I created Tighsolas because I feel that the 1910 era was much like our own.  It was a time of technological innovation, social upheaval, uncertainty ( especially among the middle class) and unparalleled prosperity and opportunity as well. Today, parents worry about the impact of, say, Rap or videogames on children. In 1910, they fretted about Edison's newfangled phonograph machine and the 'evils of the Nickelodeon.'  Today, in Canada, educators gather to find answers relating to the NEW KNOWLEDGE economy: in 1910 the Powers that Be launched a Royal Commission on Industrial Training and Technical Education to deal with the challenges of the Industrial Age.

Here is the intro to the Quebec Federation of Home and School Associations' Children's Literacy Resource Guide, published in 2005. The Guide was written by Dorothy Nixon (me) and Marion Daigle who was also Editor in Chief. To see the Table of Contents, with tips on reading, writing, math, science, the arts, community and parental involvement for ages 0-16 click here.

Click here for a Tighsolas Lesson Plan BACK TO THE FUTURE, promoting critical thinking about media and technology using the resources of Tighsolas.

Canadians today live, work and play in a world where the only real constant is change.

Galloping advances in science and technology have changed the way we see the world and function within it.

The late 20^th century has seen a shift to the knowledge economy, where human resources have become every nation's biggest asset.

How can we prepare our children to be confident, capable individuals and citizens in this 21^st century knowledge-based society? We must help them to become literate.

What does it mean 'to be literate' in today's fast-paced environment?

It can be defined as having the ability to function in one's environment: the home, the school, the workplace, the community, the world. The literate person has the capacity to think critically, to communicate effectively, to solve problems and to make decisions to enhance his or her everyday life and to engage in life-long learning.

This Children's Literacy Resource Guide is published by the Quebec Federation of Home and Schools (QFHSA) with a grant from Heritage Canada, and aims to help communities nurture their children to become literate citizens.

Families, particularly families 'at risk', need strong community support in preparing their children, from birth onwards, to meet the exciting learning challenges which will enrich their future.

The science is in: literacy does indeed begin at birth.  Parents are their children's first and foremost teachers. Today, schools are only one of their learning centers.  Activities in the community-at-large, libraries, technological networks, all contribute their share to support education.

The central purpose of this Children's Literacy Resource Guide is to offer everyone in the community interested in the education and well-being of children an opportunity to participate.

This Guide includes: stimulating learning activities for children of all ages; topics for discussion by parents, teachers, community organizations; success stories which reflect the diverse ways in which individuals or communities have created learning environments for children as well as resource information.

CLICK for thought-provoking 1909 article on "Purpose of Education"