Daily Archives: June 19, 2012

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CHARLOTTE -- A national organization said they hope to stop the summer brain-drain by keeping kids in school.

The Freedom School Partners is a six-week educational enrichment program designed to help kids not only maintain what they learned the past school year, but help them learn more. Monday was the first day of this summer program at 25 sites around Mecklenburg County.

Parents said they might be more excited than their kids.

"This morning I woke up so early because I was so excited about having them here. I was like, oh you know! They thought I was going to work and I was like, 'Oh, I'm not going to work, you're going to school!'" said Alicia Brewton, whose two sons are attending the Providence Day Freedom School.

Chanting and cheering, the kids are engaged, empowered and educated through the program.

"I'm at home and I know it'd be much funner for them to be with somebody else, in a different learning style than I am, because I'm just drilling. I'm like, hey, read this book, do this, do that, so they will probably love it here, said Brewton.

Freedom Schools serve children who are most at risk of summer learning loss, but are least able to afford the opportunity of quality summer learning.

"Freedom School helps meet that challenge with literacy and self-esteem and fun and engagement for children who have the most to lose in the summer, said Mary Nell McPherson, Executive Director of Freedom School Partners.

Studies have shown the program is effective.

Read more:
Freedom School program enriches summer learning for students

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire -06/18/12)- The Harper Government is moving forward on its long-standing commitment to give Western Canadian wheat and barley farmers marketing freedom. Today, a panel of three judges ruled in the Harper Government's favour and overturned the declaration issued by Federal Court Justice Douglas Campbell on December 7th, 2011.

"We are very pleased that the declaration has been overturned as we always expected it would be," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Today's decision reinforces our belief that we must focus on the future opportunities that marketing freedom affords Western farmers, instead of trying to turn back the clock."

The Marketing Freedom for Grain Farmers Act will end the monopoly of the CWB as of August 1, 2012 and give Western Canadian farmers the ability to sell their wheat, durum and barley to the buyer of their choice, including a voluntary CWB.

"Marketing Freedom is good for Western grain farmers and good for all Canadians, " said Minister Ritz. "As we have always said marketing freedom will build a stronger economy by attracting investment, encouraging innovation and creating value-added jobs."

The Harper Government's top priority remains the economy. Modernizing grain policy in Canada will allow the Western Canadian grain industry to fully contribute to Canada's economic growth and long term prosperity.

Read more here:
Harper Government Moving Forward on Marketing Freedom

Once you enter a private workplace, freedom of speech protections technically go out the windowwhether you are a business owner or employee. However, your employees can, and will still voice their opinions on everything from President Obamas stance on immigration to the L.A. Kings Stanley Cup victory.

So as a business owner, how do you strike the right balance of expression and protection for your workers and your company?

Carolyn Hughes, vice president of People for SimplyHired.com, said the rule of thumb for her company is that the minute a persons freedom of speech becomes offensive to others in the workplace, it must be curbed.

At that moment you have crossed the line, Hughes said. And your response should be more values-driven than rules-driven.

That being said, an employers response to this issue should be to address complaints or actions in a way that speaks to your companys values. Its not necessarily having set rules in place about what can and cannot be said or done in your business.

We have respectful workplace policies, Hughes said. We expect all employees to use their best judgment.

When a worker does violate this policy, Hughes said the result rarely ends in that person being terminated. Stepping in to discuss the violation is a common practice and good protection for your business in terms of harassment lawsuits, she said. This respectful workplace policy should be outlined in your employee handbook, and distributed to workers on day one of their employment.

Polly Wright, senior consultant for HR Consultants, Inc., said its important to allow your own views as well as those of your employees to creep into your companys culture. The smaller a company is, the more flexibility it has in terms of establishing a culture.

This can even contribute to your employees understanding of the value of the organization, Wright said. But there is a difference between expressing your opinions, and forcing those opinions on someone else.

Both business owners and employees should gauge their behavior and expressions on those around them, Wright said. See if others are expressing themselves similarly, and also consider your colleagues reactions.

Here is the original post:
Freedom of Speech and Your Office