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The Voice of the Child Cries Out Against You: The 1912 Montreal Child Welfare Exhibition in its North American and Transnational Contexts
Get PDFThis thesis explores the 1912 Montreal Child Welfare Exhibition as part of a transnational public-education project that provided tools for the promotion of public health, child welfare, and the prevention of child and infant mortality in North America. During the Progressive Era, the population of cities increased and urban living conditions became a major concern for reformers, who were especially worried about a vulnerable group within this population: children. Child welfare exhibitions became an important component of the child-saving movement in the early 1910s, developed in response to the dangers and risks of the cities, as well as the alarming childhood and infant mortality rates. They were grassroots initiatives organized by communities seeking to share new education methods and to explain their philanthropic work around children’s well-being. The Montreal exhibition was based on an American model and largely influenced by the New York and Chicago exhibitions held the year before. Inviting readers on a virtual tour of the 1912 exhibition, the dissertation examines the different thematic sections of the Montreal event, which dealt in turn with the following child-related issues: health, housing and the city environment; education and religious training; recreation; philanthropy; juvenile court; and industrial conditions. The omnipresence of children in urban setting and the particular salience of the mother's responsibility are emphasized throughout the chapters. In Montreal, reformers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds put their differences aside in this endeavor, designing and presenting a successful exhibition visited by over three hundred thousand people. The transnational lens shows that reformers worked together across countries and shared elite ideologies, beliefs, values, and attitudes, but also concepts of public health, moral and social regulation, nationalism, scientific motherhood, and materials for child welfare exhibitions. This study asserts that this heterogenous group had conflicting views regarding the origins of child welfare problems, blaming mothers or poverty, and proposed contrasting solutions in the exhibition materials. Overall, the thesis argues that the visual and experiential elements of the exhibition were central to the choice of this medium for the transnational public-education project on child welfare
My Great-Grandfather Danced Ballet
No full text“My Great-Grandfather Danced Ballet” is a poetic exploration of queer longing, queer mundanity, and contemporary cultural Judaism. The project has two primary components: (1) epistolary, persona, and narrative poems that tell the story of Ernest and Rubin, two homosexual Jewish lovers in pre-Holocaust Romania, and of Ernest’s later life in mid-twentieth-century Montreal; and (2) prose, lyric, and form poems that explore my homonormative existence in contemporary Montreal, including my relationship to my cultural Judaism, my romantic engagement(s), and my material comforts. These two components are connected by the fact that Ernest is a heavily fictionalized version of my actual maternal great-grandfather, Herbert, about whom I know very little save for the fact that he danced ballet in Romania before immigrating to Montreal. The two components intersect in metapoems that explore my queer longing: my desire to discover that my homosexuality, my queerness, is shared with a member of my family. The project is inspired by other contemporary texts, such as Casey Plett’s Little Fish and Lisa Richter’s Nautilus and Bone, that also seek to reposition familial or Jewish history in a queer context, and by media such as Bianca Stigter’s documentary Three Minutes: A Lengthening and Sebastian Meise’s drama Große Freiheit (Great Freedom), both of which explore mid-twentieth-century Judaism and/or queerness using new and innovative lenses
Exploring the Professional Identity and Professional Agency of Non-native English–Speaking Teachers within TESOL Programs in Canada: An In-depth Literature Review
Get PDFIdentity and agency play pivotal roles in shaping teachers' commitment, involvement, and personal autonomy throughout their professional growth journey. This literature-based thesis seeks to explore the creation of transformative professional learning experiences to foster the positive growth of non-native English-speaking teachers’ (NNESTs) identity and agency. It begins by addressing challenges in defining NNEST's professional identity and reevaluating current notions of NNEST's growth. Shifting the discussion to NNEST growth, the thesis examines the interconnectedness of identity and agency. This study argues for a broader understanding of transformative learning as a theoretical framework for supporting NNESTs. Drawing on transformative learning theory, the thesis suggests strategies for facilitation methods that empower NNESTs to realize their full potential in international education programs, particularly in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). The research findings shed light on the negotiation of linguistic and cultural aspects, challenges faced by NNESTs, the role of discursive constructions, and teachers' emotional responses. Demonstrating how professional development can facilitate transformative learning, the study highlights the importance of creating supportive environments that encourage critical reflection and validate multiple identities. It also discusses implications for promoting positive identity construction and professional integration
Three Essays on the Economics of Information
Get PDFThis thesis consists of three essays on the Economics of Information, focusing on strategic information acquisition and on the design of disclosure rules.
In Chapter 2, a decision-maker relies on the information reported by a panel of experts to take an action. These experts may observe relevant information and have preferences over the decision-maker’s actions. Each expert possesses three qualities: (i) the probability that he acquires information, (ii) the probability that this information is inaccurate in favor of his agenda, and (iii) the level of this error. Conscious of these qualities, the decision-maker forms her optimal panel to make the most informed decision. We show that it is generally better for the decision-maker to have experts with identical agendas if these experts cannot misreport their information, even if it is inaccurate.
In Chapter 3, we consider a variation of the model presented in Chapter 2 in which experts’ information is always accurate. Moreover, each expert can now incur a cost to increase his probability of obtaining information. The objective of the decision-maker is to form a panel to make the most informed decision, while experts have their own preferences. We show that there exist levels of cost of effort such that experts in a homogeneous panel will choose to exert no effort, while experts in a diverse panel will exert some. In addition, we find that for a sufficiently high return on effort, a diverse panel is optimal.
In Chapter 4, one agent – the sender – benefits from two other agents – the receivers – taking some actions. Each receiver possesses private information referred to as his type, and can disclose it truthfully or not. The sender has a private type which she does not observe at first but can condition a communication device, observed by every agent, on its different realizations and on the reported types. In turn, this provides the receivers with action recommendations. We show that depending on the alignment of the preferences, the optimal rule ranges from fully revealing the sender’s type to no revelation at all, and that most of the times only partial information is revealed
Clio’s Narrator – Training Volunteer Guides in a Canadian Social History Museum in 2023
Get PDFThis thesis assesses the process and personal experience of volunteer guide training at Montreal’s McCord Stewart Museum. The McCord’s mandate has changed from honouring David Ross McCord’s objective of establishing “an Indian museum” to endeavoring to be “an agent of change for a more just society.” This is indicative of an activist trend among social history museums which are moving towards a more social-justice oriented approach, decolonising, empowering people, and supporting participatory democracy. In this context, the role of museum guides is changing from a monologic, lecture-based one to a dialogic approach in which guides are expected to interact with visitors who often come with their own perceptions. My study documents how the McCord's changes have resulted in substantial revisions to its volunteer guide training program. This has evolved from script-based teaching emphasizing a museum's collection to the methodologies of 'new museology' that promote skills in participation, learning, and tolerance. My preliminary data reflects the changing expectations of guides in social history museums more generally, with a particular focus on how guides can create emotional engagement for museum visitors. My discussion draws on my field notes as I trained to be a volunteer guide and interviews with individuals involved with the McCord’s guide training program. While most volunteer guides resigned when the McCord closed during the Covid pandemic, which began in March 2020, my interviews indicate that several factors led to their leaving, including changes in the McCord's approach to training while recasting itself as an 'activist museum'
“To Create Communities Where Care is Enjoyed and Valued in a Very High Regard”: Motivations, Approaches, and Impacts of Youth-Led Climate Collectives
Get PDFThis doctoral dissertation explored youth engagement in climate collectives and how these groups affected participants’ lives, focusing on young people 13–18 years of age in the United States and Canada. Due to people’s concern for the escalating climate crisis, the study examined the following central research question: How do climate-oriented groups led by young people approach climate organizing, and how do the individuals who make up the groups perceive their participation in the movement? The research delved into the intricacies of youth-led climate work through 30 semi-structured individual interviews, weekly participant observation, and two group interviews. Participants were members of climate-oriented collectives, including Extinction Rebellion Youth, Sunrise Movement, Sustainabiliteens, and school-based clubs. Thematically analyzed results are presented in three categories: motivations, group processes, and impacts. Motivations ranged from family and upbringing to a compelling sense of urgency around the climate emergency and a heightened awareness of the global movement. Group processes participants discussed highlighted the diversity in advocacy approaches, emphasizing planning and communication, leadership styles, and outreach. The impacts encompassed nuanced emotions, navigating the challenges inherent in being a young person, perceptions of success, and effects on adolescent identity development. In the discussion section, I propose a frame of reference for comprehending these young people’s contemporary experiences of climate organizing, centering concepts of generativity and meaning-making. This research contributes valuable insights into the effects of climate organizing on young people, stressing the importance of amplifying youth voices in the climate movement and adults’ obligation to provide space for and support these collectives. It underscores the need for educational, civic, and policy frameworks to center young people’s perspectives while empowering youth participation in climate-related decision-making processes
Mapping the Cyclist Ear: Examining My Relationship Between Sound and Space
Get PDFThis thesis explores the auditory experience of cyclists, delving into perceptions and interactions with sound that are unique to that mode of transportation. I drew upon autoethnographic research methods to investigate the intricate relationship between the processes of cycling and listening. Borrowing from Dylan Robinson’s concept of listening positionality, I expanded upon that concept to explore the possibility of a temporal-based, cyclist ear. Central to this exploration is the conceptual framework that the cyclist ear categorizes sounds into three distinct Levels: Level one known as self-produced sounds, Level two known as safety sounds, and Level three sounds known as ambient sounds. Self-produced sounds encompass any sounds created by the cyclist. Safety sounds refer to auditory cues signaling potential hazards. Ambient sounds denote sonic landmarks or soundmarks that aid in giving the cyclist a sense of place. To explore this theory in more depth, I utilized autoethnographic research approaches, including sound recordings and written notes, to attune to these three different Levels. Through this process, I determined that listening is indeed impacted by the act of cycling. The cycling ear does exist and does sort sound into different categories, including utility. However, the lines between the different categories can be blurred as a single sound can serve multiple purposes at once. Ultimately, this research advocates for the integration of auditory considerations into urban planning and transportation infrastructure, recognizing the significance of sound in shaping the cycling experience
Small States Seeking Environmental Justice via International Courts: The Case of Vanuatu
Get PDFThis body of work aims to explain why a small island state would choose an advisory opinion at an international court as a strategy for pursuing environmental justice. Since this is not a common course of action in literature regarding small state advocacy, this choice stands out as an interesting departure which merits future studying. What was found throughout my research based on a constructivist and liberal framework is the fact that Vanuatu’s choice of strategy was heavily based on the current normative environment and the opportunity structures that emerged from negotiations. This is due to the fact that Vanuatu behaved both as a self-interested state weighing its options according to a cost-benefit analysis, as well a norm entrepreneur seeking to pursue the most legitimate route available. Through the use of process tracing delineating Vanuatu’s preference formation and decision making in regard to environmental justice, the choice of an advisory opinion at the International Court of Justice is made apparent by Vanuatu’s willingness to pursue the most legitimate avenue at its disposal. The key findings stemming from this analysis are then that a small state can act as more than its capacities indicate, and that it can do so by carefully weighing its choice of strategy and discourse. I would go as far as saying that this research highlights the strength of small states in international negotiations. More broadly, Vanuatu’s case showcases a positive outlook for small state advocacy and environmental justice no matter the verdict given by the ICJ
Solutions to selected exercises: an introduction to database systems
Get PDFThe purpose of this guide is to assist the student of an introductory course in database system in conjunction with the author’s text Introduction to Database Systems. It is suggested that the student try the exercises given a the end of the chapters before consulting the solutions given here and compare their the solutions.
The organization of this guide follows the suggested plan diagrammed in the preface of the text. Solutions for selected end of chapter exercises are given. The exercises in some of the chapters are of a general nature and their solutions are not included. The chapters on File organization and Higher order normal forms would not be covered in many undergraduate syllabus: and Chapters 8 and 9, are often considered obsolete, and not covered in these courses. Hence the solution to the exercises in these chapters are not provided
Testimonial Injustice in Witch Trials: A Case Against Fricker’s Prejudice Hypothesis
Get PDFIn this paper, I intend to enrich or go beyond what I call the Prejudice Hypothesis, which says prejudice is the main cause of testimonial injustice. By ‘a main cause of testimonial injustice’,
I mean something that is among the significant causes of testimonial injustice and which, following Fricker, may be what she calls a ‘culpable’ cause, the source of which, whether individuals or structure of individuals, can appropriately be assigned epistemic and ethical blame. To enrich or go beyond the Prejudice Hypothesis, I will argue for increased recognition and investigation of another cause of testimonial injustice: the pursuit and protection of social order. According to my Social Order Hypothesis, desires or attempts to pursue or preserve the dominant social order are often among the significant causes of testimonial injustice. Although in some cases these social order causes appear to interact importantly with prejudice in the production of testimonial injustice, we will also consider cases in which social order causes work independently of any prejudice. Insofar as current literature on testimonial injustice presupposes the Prejudice Hypothesis, it overlooks these roles played by social order causes and more attention to examination of such causes would help remedy this and improve our understanding of testimonial injustice. It would also better position us to investigate when social order causes are culpable causes in Fricker’s sense