Michael Zwaagstra

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and senior fellow of the Fraser Institute. He received his Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from the University of Manitoba and Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University in Virginia. He is the author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning, and co-author of What’s Wrong with Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them. He is a frequent author of education policy research and newspaper columns across Canada. His research mainly focuses on curricula, teaching instruction and public education. Michael's research and commentary have been featured in radio, television and newspapers across the country. Michael lives with his wife and children in Steinbach, Manitoba. 

Recent Research by Michael Zwaagstra

— Aug 22, 2024
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Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2024

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2024 Edition finds that despite common misperceptions, per-student spending on public schools increased in six of the 10 provinces over a 10-year period (after adjusting for inflation).

— Apr 25, 2024
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Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K–12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K-12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario finds that the amount of Canadian history being taught to Ontario and BC students in K-12 is limited. In Ontario, what little Canadian history is taught doesn’t follow a logical, chronological order, and in BC’s case, it is overly-focussed on discriminatory events in Canada’s past.

— Aug 29, 2023
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Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada 2023

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2023 Edition is a new study that finds annual spending in public schools in Canada increased by $7.8 billion more than was necessary to account for changes in enrolment and inflation between 2012/13 and 2020/21.