Writing

    Watch for my forthcoming book…

          Raising Boys In A New Kind Of World         

          to be released in 2011

          Click here to read an excerpt published in The Toronto Star on August 31, 2010

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          My first book is still available…

    The Dysfunctional School: Uncomfortable Truths and Awkward Insights on School, Learning and Teaching
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    The Dysfunctional School received an excellent review in Education Today (Spring, 2008), the journal of The Ontario Public School Board’s Association. [read]
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    Interviews And Articles About My Work:  
    CBC News, January 8, 2010 “Why Our Schools Are Failing Boys” by Robert Smol. Read Article 
    Burlington Post, March 4, 2010 “Ontario’s School System Less Appealing To Boys: Educator” by Kim Arnott. Read Article 
    Y108 Rocks Radio, February 19, 2010 “Editorial: Boys and School” by Ben McVie. 
    Orangeville Banner, October 26, 2009. “Kids and Technology Focus of Next Reist Lecture.” by Adam Martin-Robbins. Read Article 
    National Post, October 21, 2009. “System Needs Changing, Not Boys.” by Kate Tennier. Read Article
    1010 News Talk Radio,October 22, 2009. “All-Boys Classrooms.”
    Orangeville Banner, April 13, 2009. “Different Genders, Different Ways - Lecture by Michael Reist will Discuss the Distinct Ways Boys and Girls Learn.” by Adam Martin-Robbins. Read Article
    Today’s Parent, November, 2007. “It’s A Guy Thing: A look into the freewheeling, risk taking, rough and tumble nature of boys.” by John Hoffman. Read Article

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    For many years, I have written daily reflections and feature articles for the magazine Words of Life. This magazine has now become a book of reflections to be used for the whole year. The 2008 edition of Words of Life is now available. See book.
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    I submitted the following testimony to the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance (Bill C-34) on June 28, 2005. It was read into the record by Kate Tenier, founder of Advocates for Childcare Choice. The issue being discussed was the possiblity of a nationally funded child-care program. The organization, Advocates for Childcare Choice, was arguing in favour of a variety of child-care options including tax support for stay-at-home parents.
    Click here to read the extracted text used by Kids First Parents Association of Canada in their campaign against all-day kindergarten [click here] 
    Click here to read the official record from Parliament, Hansard (page 26.35) [click here]
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    Publication rights for the following articles have been purchased by Thomson-Gale Corporation. These articles are available on-line at Amazon.com and other on-line booksellers and article databases.

        Other Publications  

          Feature Interviews for Sideroads of Caledon and Erin: 

  • “A Dog’s Best Friend: Nancy Bryson is One of Canada’s Most Famous Dog Groomers.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 6, Issue 2, Summer, 2010. 
  • “Where Have All The Farmers Gone?” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 6, Number 1, Spring, 2010. 
  • “Our Man On The Hill: Meet Local Boy Paul Hong, Director of Policy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 5, Number 4, Winter, 2009. 
  • “Great Lakes Swimmer: Caledon’s Jade Scognamillo Conquers Lake Erie and Turns Her Sights on Lake Ontario.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 5, Number 2, Summer, 2009.
  • “The Girl Can Dance: Robert F. Hall Alumnae, Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, Makes Top 10 in So You Think You Can Dance.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 5, Number 1, Spring, 2009. 
  • “Guitar Legend: Bolton’s Bobby Edwards Has Played With The Best.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 4, Number 4, Winter, 2008. Read Article.
  • “Story Keeper: Heather Ghey Broadbent is Protecting Our Past for Future Generations.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 4, Number 3, Fall, 2008. Read Article.
  • “Going to the Maul: How a Local Boy Made Rugby’s Big Leagues.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 4, Number 2, Summer, 2008. Read Article.
  • “Go Figure: Skater Jennifer Yakimishyn Loves Life On The Ice” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 4, Number 1, Spring, 2008. Read Article.
  • “Member of the Tribe: Meet Boltonite John Steckley, author, and Honorary Member of the Hurons” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 3, Number 4, Winter, 2007. Read Article.
  • “A Very Colourful Life: How Local Artist Lyn Westfall Transmutes Life (And Death) Into Art.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 3, Number 3, Autumn, 2007. Read Article.
  • “Against All Odds: Robert F. Hall Alumnae Mark Stewart Beat Cancer And Pursued A Political Career On The Hill.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 3, Number 2, Summer, 2007.  Read Article.
  • “City Girl: Melissa Grelo reports from the trenches on City Pulse 24.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 3, Number 1, Spring, 2007. Read Article.
  • “Getting Reale: How Local Boy, David Reale, Made Good.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 2, Number 4, Winter, 2006. Read Article.
  • “Local Hero: Meet Ryan Cooley, Star of DeGrassi: The Next Generation.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 2, Number 3, Fall, 2006. Read Article.
  • “A Star Is Born: Boltonite Skye Sweetnam Hits The Big Time.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Volume 2, Number 2, Summer, 2006. Read Article.
  • “Back To The Drawing Board: Turning The Art of Doodling Into A Full-Time Job.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Vol. 2, No. 1. Spring, 2006. Read Article.
  • “Up Close and Personal: Independently Owned-and-Operated Bookstores.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Vol. 1, No. 4. Winter, 2005. Read Article.
  • “Ontario’s Hilarious History: Dan Needles and the Wingfield Farm Phenomenon.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Vol. 1, No. 3. Fall, 2005.
  • “There’s Something About Harry: Kids Everywhere Await Harry Potter’s Next Adventure.” Sideroads of Caledon and Erin. Vol. 1, No. 2. Summer, 2005.

          Articles on Education:  

  • “What schools could learn from world of video games: Boys in particular respond to structure, clear goals and a strong sense of community.” Toronto Star. August 31, 2010. Read Article.
  • “Teaching Kids From A New Kind Of World.” Orangeville Banner. October 29, 2009. Read Article. 
  • “Boys and Girls Learn In Different Ways.” Orangeville Banner. March 19, 2009. Read Article.
  • “Boys and Girls Learn In Different Ways. “Keeping In Touch.” Dubbo School of Distance Education. Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. April, 2009.
  • “Cyberspace and School Space - What’s the Difference.” School Advocate.  Winter, 2009. Read Article.
  • “Dysfunctional Schools and Kids Who Kill.” Catholic New Times. October 29, 2006. Read Article.
  • “Crossing The Threshold of Boredom.” The Beach School E-News.” Volume 2, Issue 2, May, 2004.
  • “Give Children’s Boredom A Chance.” Ottawa Citizen. June 17, 2005.
  • “Necessary Myth of the Movie Teacher.” Catholic New Times. November 16, 2003.
  • “Ten Commandments For Teachers.” Education Forum. October, 1999.

          Book Reviews:

  • Review of Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax in Professionally Speaking. September, 2010. Read Article. 
  • Review of A Game Plan for Life by John Wooden in Professionally Speaking. June, 2010. Read Article. 
  • Review of Who We Are by Rudyard Griffiths in Professionally Speaking. September, 2009. Read Article. 
  • Review of The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons From Falling Behind In School and Life by Michael Gurian and Kathy Stevens in Professionally Speaking. March, 2007. Read Article.
  • Review of Bullied Teacher: Bullied Student by Les Parsons in Professionally Speaking. September, 2006. Read Article.
  • Review of Why Gender Matters: What Parents and Teachers Need To Know About The Emerging Science of Sex Differences by Leonard Sax. In Professionally Speaking. September, 2005. Read Article.
  • Review of Staying Alive: Real Poems For Unreal Times edited by Neil Astley. In Professionally Speaking. June, 2004. Read Article.
  • Review of The Primal Teen: What The New Discoveries About the Teenage Brain Tell Us About Our Kids by Barbara Stauch. In Professionally Speaking. December, 2003. Read Article.
  • Review of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso. In Professionally Speaking. March, 2003. Read Article.
  • “Getting To The Core of the Bullying Cycle.” Review of The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Coloroso in The Catholic Register. November 17, 2002.
  • Review of Getting Through To Difficult Kids and Parents: Uncommon Sense for Child Professionals by Ron Taffel. In Professionally Speaking. December, 2001. Read Article.
  • “The Life of Saint Thomas More.” Companion. June, 2001.
  • Review of From Hope to Harris: The Reshaping of Ontario’s Schools by R.D. Gidney. In Professionally Speaking. September, 2000. Read Article.
  • “Dispelling the Myths of No-Fault Divorce.” Review of The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce by Judith Wallerstein. In The Catholic Register. November 27, 2000.
  • “Cahill Ponders the Land God Made Holy.” Review of Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus by Thomas Cahill. In The Catholic Register. May 15, 2000.
  • Review of The Heart of Learning: Spirituality In Education, Edited by Steven Glazer. In Professionally Speaking. March, 2000. Read Article.
  • “Thomas More Was A True Church Hero.” Review of The Life of Thomas More by Peter Akroyd. In The Catholic Register. November 22 , 1999.
  • “Raising Profound Questions.” Review of Catholic Education: The Future Is Now by Fr. James Mulligan. In Catholic Insight. June, 1999. Read Article.
  • Review of Real Boys: Rescuing Our Sons From the Myths of Boyhood by William Pollack. In Professionally Speaking. March, 1999. Read Article.

          Movie Reviews:

  • “Death In Suburbia” A Review of Revolutionary Road. Tomorrow’s Trust, January 29, 2009. Read Article. 
  • “Valkyrie - A Moral Tale of Resistance” Tomorrow’s Trust, January 20, 2009. Read Article.
  • “The DaVinci Code Phenomenon.” Catholic New Times, June 19, 2006. Read Article.
  • Review of “Jarhead” Catholic New Times, December 18, 2005. Read Article.
  • “The Matrix Reloaded: Learning To Love Big Brother.” Catholic New Times. June 15, 2003. Read Article.

           Opinion Articles:

  • “Where Have All The Good Men Gone?” Catholic New Times. April 6, 2003.
  • “Teens And Church.” (Part I) Companion. April, 2000.
  • “Teens And Church.” (Part II) Companion. May, 2000.
  • “Teens And Church.” (Part III) Companion. June, 2000.
  • “Lament For A Flower: Symphony In The Barn.” Mosaic. August, 1998.

          Articles on Spirituality:

  • “The Power of Expectations.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 9, No. 6, November - December, 2006.
  • “Intimacy and Control.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spiriti. Vol. 9, No. 5, September - October, 2006
  • “The Gift of Trust.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 9, No. 4, July - August, 2006.
  • “The Gift of Listening.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 9, No. 3, May - June, 2006.
  • “The Power of Failure.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 9, No. 2, March - April, 2006.
  • “New Year’s Resolutions: Re-creating Ourselves.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 9, No. 1, January - February, 2006.
  • “Moving Beyond Christmas Roles.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 8, No. 6, November - December, 2005.
  • “The Hazards of Being Perfect.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 8, No. 5, September - October, 2005.
  • “The Beauty of Doing Nothing.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 8, No. 4, July - August, 2005.
  • “Affirming My Vocation (and Not My Job)” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 8, No. 3, May - June, 2005.
  • “The Power of Stories.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol . 8, No. 1, January - February, 2005.
  • “Life Outside the Circle: A Teen’s Perspective.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit. Vol. 7, No. 6, November - December, 2004.
  • “A Look At Anger: A Teacher’s Perspective.” Words of Life: Daily Reflections for Your Spirit. Vol. 7, No. 5, September - October, 2004.

           Articles on Bullying:

  • “The Unspoken Truth About Bullying.” Catholic New Times, April 23, 2006. Read Article.
  • “How To Keep Kids Alive.” Ottawa Citizen. January 17, 2003.
  • “Bullying: What Can Be Done?” Orangeville Banner. January, 2003.

            News Articles:

  • “Kids Get Second Chance At Under 21.” Catholic New Times. March 21, 1982.
  • “Amnesty International Condemns Violence in Iran.” The Mike. March 4, 1982.
  • “Journalist, Archbishop Praise Grassroots Aid To Africa.” Catholic New Times. December 20, 1981.
  • “Toronto Archdiocese Opens House For Runaways.” Catholic New Times. November 8, 1981.
  • “Refugees Caught In Middle.” Catholic New Times. October 11, 1981.
  • “Waves of Prayer Follow Pope’s Wounding.” Catholic New Times. June 7, 1981.
  • “Does OSAP Accommodate Real Needs?” The Mike. March 19, 1981.
  • “St. Michael’s College Student Union Supports Refugees.” The Mike. February 12, 1981.
  • “Witness To Justice In Canada?” The Mike. November 22, 1979.

    •   Master’s Thesis:

  • “Cultural Materialism: A School of Criticism for English Teachers.” Indirections: Journal of the Ontario Council of Teachers of English. September, 1989.

    •   Regular Freelance Contributions:

  • Monthly contributor to Words of Life: Daily Reflections For Your Spirit (Novalis)

    •   Regular Column:

  • 1998-2002 “What’s New At The Library” - a regular column about current books aquired by the Caledon Public Library published in The Caledon Citizen and The Caledon Enterprise.

    •  Letters to the editor:

  • “Dear Editor.” Books In Canada. March, 2003. Read Article
  • “Marc Hall.” Globe and Mail. April 16, 2002.
  • “Think Different.” Adbusters. April, 1999.
  • “From Exile.” Catholic New Times. January 31, 1999.
  • “Boomers-a-Buying.” Globe and Mail. January 15, 1999.
  • “Growing Up.” Globe and Mail. August 29, 1998.
  • “Neither Men Nor Women Should Be Stereotyped.” Toronto Star. May 19, 1998.
  • “Think Differently.” Catholic New Times. May 17, 1998.
  • “Mini-monks.” Globe and Mail. May 9, 1998.

    •   Poetry:

  • “How Much Did Your Money Cost?” Mosaic. September, 1996.
  • “Deer Crossing.” Mosaic. June, 1996.