The basic human rights of the Foster twins were attacked unfairly by the University of Ottawa's administration. They deserve reparation for the attack that they suffered.
I think kids in Afcanastand should not be chained up to macheins. They should be able to go to school. If they ever want to grow up to be a docter,asternot ,macanic they have to go to SCHOOL! Thats why they should go to school and not be chaind up to macheins.
Sub-atomic physics requires prior primary and secondary education before a student can participate and learn to the fullest extent. But this activism course seeks to deliver a similar quality education, except in an open, honest forum to discuss what is wrong with society and how we can all take action to change it. Such education is paramount in changing our current critical path, and what better time to encourage this discussion than with young members of society. UofO: this was a despicable AND dishonest move. Please correct your mistake.
I was hoping that the University of Ottawa would be proud to allow this most interesting teaching approach, but sadly the University sees this more as a threat to the establishment. There is so much to be learned, both from this novel approach and for the boys themselves.
SHAME on U of O. We should encourage more kids to be involved in courses such as this one. Our kids, our future ! I hope the donors to U of O are made aware of this shamefull act....and donate elsewhere where there is no prejudice.
It constantly amazes me the way the universities treat students, and in particular, the way society treats children. They are information sponges and should be treated with care, respect, and love -- not neglect, disrespect, and cotempt.
I find it amazing that while both levels of government continues to neglect their post secondary funding obligations the University of Ottawa administration chooses to do battle with 2 future scholars rather than sticking up for their student's and their institution's well being. Good Luck Fosters!!!
Professor Denis Rancourt offered the Activism course otherwise referred to as Science in Society (SCI 1101) at the University of Ottawa in the fall of 2007. It was a very popular course as he invited the Court of Public Review (members of the community from Ottawa and the surrounding area) to attend the classes with the registered students who are seeking credit courses. Some members of the community registered for this course and by their action they became ‘special students.’
Sebastian Foster and Douglas Foster registered for this course with their mother, Wendy Foster, thereby becoming ‘special students.’. Bravo to them and their mother for their leadership action. Guaranteed, these young students learned more useful information from attending this popular Activism class once a week than they learned from attending ‘our public fool system’ for five days a week all fall. Why, because this Activism class addresses issues that formal education commonly neglects to teach. Let’s have more adults get re-educated and let’s make our universities the spaces of open learning that they were intended to be!! Why would the hierarchy of Ottawa University expel them after accepting their initial application as ‘special students?’
The administration needs to stop thinking like the dinosaurs that they obviously are and give credit where it's due. Instead of putting a positive spin on the publicity, the U of O has ensured themselves as much negative press as they can swallow. One bad decision after another. Perhaps it's time to force a few resignations and look for new leadership.
This is clearly a human-rights issue and will more than likely be resolved in the twins' favor. Way to go, U of O... way to show Ottawa and now the rest of Canada just how behind the times you really are.
I hold a high level of respect for this family for trying to reach beyond the traditional limits on eduction. Especially while our current education system continually slips. I am appalled that somebody who considers themselves educated would make such a decision to deny open young minds an opportunity to quality education. This only proves that the limits and expectations many members of society put on each other are poor judgement and it is through actions like this that our social development is continually hindered.
When an individual wants to attempt a course, and accepts the risk of failing, and the professor accepts the student then the admissions office should not do *gatekeeping* based on prejudice or *profiling*.
The Foster twins embarrassed the elitist university bosses, who want to maintain the myth that university courses deal with concepts that are too difficult for most people to understand.
Jeff Schmidt
Author, Disciplined Minds
jeffschmidt@alumni.uci.ed u
What possible justification could there be for this utter disregard [and absence of simple praise] for the intentions and actions of these two incredible people? Age??? Our university had the choice to take an advanced step towards creating better people for our future by promoting such flourishing young minds, yet chose to take a wholly stunting and diminishing path in the decision instead. It's a shame.
I was under the impression that universities were supposed to foster and encourage education, not discriminate against it due to age. When did that EVER become a problem? This event is just another amidst the university's increasing number of reputable and unacceptable acts, I mean really.
Why did U of O expel the students without explanation? Just because they could. The students met the pre-requisites and were enthusiastic classmates. The university took advantage of the students by ignoring their rights on the basis of age!
I am quite surprised that a University would descriminate against two students on the basis of their age. When two people express an interest in attending a University at such a young age they should be encouraged not made to feel inadequate or rejected. What have these two young men learned from this? From this web site, I would say that they have learned that by speaking out and letting their voices be heard, they will get the support they need in life and will not let a huge organization silence them or hold them back. Good for them and for the course of which they attended.
Such discrimination is yet another extention of the many, many barriers that exists in the quest to access higher education. The line must be drawn here. We must not make anymore concessions. We demand institutional change.
As an off campus observer of this University I am aghast at the attitude I have observed from the Administration over the past few months. It seems if the education doesn't come from a dusty text it is given no credence. When my two daughters are of University age I will strongly advise them to explore more progressive centres of learning. In my opinion the "Powers that be" at U of O are oppresive and moribund.
John Dalton
Sebastian and Douglas, you totally rock! clobber the University of Ottawa hierarchy/patriar-
chy/oligarchy!! you paid your tuition for the course, and have just as much right as anyone to take the course!!
the U of O tramples on students' rights--yet again....how pathetic is that?
I find it despicable that the university dare take these mesures to reduce the number of active, participating students in this class. What is even more shameful is the fact that the administration has the gall to prevent acces to education on the basis of age and/or academic history, but is more than willing to accept the paid fees for the course. This decision of expulsion for two already accepted and registered special students can only decompose the reputation of such an institution, institution that should have as a primary objective the promotion of education and not the opposite.
If children are our future, how can any University claim that taking someone's money and exposing them to information, whatever their age, is wrong? This act was a mistake and I fully support the action taken to correct the University's poorly thought out executive decision.
It's a shame that when given the opportunity to learn beyond what the institution typically teaches, the system attempts to repress these boys from reality by slamming the door in their faces.
People are ready to learn something when they decide to learn it. Awise teacher teaches at that moment. Age, beyond infancy or my fast approaching senility, has little or nothing to do with it. The action of the Univerity was arbitrary and the rule that underpins the action is discriminatory.
The next generation will be profoundly affected by the choices of previous generations, the 'mess we've left them.' A few enterprising youths want to get involved, with the help of their mother, and learn about the issues, maybe make a difference, and we're discouraging them!?! It is the height of arrogance and egotism to create these problems, yet be unwilling to hand over any of the power or opportunity to make a difference to change things; when obviously, for the most part, the older generation is still hardly willing to do anything. It's their future now, not ours; at least give them a fighting chance.
SCI1101 had no prerequisites! This means that anyone can join this class. The point of this course was to hear different opinions from different people and to experience it fully, it is crucial to hear a child's opinion. Sebastian and Douglas Foster both deserve their credits because they did what was nessecary to obtain then. The university administration does not have the right to expel someone because of their age. This is blatant age discrimination!
I can't believe the university would just expel someone without giving a valid reason after the student had been registered as a student. This is a completely unacceptable way to treat anyone. Once someone is admitted to the university, no matter what their age, gendre, ethnic background, or sexual orientation, they have full rights just like every other student. They can only be expelled if they do something that violates the principles of the university and even then a formal process must be followed, not an ad hoc decision by one individual in the administration.
