April 7, 2020 Volume 54, Number 11 News Publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
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See pages 4-11. While schools remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATA News will be available in a digital format only. Visit bit.ly/2Subscribe_Now and sign up for the ATA eNews to receive an email when a new issue is available. The most recent issue is always available at teachers.ab.ca > News and Info > ATA News. April 7, 2020 Volume 54, Number 11 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association We will get through this together An open letter to teachers from ATA president Jason Schilling ATA president Jason Schilling composes a message to teachers from his home in Edmonton. JASON SCHILLING Dear Colleagues, everal years ago, while doing my master’s not to be okay. It’s okay to mourn the loss of our My only advice, take it or not, is not to rush it Sdegree, my cohort watched a TED talk in school year in the traditional way we know it. and put too much pressure on yourself. This new our class by Kathryn Schulz entitled On Being I keep reminding myself, it’s only been a few challenge of teaching will not be solved in a few Wrong. She commented that the stories we weeks. My friends and family are safe, and that’s days. We are turning an ocean liner on a dime. know and live often don’t work out the way what matters most. We know teaching and schools are complex, we plan because “we think this one thing is It still seems like there are more questions and the concerns we will have moving forward going to happen and something else happens than answers right now, and a lot of mixed will require complex solutions. There will need instead.” messages. It’s frustrating. I have been asking to be a balanced workload for parents, students These last few weeks have been like that. folks to be patient, though I sometimes have and teachers. Let’s take it one day at time, one As teachers and principals, you planned for lacked that trait myself, especially when your problem at a time, and recognize that we will one thing to happen, and then something else questions need answers that I can’t always think this one thing is going to happen and happened. You had plans for your students, provide. The ATA will continue to work tirelessly something else will happen instead. experiences you wanted them to enjoy, lessons to seek resolutions to the questions you have. Again, I thank you for your dedication to your you were excited to share, and then it all We will continue to defend public education in students and our profession. We’ve lots to do, lots suddenly changed. With the arrival of the Alberta against polices that mean to undermine of questions that need answers, but for right now, pandemic in our province, we had to alter our or erode it. Public education matters; our let’s all take a breath and remind ourselves to be way of life. What we had planned suddenly students’ education and wellness matters; grateful for what we have. We will get through changed in a manner of a few days. I am grateful teachers matter — perhaps more now than ever this together, united as a profession, stronger for the steady leadership of Dr. Deena Hinshaw, before. than before. I believe this because I believe in our chief medical officer of health, and medical But something great is happening as well. our profession and the great work teachers and staff in our province who are working tirelessly Teachers across the province have been showing school leaders do, day in and day out. to tend to the many sick in our province. great resiliency, making plans, collaborating, Be well, stay safe, wash your hands and carry All of the changes that have happened recently connecting with colleagues, and trying to figure on. ❚ have been exhausting. The first few days after it all out. Several of you have sent me messages classes were cancelled felt like mourning to me, saying you are ready for this new challenge. And something I believe we need to acknowledge I love it. Teaching is great because teachers are and feel. It’s okay to be scared; it’s okay to be great, and I know that as a profession, we will emotional; it’s okay to be frustrated; and it’s okay rise to the occasion. The Alberta Teachers’ Association, as the professional organization of teachers, promotes and advances public education, safeguards standards of professional practice and serves as the advocate for its members. Editor-in-Chief: Jonathan Teghtmeyer | [email protected] | 780-447-9477 Managing Editor: Cory Hare | [email protected] | 780-447-9438 Advertising: Trevor Battye Advertising Sales | [email protected] | 1-778-773-9397 April 7, 2020 Volume 54, Number 11 Designer: John Labots Graphic Design Inc. Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Very bad decision comes at a very bad time That leadership cratered on the one per cent of the total workforce to the might become sick during a pandemic. EDITORIAL afternoon of Saturday, March 28. unemployment line. The government Instead they were all given pink slips. By a news release and a tweet, 25,000 should have shown leadership to other A release from the Lethbridge School Jonathan Teghtmeyer education workers were told they’d be employers by stressing the need to Division captured it well. They designed ATA News Editor-in-Chief losing their jobs. keep as many people employed as an education continuity plan that The decision and how it was possible, given the circumstances. It is included educational assistants as an announced was devoid of consideration not a coincidence that just after this “integral part” of providing education n a crisis, the main thing we want and compassion for the people it affected. was announced, Alberta’s billionaire- to students. Iour government to do is ensure that But frankly, it was just a bad decision: owned professional hockey teams laid “The role of EAs, under teacher people are safe and being looked after. bad for the economy, bad for well-being off staff that they were earlier shamed supervision and planning, was to connect As the COVID-19 pandemic began and bad for education. into keeping employed. with a breadth of students including to affect Alberta, I was impressed with I understand fully that many When everything else in life is students with exceptionalities, English the government’s initial response. They businesses are struggling and revenue changing, and when the fear of Second Language students, students provided daily status updates, offered is rapidly shrinking or drying up uncertainty and health risks are looming without technology and other students clear directions and advice, made completely. Many businesses are being large, income stability goes a long way at risk. The work plans developed for sensible decisions and took reasonable, forced to make tough decisions that toward supporting mental health. If EAs included a variety of responsibilities thoughtful actions. result in layoffs. My heart goes out to the people can be supported, they should be. to ensure that ALL students had access When teachers said that schools would people affected and the business leaders Some are saying that the public sector to learning while schools remain closed not be able to support hygiene and dis- who have to make those tough decisions. should not be immune, but that misses for students.” tancing requirements, the government But the Alberta government didn’t the point completely. Every job that can These times call for a steady hand on listened and ultimately came to the right have to do this. The government be saved must be saved. Every person the tiller. They call for leadership that conclusion to cancel classes. As the edu- had capacity to provide stability to that can be supported must be supported. instills confidence and makes everyone cational continuity plan was developed, its employees at a difficult time. The All of this is aside, of course, from the feel supported. government officials reached out to key amount of money saved by this decision fact that these employees had work to If you are also concerned, visit stakeholders, gathered input and listened amounts to less than one-quarter of one do. Many school boards were employing www.ibelieveinpubliced.ca/call_your_ genuinely to questions and concerns. per cent of the province’s annual budget. education assistants, and even school mla and call your MLA. While the situation was challenging Although every other province has also bus drivers, to help support student I was prepared to give a good grade and not everything was perfect (situations cancelled classes, none of the other learning. Some school divisions were to this government, but with this one like these are never going to be perfect), governments have laid off staff like this. prepared to pay substitute teachers decision, they completely and utterly ❚ the government was showing effective Alberta’s very fragile economic based on an averaging of previous days failed. leadership and offered confidence that situation is not helped, but rather it is worked, and they would be needed to I welcome your comments—contact we would get through this together. seriously harmed, by adding an estimated step in for teachers who, I don’t know, me at [email protected]. Association is advocating for substitute teachers leaves, and subs would be available when everything related to the COVID-19 pan- laid off. Be patient. You will not be Q & A the system returned to normal operation.