ve heard about the Greek economic crisis? Or, perhaps the Occupy movement? Well, if you haven’t, feel free to climb out from under the rock you’ve been calling home, and join me in considering a few things.

First up is Greece, a country that’s in deep financial trouble with bailouts, soaring unemployment, and riots—just to name a few problems. Next, we have the Occupy movement, which is holding strong across North America, and is demanding changes related to a number of social justice issues—one of which is accessible post-secondary education.

Looking at these two headline issues, you might be wondering what the connection is.

This is what I see:

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When you think of an education centered on fashion, perhaps haute couture, artistic expression, and runway shows are what you picture. However, compassion and social awareness probably don’t come to mind right away. Well, at The Art Institutes’ campuses across North America, fashion design students are learning a valuable lesson in these areas.

In partnership with The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), The Art Institutes is holding its seventh annual Cool vs. Cruel competition, which challenges students to interpret the designs of high fashion designers, such as Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and Fendi—minus the use of animal fur.

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Typically, when considering where to attend school, you likely have certain criteria you want to consider, such as cost, accreditation, and location. But what about reputation? Many schools are known for producing competent, skilled graduates, but what about graduates with compassion and community spirit? Well, at Career Quest Learning Centers, they’ve taken that additional step.

Recently, local elementary schools in Jackson, Michigan have gone through some hard-hitting budget cuts that have forced the elimination of school nurse positions. These nurses were responsible for handling a variety of important tasks, such as providing on-site medical attention, and administering medications. As the school district began looking for a way to shift these responsibilities to secretaries and administrators, local parent and physician, Dr. Matt Rosenburg, thought up the idea to involve Career Quest Learning Centers in the solution.

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