Michael Ernest Sweet
Encyclopedia
Michael Ernest Sweet is a Canadian
educator, writer and non-profit executive.
Michael Sweet holds a bachelor in independent studies from St. Mary's University, a bachelor of education from Nipissing University
's Schulich School of Education and a master of arts in educational philosophy from Concordia University
. Additionally, Sweet has been conferred a diploma in drama education from Stonebridge College and a graduate certificate in differential learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
.
In 2003, Sweet founded the educational non-profit Learning for a Cause
which published and promoted young writers and their sociopolitical work until 2010 when the initiative was taken over by Youth Fusion Quebec. The organization received endorsements and support from noted celebrities such as Candy Spelling
, Martin Sheen
, David Suzuki
, Justin Trudeau
, Farley Mowat
, Roberta Bondar
, Max Keeping
, Alex Colville
and others. Sweet and the Learning for a Cause
Initiative published and promoted more than 1,000 student writers between 2003 and 2010. The initiative is credited with breaking significant ground in the area of classroom publishing in Canada and has inspired countless other schools to take up the challenge.
Sweet and his innovative teaching have been featured regularly on CTV
, CBC Radio
, Vermont Public Radio
and in such publications as the Montreal Gazette, Canadian Teacher Magazine and 34th Parallel. CTV News Ottawa, in a 2008 interview, called Michael Sweet a "visionary teacher". In 2008 Concordia University
's The Journal featured him as one of their Great Grads. and in 2009 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
recognized Michael's contributions to education with a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.
Sweet is the author of dozens essays, poems, articles and short fictions. Among the noted writings are Citizenship for Some, a groundbreaking essay on public schooling and sexual diversity and the poem Nude which placed in the International Ultra-Short Contest at the University of Main, Machias in 2006. His writing has also been featured among the pages of the famous Evergreen Review
from Grove Press
. Nude, Dances with Love and Down to Earth are among his many authored and edited books. Michael Sweet is also a regular contributor to Canadian Teacher Magazine and CJAD News Talk Radio.
In 2008, Sweet was appointed to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
. He has also been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame - Wall of Fame - in the United States and awarded a 2009 NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award (although he publicly declined acceptance of this award).
Most recently Michael Sweet was chosen as a national finalist for a Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. He is also profiled in both the Who's Who in the World and the Canadian Who's Who as an educator of influence.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
educator, writer and non-profit executive.
Michael Sweet holds a bachelor in independent studies from St. Mary's University, a bachelor of education from Nipissing University
Nipissing University
Nipissing University is a public liberal arts university located in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, on a site overlooking Lake Nipissing. The university's unique character is defined by its location in Northern Ontario, and a large and highly respected faculty of education...
's Schulich School of Education and a master of arts in educational philosophy from Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
. Additionally, Sweet has been conferred a diploma in drama education from Stonebridge College and a graduate certificate in differential learning from the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University, and is one of the top schools of education in the United States. It was founded in 1920, the same year it invented the Ed.D...
.
In 2003, Sweet founded the educational non-profit Learning for a Cause
Learning for a Cause
Learning for a Cause was a non-profit student press founded in 2003 by Canadian educator and writer Michael Ernest Sweet. The initiative operated from Lester B...
which published and promoted young writers and their sociopolitical work until 2010 when the initiative was taken over by Youth Fusion Quebec. The organization received endorsements and support from noted celebrities such as Candy Spelling
Candy Spelling
Carole Gene "Candy" Spelling is an American author and socialite. She is the widow of Aaron Spelling.-Life and career:...
, Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
, David Suzuki
David Suzuki
David Suzuki, CC, OBC is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist. Suzuki earned a Ph.D in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1961, and was a professor in the genetics department of the University of British Columbia from 1963 until his retirement in 2001...
, Justin Trudeau
Justin Trudeau
Justin Pierre James Trudeau, MP is a Canadian politician. He has represented the Montreal electoral division of Papineau in the Canadian House of Commons since 2008 as a member of the Liberal Party and currently serves as the party's critic for youth, post-secondary education, and amateur...
, Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
, Roberta Bondar
Roberta Bondar
Roberta Bondar,is OC, O.Ont, FRCP, FRSC is Canada's first female astronaut and the first neurologist in space. Following more than a decade as NASA's head of space medicine, Bondar became a consultant and speaker in the business, scientific and medical communities.-Education:Roberta Bondar had...
, Max Keeping
Max Keeping
Winston Maxwell Keeping, CM, O.Ont, D.U., LLD known as Max Keeping, is a Canadian broadcaster. He is the former Vice-President of news and public affairs at CJOH where he was anchor of the local evening news broadcast from 1972 until his retirement in 2010...
, Alex Colville
Alex Colville
David Alexander Colville, is a Canadian painter.Colville's family moved from Toronto to Amherst, Nova Scotia in 1929. He attended Mount Allison University from 1938-1942, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Colville married Rhoda Wright that year and enlisted in the Canadian Army under the...
and others. Sweet and the Learning for a Cause
Learning for a Cause
Learning for a Cause was a non-profit student press founded in 2003 by Canadian educator and writer Michael Ernest Sweet. The initiative operated from Lester B...
Initiative published and promoted more than 1,000 student writers between 2003 and 2010. The initiative is credited with breaking significant ground in the area of classroom publishing in Canada and has inspired countless other schools to take up the challenge.
Sweet and his innovative teaching have been featured regularly on CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
, Vermont Public Radio
Vermont Public Radio
-WVPR:-WRVT:-VPR Classical:Since 2007, VPR has broadcast classical music on a separate network. The main station is WOXR , which is licensed to Schuyler Falls, New York and serves the Burlington/Plattsburgh area....
and in such publications as the Montreal Gazette, Canadian Teacher Magazine and 34th Parallel. CTV News Ottawa, in a 2008 interview, called Michael Sweet a "visionary teacher". In 2008 Concordia University
Concordia University
Concordia University is a comprehensive Canadian public university located in Montreal, Quebec, one of the two universities in the city where English is the primary language of instruction...
's The Journal featured him as one of their Great Grads. and in 2009 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
recognized Michael's contributions to education with a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.
Sweet is the author of dozens essays, poems, articles and short fictions. Among the noted writings are Citizenship for Some, a groundbreaking essay on public schooling and sexual diversity and the poem Nude which placed in the International Ultra-Short Contest at the University of Main, Machias in 2006. His writing has also been featured among the pages of the famous Evergreen Review
Evergreen Review
Evergreen Review is a U.S.-based literary magazine founded by Barney Rosset, publisher of Grove Press. It existed in print from 1957 through 1973, and was re-launched online in 1998...
from Grove Press
Grove Press
Grove Press is an American publishing imprint that was founded in 1951. Imprints include: Black Cat, Evergreen, Venus Library, Zebra. Barney Rosset purchased the company in 1951 and turned it into an alternative book press in the United States. The Atlantic Monthly Press, under the aegis of its...
. Nude, Dances with Love and Down to Earth are among his many authored and edited books. Michael Sweet is also a regular contributor to Canadian Teacher Magazine and CJAD News Talk Radio.
In 2008, Sweet was appointed to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. He has also been inducted into the National Teachers Hall of Fame - Wall of Fame - in the United States and awarded a 2009 NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award (although he publicly declined acceptance of this award).
Most recently Michael Sweet was chosen as a national finalist for a Governor General's Award for Teaching Excellence in Canadian History. He is also profiled in both the Who's Who in the World and the Canadian Who's Who as an educator of influence.