Jeannine Mitchell's blog

Ideas for Newbie Teachers

Are you a new teacher wondering when - or if - you’ll ever get the job you trained for?

If so, I've got something to share.

Katie Hyslop, a knowledgeable education beat reporter with Canadian online newsmagazine The Tyee,” has just published an interesting piece full of ideas and information that could help new education grads.

It could also help if you’re currently considering or now studying in this field.

New Books 2 Come


People have been asking, so it's time to put this notice on the website.

1. We hear you: not everybody likes e-books. So we're finalizing a paperback version of Kaching! How your family can cut thousands off your debt without spending a cent. [Seriously].

That should be out next month. We'll announce it on the website and to everyone on our mailing list.

2. There are new books on the way after that. I'm actually writing two at the same time. Umm, don't ask why - it just happened.

Podcast: Me 'n' My University Money

You know, I've meant to do podcasts for years and since I used to work in radio, it sounds easy.

You just get out the audio gear and edit a few talks about how to pay off all this student debt you've got. Or, better yet, how you can avoid this mess in the first place. 

But there are never enough hours in my day. Argh, neverrr!!!

Even this blog, for example, has to take a back seat to writing more books. 

Cost of Education Still Climbing

The next few years will bring continued steep increases for post-secondary schooling for most Canadian students and their families. That's the outlook in Tier for Two, a new report from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).

If Canada's current government policies and trends continue, warn Erika Shaker and David Macdonald in their new report, Tier for Two, the next 4 years will see an increase of 13% in average undergrad tuition and related fees.

New Report: Provincial Borders May Cost You Thousands

Think we all have equal access to post-secondary education in Canada? You’re wrong if your answer is “yes.”

New Grads: Tuition Fee Rebates Across Canada

  UPDATED Sptember 2014...

If you're a new Canadian grad searching for extra ways to pay off that student loan debt, check out Canada's provincial tuition rebate programs. Who couldn't use an extra $20,000 or $25,000?

I'll list the universal programs here - the ones most grads can obtain.

Some provinces, such as BC, only offer rebates, debt reduction or partial loan forgiveness just to small groups of people. An example recent grads working in B.C.'s civil service (the 'Pacific Leaders' program).

Student Debt Burnt by Fried Potatoes

No story I've heard about student loans matches the one about the guy called 'Fried Potatoes.' You know, the direct action aficionado who erased half a billion dollars in student debt - as an art project!

It's a much more colourful version of Occupy's debt freedom project. Remember? When they bought people's student debt at the commercial price (5 or 10% of face value) and cheaply freed some lucky Americans from their heavy student loan debts? 

Nova Scotia Goes Interest-Free. Will You?

 I'm glad to hear Nova Scotia will stop charging interest on provincial student debt, t least for eligible students.


May Update: And it's about time, since youth unemployment and student debt are both above the national average. Grads are now leaving Nova Scotia. While most still remain, something must change when 1 in 5 Nova Scotia university grads earns less than $18,000 a year. (Source: May 3, 2014 Chronicle Herald, Halifax). 

How Long Will You Work to Pay Your Tuition?

Finally, some good news for arts and humanities grads.

It seems that they won't have to work as many minimum-wage hours as most other grads to pay for their degree!

Now they've got ammunition for those online discussions about student debt. You know, the ones where the trolls blame indebted grads for taking arts and humanities. Quit whining, they yell, you just had to take engineering. 

By the simple law of supply and demand, I'd guess that if everyone took engineering, it would soon pay a buck an hour. But that's still theoretical.