JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 VOLUME 92 NUMBER 4 NEWSMAGAZINE OF THE MANITOBA TEACHERS’ SOCIETY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 VOLUME 92 NUMBER 4 NEWSMAGAZINE OF THE MANITOBA TEACHERS’ SOCIETY

President’s Column Meditation in the classroom P. 4 Before class, middle-years teacher Cari Satran of École Leila North Community School leads her students in a brief meditation Inside MTS P. 5 P. 16

P. 18

Smokeless tobacco Young athletes naively believe snuff or dip are less threatening than cigarettes

MTS member poll: Stress tops class size concern P. 7

French Immersion: A growing concern with growing pains

P. 8

P. 11 Teachers and movies simple ways • Go to www.winnipegharvest.org and click Good teachers on the Events/Operation Donation tab and bad teachers in film to register • Email [email protected] 3YOUR SCHOOL • Call 204-982-3670 INSIDE MTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN KEN PEARCE, GENERAL SECRETARY

PAUL OLSON Three times a year I get to attend the be slowly emerging and gathering steam. money and volunteer time every year to Canadian Teachers’ Federation Directors Coordination and the sharing of long-term projects around the world through CTF. Editor Meetings, one of which is held immediately research into the type and delivery of educa- CTF staff prepares proposals, sends them to George Stephenson, prior to the CTF Annual Meeting. tion services across the country helps form the Society and staff here prepares propos- [email protected] This coming year the Annual Meeting will Society responses to trends in education. als for approval by the Provincial Executive. be hosted by the Society in July. Your staff is For example, rapidly changing technolo- Send contributions to: Research and support currently working on the necessary prepara- gies and teachers’ future role in the system for maternity leaves Editor tions for hosting this event and it includes are a current focus of research by CTF and e work hard to protect and strengthen our students. We work to CTF staff provided the research needed to The Manitoba Teacher many logistical aspects that will involve the its affiliates. Helping coordinate a national build community, address bullying, impart skills and learning, support the MTS brief to the Minister on 191 Harcourt Street use of volunteers from the membership. response to the anti-teacher/anti-union all with the goal of helping kids become strong adults, full citizens, credit of service for maternity and parental Winnipeg, MB R3J 3H2 To assist in this, a sub-committee of mem- agenda is something that CTF is uniquely and people who can avoid some of the mistakes of the past. leaves. There continues to be strong research Phone: (204) 831-3058 bers and staff has been working to provide positioned to do and the joint work of staffs And yet, we face many threats. The most horrifying are acts of supports to affiliates for their work in pro- Fax: (204) 831-0877 a memorable visit for CTF delegates from at affiliates is central to this process. viding information to affiliate presidents extreme violence, but in truth we lose far more kids to quieter killers flowing from across the country. This work involves: CTF’s recent move to provide an upgrad- Published seven times a year (September– and executives to ensure arguments for a so- poverty and bad public policy than we do from TV-worthy drama. • Planning family activities and child care ed electronic Education Research Library, June) by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. cially just society are founded on informed It’s an essential part of our professional paradigm that we focus on what we can for partners and children who travel with both national and international in scope, Articles and views published herein do not debate on such issues. With such programs control—our time, our effort, our practice—in the service of student welfare and delegates. Some examples include visits and the opportunities for future collabora- necessarily represent the policies nor the as Employment Insurance, Society stances learning. We can and do make important differences every day. Good teaching can to the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Lower Fort tive research through the CTF’s establish- views of the Society. are provided by national research as the be a great equalizer in a kid’s life. Garry and Winnipeg Goldeyes games. ment of the National Teachers’ Research Employment Insurance program is based on I’d argue, however, that if we really want to help our students then we need to The Manitoba Teacher welcomes story ideas • Recruiting volunteers and arranging Network offers significant promise for fu- federal legislation; when there are problems, hold back a reserve of time and energy, and become more political. Inequality is a and submissions from members. Contact transportation for delegates arriving from ture collaboration. defining challenge of our age. the editor. our staff often go to CTF staff for assistance. across the country. International Programs It’s fine and well to feed the hungry, find coats and mitts for the cold, and so on, • Obtaining promotional items from local Employment Insurance Join other Manitoba teachers who CTF staff routinely share reports from but I think it also falls to us to demand answers about why our students are show- teachers’ associations and others. CTF staff also organizes an Employment Project Overseas, which keeps the Society ing up—IF they show up—so battered and bruised in the first place. follow us on Twitter and Facebook. • Obtaining commemorative gifts for all Insurance forum every few years for mem- and CTF affiliates able to respond to ques- Finland, in creating its world-leading education system, did not set out to create delegates and alternates. ber organization staff to meet directly with tions from their members about overseas excellence. They had the wisdom to realize that excellence is not so much a goal as it • Arranging local entertainment for the Service Canada and EI staff to discuss issues. facebook.com/ initiatives. This is especially important is a result, and so they set out to create a highly equitable educational system. And President’s Reception July 11th at the manitobateachers since the federal government cancelled Annual Staff Officer Meetings they did so in a context of strong social supports. Canadian Museum for Human Rights. supports through CTF’s CIDA funded Your Society staff is kept current on issues Here in Canada, federal legislation such as C-377 and party platforms that attack • Organizing a Manitoba Night, taking the initiatives. Staff at affiliates and CTF plan that are affecting teachers across Canada unions are in the pipeline for passage already, and will hinder the ability of MTS format of a mini-Folklorama, hosted at biennial consultation meetings where staff through the facilitation of networking and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation to do their work. The Trade in Services twitter.com/mbteachers the Fairmont Hotel. officers from across Canada meet to discuss among teacher or ganizations at the nation- Agreement (TISA) seems likely to undermine any number of education-related • Preparing participant packages. Project Overseas as well as the other devel- al CTF gathering of staff members. services currently provided by public education systems, and this may well include Of course, working with the CTF staff opment cooperation programs that CTF This description of the kinds of collaboration teachers themselves. involves more than organizing an event funds in partnership with its members. between your Society staff and the Canadian Alberta and Saskatchewan are already looking at contracting out the building of Publications Mail Agreement like this. It is part of an ongoing relation- Consultation meetings providing informa- Teachers’ Federation hopefully illustrates new schools, and leasing them from private companies at a cost greater than what 40063378 ISSN 002-228X ship with CTF. The Federation provides tion to members of the affiliates help them the kind of work that is ongoing and support- it would cost to build the schools themselves. This money will drain away from kids much needed information and soundly-re- Return undeliverable Canadian determine political decisions to be made. ive of the endeavours of the The Manitoba and classrooms and toward corporate coffers. searched data for our day-to-day operations The Manitoba Teachers’ Society provides Teachers’ Society in achieving its goals. Political decisions lead to housing allowances going up—or people continuing addresses to: at the Society. The following is just a sample to choose between housing and food. Ditto school funding, after-school programs, Information Management of that work. childcare programs—or women and children continuing to be disproportion- The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Research ately affected by poverty. Professional autonomy—or canned programming from 191 Harcourt Street VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WITH THE CANADIAN Pearson. Collective agreements that protect your working conditions—or attacks Winnipeg, MB R3J 3H2 CTF has a pan-Canadian network that TEACHERS’ FEDERATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on the Rand formula and your right to organize. email: [email protected] is central to our policy analysts, allowing My “ask” for 2014 is simple. Manitoba has 57 MLAs, and 14 MPs. Before this for ready consultation with affiliate staff year is out, your MLA and MP should know your name, and what you believe in. to prepare researched data for informed MTS needs the help of Manitoba teachers in playing host to the CTF Your voice is needed at least as much outside your classroom as in. statements on a myriad of issues that arise. AGM July 7–11. Interested teachers should contact: These sometimes require a quick response • MTS Vice-President Norm Gould, by MTS political leadership and the shar- [email protected] / (204) 888-7961 or ing of information and experiences. MTS is not an island; in addition to the • MTS Assistant General Secretary Bobbi Éthier, episodic need to respond quickly, it is like- [email protected] / (204) 888-7961 wise important to track trends that may

4 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 5 Stress tops class size concern BY JUDY EDMOND

ob stress is now teachers’ top con- students is off on their own, this one vocate, but they are abusive… bullying cern in Manitoba, superseding is refusing to take part and these ones is such a big thing now, but a lot of these class size, according to a poll con- are all around me… coming at me with kids get it from their parents… if you The CAEL Assessment ducted by MTS in November. demands.” Another said, “I feel over- are raised by a bully it’s not a big surprise Each year, the Society engages whelmed every day… and it’s getting if you turn out to be one.” One teacher is available at a research company to field a telephone worse… I wonder, can I handle it?” dubbed them “Blackhawk parents”, survey with a random sample of 800 Teachers believe too much of their helicopter parents whose goal is to get a Heartland International Manitoba teachers. MTS asks teachers time is spent on activities outside of teacher fired. to name their biggest concern. They do teaching. “I would like to spend more Teachers said they want to be treated English School. not pick from a list—this is a top-of- time with the kids, teaching the kids… with respect as people and profession- mind choice. From 1999 onward, class but I am expected to maintain a web als with individual teaching styles. One Check our website size was their biggest concern; today it is page, post marks for parents, answer e- teacher even suggested that every school job stress or too many demands. mails everyday… there is less and less be required to post a sign telling visitors for details. Three focus groups held in mid- time for teaching,” said one participant. that verbal or physical abuse of staff is October 2013 with teachers from In addition, teachers said new ap- not tolerated, similar to hospitals and Dauphin and Winnipeg area teachers’ proaches to teaching, changes in curricu- doctors’ offices. When asked about this associations hinted at this shift. These lum and new responsibilities that are not idea in the telephone survey, three out discussion groups were sponsored by properly planned burden teachers with- of four teachers think it is important cael.ca MTS and moderated by an outside out necessarily improving education. that MTS work to have every school in facilitator. While the information Teachers expressed frustration because Manitoba post such a sign. gathered was from a small sample of students are being moved grade to grade How should MTS help teachers address teachers, the discussions among teachers without mastering the requirements of each job stress? Teachers want the emphasis to had a common theme. Six weeks into grade. “We are just pushing kids through… be on the prevention of mental health cri- the new school year, both rural and I have a kid in Grade 8 who reads at a Grade ses. The support should be there before GET SMART urban teachers were overwhelmed. 2 level… we are not helping that child problems hit the crisis point, they said. At the start of the focus group, teach- and there are so many like him.” Participants in the focus groups believe ...about electricity ers were asked to illustrate their typical The teachers also stated that too many teacher wellbeing should be the Society’s day. Describing her picture, one teacher parents mistake abuse of teachers for chief function. “It is the most important to increase brainpower! said, “That’s me in the middle… things advocacy of their children. “The parents thing they do… we need them for that are whirling around me, everyone is think they are being their children’s ad- and they help lots of people.” asking me to do things… this group of % OF TEACHERS 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* 2010* 2012* 2013*

Too many demands, job stress 12 12 11 14 15 16 15 13 16

Class size/Too many students 19 16 15 15 18 17 17 15 13

“Bring Wildlife into Your Classroom” Student behavior, discipline, violence 14 13 14 17 12 10 10 9 9

Classroom composition/ 6 6 3 3 6 6 10 6 9 What can you expect from a wildlife ambassador visit? Effect of special needs students

Our experienced educators will bring live birds of prey, Lack of support/Resources for teachers 7 6 6 6 4 3 8 10 8 and other unique tools to get your students excited about wildlife! Special appearances by our non-releasable Assessment procedures and policies/ FREE admission and parking 4 3 7 4 7 No fail educational system wildlife ambassadors make each learning session a Walk-ins welcome or one-of-a-kind experience! book a guided tour Students’ needs not being met/ Open Mon to Thurs 1 - 4 pm 7 5 5 5 7 7 5 6 6 For full details on our programs please contact Call 204-360-7905 for details Lack of support our education program coordinator or visit hydro.mb.ca/museum 680 Harrow Street, Winnipeg MB (204)802-9133 [email protected] *Principals not part of survey

6 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 7 ing fine in French immersion. Everything says Normandeau. “The funny thing is if Education programs and currently for the is not fine,” says Normandeau. “Yes, the you go to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick, next two years they are only at about 65 program is working, but often people, in- they don’t have enough positions available per cent. There are 33 potential graduates FRENCH IMMERSION: cluding politicians, stop right there and for their new teachers. There is immigra- this year and 33 the next. That is clearly don’t look any further than those statistics. tion of these teachers towards the West, insufficient in meeting the needs to have “Our members tell us they are in need but it seems that our province isn’t getting highly qualified immersion teachers. A GROWING CONCERN of resources and support at the divisional its share. They tend to go to Alberta and “If you’re a young person coming out level. Yes, there are pedagogic counsel- Saskatchewan so we need to find a way to of high school and you’re fluent in both lors but they are not necessarily dedicated attract them to our province.” languages and looking for career options, WITH GROWING PAINS to French. The department of languages With at least five or six universities in becoming an immersion teacher is cer- includes French, but also Spanish and Quebec and the Maritime provinces of- tainly a possibility. Even if you teach in an German and so their mandate is huge and fering education programs in French he English school, being able to teach your BY MIREILLE THERIAULT the needs of many organizations are dire.” says it’s really a matter of connecting the own basic French is an asset. All of our Adequate opportunities to ‘live’ the dots and building a link between the peo- teachers should be able to do that right language through cultural events and ple hiring teachers and where those teach- now. That would be very helpful for all he future of French Immersion in Manitoba appears brighter than ever with enroll- exchanges, especially for students and ers are. And if recruiting teachers isn’t our learners of French regardless of what ment topping 20,000 for the third year. But that growth has also meant a growth teachers in more remote areas, accessing hard enough, then retaining them can program they are in.” in problems. support services for students and curbing be. Normandeau says some studies show Auclair says, “The future of the French No longer considered part of an enriched experience mainly for the drop in immersion enrollment from between 30 to 45 per cent of teachers in Immersion program is already under re- high-achievers, more parents are recognizing the ben- Grades 9 to 12 are some of the challenges their first five years won’t stay in the pro- form as it moves towards a priority of efits of the program from brain development to future job to the program. But by far the biggest fession because of the large workload.The oral proficiency and literacy. We’ve ex- prospects for their children. concern is the ability of many school challenge is compounded further when amined the question of whether we are “Clearly the state of French immersion in Manitoba divisions to recruit and retain qualified trying to fill positions in rural or remote really achieving our goal to make those shows positive signs,” says Philippe LeDorze, Past French Immersion teachers. The communities and in speciality areas of students fluently bilingual by the end of President of ACPI, l’Association canadien des pro- equation of supply and demand is math and science. Grade 12.” fesseurs d’immersion. “One thing we need to know definitely skewed. While he agrees that there are chal- Another issue, stemming the pro- about the French immersion program in the prov- “It is big enough of a lenges, Jean-Vianney Auclair, Assistant nounced drop from the program in ince is that 95 per cent of all children started problem that it could slow Deputy Minister with the Bureau de Grades 9 to 12 creates a Catch-22 situ- the program in kindergarten or Grade 1 which progress of the French l’éducation française Division says he is ation. Lower enrollment leads to reduced clearly makes immersion a non-elitist program immersion program be- cautious about referring to the need for need for teachers, but faced with per- in Manitoba.” cause at some point some more qualified French Immersion teach- ceived shortfalls in the quality and variety Simon Normandeau, President of the ÉFM, schools just give up in ers as a pronounced shortage. of courses available to students in Grades Éducatrices et éducateurs francophones du finding those teachers,” “We know that in immersion we have 9 to 12, parents who vigorously sought Manitoba, says much of the increase is com- some unique circumstances where it is dif- French Immersion for their kids seem to ing from second-generation Anglophones ficult for school divisions to find teachers. get a case of cold feet just when they may who have experienced the benefits of French Yet, we have a good French Immersion be in a position to parlay their bilingual- Immersion themselves. And there has been program in the North; the Thompson ism into greater opportunity in post-sec- growth in areas outside Winnipeg such as area, Swan River and Dauphin. And we ondary education or the job market. Winkler, Morden and Stonewall. know that staff turnover in these areas “We have been working with our part- “Traditionally there’s been a tendency to tend to be higher because often people ners; the WNCP, Western and Northern hold back French Immersion in those areas. begin their careers in the north and then Canadian Protocol, other ministries of That is no longer the case and it’s fantastic. move on to an urban area when they have education and partners in education to The other large part of the increase is new- a few years of experience. I think that we have a look at the foundation of what we comers to Canada. Presented with the op- know that even within the English pro- do. We have a new framework and our portunity to learn this new country’s two gram, finding a maths specialist to teach intent is to start slowly but surely, revis- official languages, they go about doing in a rural community in Manitoba may ing the curriculum in Manitoba based on just that. It’s part of the school system. It’s be a bit of challenge. these issues,” says Auclair. provided to them, so why wouldn’t they “That being said, I’m not saying that “We want to increase our focus on lit- seize that opportunity?” this is not something we shouldn’t be pay- eracy so from a French perspective this Over the past 10 years growth has come ing attention to. Quite the contrary. We would apply to both the Français pro- at a slow and steady pace yet to hit five have had conversations in the past with gram and the French Immersion program. per cent from one year to the next but the Faulty of Education at the University We’d also like to examine to what extent resources are stretched and as positive as of St. Boniface to discuss this matter.” students identify themselves as bilingual continued enrollment may be, increased LeDorze, agrees that the local teacher learners. The whole question of identity is demands may be hard to meet much lon- education program is not up to meeting very much present in French as a first lan- ger before the program suffers. that particular challenge. guage environment, but to some extent we “Because the numbers keep going up “The University of St. Boniface has also believe that there is some application people tend to think that everything is go- Simon Normandeau, President of the ÉFM room for 50 graduates per year in its to the French as a second language.”

8 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 9 10. Good Will Hunting THE TOP 10 TEACHER MOVIES FROM THE MTS MEMBERS’ POLL 9. Coach Carter Dec 8, 2013 – April 27, 2014

Check out this exciting new curriculum-based exhibition designed for students. 8. Lean on Me This exhibition celebrates the relationship between math and visual art. Explore three themes: Shape and Dimension, Number and Relation, and 7. Stand and Deliver

Symmetry and Pattern. Lesser Orbits , c. 1927. Brooker, Bertram 6. Bad Teacher

FREE SNEAK PEEK January 24, 5-6pm

Explore our exciting Inuit programs during a sneak peek of upcoming exhibitions, 5. Dangerous Minds From the Land and Looking Up–just for teachers! Enhance your students’ class experience with creative and fun approaches to learning.

Visit wag.ca/learn/schools for a listing of all School Programs. 4. Freedom Writers

Winnipeg Art Gallery 300 Memorial Blvd • Winnipeg, MB • 204.786.6641 • wag.ca

3. Dead Poets Society

2. Mr. Holland’s Opus

1. To Sir With Love

BY GEORGE STEPHENSON

from top: Stills from Blackboard Jungle, Bad Teacher and To Sir with Love

10 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 11 ell, what is it with young was followed by the heart warmers Mr. teachers and had the perfect answers at our The images of teachers in movies influence how the general public views teachers and teaching teachers today, eh? Holland’s Opus and Lean on Me. fingertips.” There was a time teachers, But among teachers between 24 and Well, that may have been right about taking a break from the times 34, they liked Dangerous Minds, Freedom Glen Ford, when he was gaining the respect That’s a bit of an understatement. The What’s the message there? with gang members, every class is about tables and fiddling with the film projector, Writers and Bad Teacher. of his class of thugs in Blackboard Jungle, good teachers in movies usually have great “Indecent Proposal portrays teaching as eight minutes long and every field trip is to huddle down at the local Bijou and gaze Yes, Bad Teacher; Cameron Diaz as quite but what of Ms. Halsey, who is drunk in clashes with evil administrators who care accessible to anyone even without a reason- a life-changing experience (usually done with affection at the latest Hollywood de- possibly the worst teacher ever portrayed school, has drugs in her drawer and throws only about rules and budgets and disci- able skill or subject to impart,” says Prof. Dale without permission). piction of teaching. on film. Her turn as Elizabeth Halsey things at students? pline. Good principals have to fight the Bauer, in a paper entitled Indecent Proposals: But, overall, teachers look pretty good. There was Sidney Poitier, as Mark makes TV’s Mr. D (see page 14) seem like Apparently the answer is still yes. same battle with evil school board mem- Teachers in the Movies. “Perhaps this is just For the most part, in the dozens and dozens Thackeray, inTo Sir With Love gaining the Socrates. Back in 1967 she would have Teacher-blogger Pat Brothwell says, “I bers and superintendents. There are no another example of how so many English of movies about them, the main characters respect and admiration of a school full of been one of Mark Thackeray’s students. found it therapeutic in a sick way. Who movies about good school board members majors-turned-Hollywood screenwriters get at least are portrayed in a positive light, if recalcitrant thugs and assorted delinquents. Unlike earlier movies about teachers, hasn’t wanted to throw a dodgeball at a kid and superintendents. revenge on teachers who failed them.” not a total halo. In following years there was Morgan mainly featuring classrooms out of control who made their life a living hell or tell a sanc- Dalton says the appearance of movies that Whether anyone should care how teach- That is, except for the poor phys ed teacher. Freeman winning the respect and admira- and eventually reforming, Bad Teacher fea- timonious co-worker to ‘blow me’ without parody the good teacher or give it a twist, ers and teaching are portrayed on the big That was the finding of university profes- tion of a school full of thugs malcontents tured a teacher out of control and eventu- repercussion? Just me? Well, I enjoyed living like Election, High School High or School of and small screen is still an open debate. sors Bryan McCullick, Don Belcher and and then Michelle Pfeiffer winning the re- ally reforming. Or, maybe not. There is a vicariously through that movie and watching Rock, just shows how established the genre Some researchers say that the images of Brent and Marie Hardin who analyzed spect and etc. etc. sequel in the works. Cameron Diaz do and say all the things pro- has become. teachers in movies do influence how the hours of movies in which physical educa- Teachers loved those movies—and still do. There were many teachers offended by fessionalism stops me from doing.” “Clearly parody and revisionism cannot general public views teachers and teaching. tion teachers were featured. Just for fun, the annual members’ the movie, but it did take another step And, well, she did become a good teacher exist unless it is conceded that a basic form “Moviegoers young and old carry with They saw phys ed teachers portrayed as poll for MTS asked what movie away from the staple of movie education, in the end. exists. With the release of these films, the them (movie images) when they go to dimwitted, uneducated bullies. Male phys about teaching was our members’ the good teacher. Mary Dalton, author of The Hollywood cycle of good teacher movies as a genre is school each day,” said an article in Education ed teachers are most often depicted as favourite. By a Richard Rand, a theatre professor at Curriculum: Teachers in the Movies, says complete.” World. “Many teachers, both newbies and “hormone-raging” heterosexual buffoons, huge margin, Purdue University says teachers are “usu- there has been a complete cycle of movies Or, it’s just a continuation. Bad Teacher vets, credit the films To Sir With Love, the apparently recruited from boot camps in the teachers over ally portrayed in a way that featuring the good teacher. becomes good in the end. Jack Black be- Blackboard Jungle and Up the Down Staircase sixth circle of hell.” the age of makes us all wish we “Typically he or she is an outsider comes a good teacher in School of Rock and with inspiring their career choice.” (That Their female counterparts are portrayed 53 named had those kinds of who is not well liked by other Election’s bad teacher, Mathew Broderick, was before the release of Bad Teacher.) as “butch lesbians”, normally bedecked in To Sir With teachers. And as teachers, who are typically bored becomes, well, a tour guide at the American Author Dalton agrees. baggy clothes and bad haircuts. Love. That teachers, we often by students, afraid of students or Museum of Natural History. “General knowledge about the relation- As the character Cher says in the wish we were those eager to dominate students. The And going from teaching to tour guide ships between teachers and students, movie Clueless: “Ms. Stoeger, in 7 good teacher gets involved for the bad teacher is better than many knowledge beyond the scope of the the grand tradition of PE teach- with students on a movies in which failures and burnouts in personal or anecdotal, is created by ers, is same-sex oriented.” 98 personal level and other fields go into teaching. constructs of popular culture played Then, again, maybe too many does not usually Sidney Poitier’s Thackeray was an unem- out in the mass media.” university profs are spending fare very well with ployed engineer, Dangerous Mind’s Michelle In other words, movies have an way too much time watching administrators.” Pfeiffer an ex-marine and Tom Berenger’sThe influence; what we know about movies and looking for hid- Substitute an ex-mercenary. Indecent Proposal school we know from the movies. den meanings and larger ends with Woody Harrelson and Demi If that’s so, there must be a lot concepts. 56 Moore going back to teaching after failed at- of people out there who think Sometimes a cine- 15 tempts to gamble their way to prosperity. school classrooms are filled ma is just a cinema.

100 ACTING TEACHERS

1. Jon Stewart The Faculty 13. Sidney Poitier 26. Tom Berenger 38. Sean Connery 50. Michael Chiklis 62. Francois Truffaut 75. Jon Voight Conrack 89. Jami Gertz 2. Michael Douglas To Sir With Love The Substitute Finding Forrester High School L’Enfant Sauvage 76. Bette Davis Fighting the Odds: The Wonder Boys 14. Eve Arden Grease 27. Joan Cusack 39. William Hurt 51. Thomas Haden Church 63. Donald Sutherland The Corn is Green Marilyn Gambrell Story 3. Barbra Streisand 15. Demi Moore School of Rock Children of a Lesser God Easy A Animal House 77. Nathan Lane 90. Julia Roberts The Mirror Has Two Faces Indecent Proposal 28. James Belushi 40. Michael Cain 52. Elliot Gould 64. Tia Carrere The English Teacher Mona Lisa Smile 4. Michelle Pfeiffer 16. Mel Gibson The Man The Principal Educating Rita American History X My Teacher’s Wife 78. Judy Dench 91. Laura Dern October Sky Dangerous Minds Without A Face 29. Nick Nolte Teachers 41. Mark Harmon 53. Helen Mirren 65. Adrien Brody Detachment Notes on a Scandal 92. Julianne Moore 5. Robin Williams 17. Richard Dreyfuss 30. Arnold Schwarzenegger Summer School Teaching Mrs. Tingle 66. Ed Harris Radio 79. Tim Meadows Mean Girls The English Teacher Dead Poets Society Mr. Holland’s Opus Kindergarten Cop 42. Judd Hirsch Teachers 54. Samuel L. Jackson 67. David Hyde Pierce 80. James Woods 93. Stellan Skarsgard 6. Meg Ryan In the Cut 18. Janet Jackson 31. Kevin Kline In & Out 43. Kirstie Alley Coach Carter Wet Hot American Summer The Virgin Suicides Good Will Hunting 7. Jack Black School of Rock Nutty Professor II 32. Kevin Spacey Summer School 55. Billy Bob Thornton 68. Jeremy Piven Old School 81. Lisa Kudrow Easy A 94. Famke Janssen 8. Cate Blanchett 19. Stephen Colbert Pay It Forward 44. Anne Bancroft School for Scoundrels 69. John Vernon Animal House 82. William Macy Oleanna The Faculty Notes on a Scandal Strangers With Candy 33. Meryl Streep The Miracle Worker 56. Matthew Broderick 70. Gene Hackman Hoosiers 83. Robin Williams 95. Christina Hendricks 9. Hilary Swank 20. Matt Dillon Wild Things Music of the Heart 45. Angie Dickenson Pretty Election 71. Maggie Smith Good Will Hunting Detachment Freedom Writers 21. Edward James Olmos 34. Marcia Gay Harden Maids All In A Row 57. Peter O’Toole The Prime of Miss 84. Sam Kinison 96. Dave Foley Sky High 10. Ben Stein Stand and Deliver Detachment 46. Jon Lovitz Goodbye Mr. Chips Jean Brodie Back to School 97. Viola Davis Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 22. Dick York Inherit the Wind 35. Paul Gleason High School High 58. Salma Hayek The Faculty 72. Rock Hudson 85. Alan Rickman Harry Potter Won’t Back Down 11. Morgan Freeman 23. Brian Cox Rushmore The Breakfast Club 47. Ray Walston Fast Times 59. Robert Downey Jr. Pretty Maids All In A Row 86. Henry Winkler Scream 98. Tina Fey Mean Girls Lean on Me 24. Woody Harrelson 36. Danny DeVito at Ridgemont High Charlie Bartlett 73. Jamie Lee Curtis 87. Halle Berry Class Act 99. Ryan Gosling Half Nelson 12. Denzel Washington The Indecent Proposal Renaissance Man 48. Gavin MacLeod 60. Barbara Hershey Hoosiers Halloween H20 88. Cameron Diaz 100. Olivia Williams Rushmore George McKenna Story 25. Glenn Ford 37. Sandy Dennis Student Exchange 61. Katherine Ross 74. Lynda Carter Sky High Bad Teacher Blackboard Jungle Up the Down Staircase 49. John Goodman Butch Cassidy and Revenge of the Nerds the Sundance Kid 12 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 13 “You need both for the kids because you have that as kids. Most kids aren’t like the perfect teacher. Most kids are like me or worse,” he says. “I remember a teacher said to me once, ‘I don’t know how you can do well in school and be such a pain in the ass.’ And that kind of sums it up because if I saw an opportu- nity to make fun of something I would, but you could make fun of me too. It’s the same way I am now—the same way as I taught.” He admits kids who were serious about academics wouldn’t fare well in his class. He was more likely to tell jokes and stories than assign homework, but Dee had honourable reasons for taking up teaching. (WE HOPE) “I thought, ‘You know, I really like kids. I BY PAT ST. GERMAIN like coaching, I like seeing them get better at things,’ and when I got into teaching I didn’t realize that the whole academic side erry Dee is telling more tales “If everyone else gets on board of that was something I didn’t have. But out of school. that’s awesome—and they I was very, very involved. I mean I would Ten years after he parlayed have. But I write it for coach five teams. I would always help with his teaching experience into a teachers. I want teach- prom, I would do all that stuff,” he says. full-time comedy career, Dee ers to like it. I want “Was I a horrible teacher? Not at all. Was says he’s keeping it real as the blockhead of teachers to laugh. I a great teacher? Not at all. I’m just a good the class in CBC sitcom Mr. D. I want teachers to teacher. I think I was a good teacher.” “I’m saying things we’ve often thought say it’s real, and any Once, Dee added up his extracurricular of as a teacher, or we’ve secretly done. And time the writers pitch hours and calculated he’d earned $4 an there’s this myth out there that teachers are me something that’s hour over the school year. Meanwhile, an- perfect and they would never do any of this not real to teaching I other teacher at the school had earned the stuff. Well that’s not the case,” he says. say no.” nickname Three-Oh-Five because he was “There’s a lot of truth to the show that For example, if a kid should always gone by 3:05 p.m. I think a lot of teachers may not like, but be in class, writers can’t pull him “He’d probably be great. He’d prob- I’m exposing it—and I can expose it ’cause out to service a scene. And Dee says ably be excellent marking their essays. He’s I did it.” he’d never allow some of the antics probably amazing.” Dee shot the third season of the series at in shows like the Cameron Diaz But looking back at his own schooldays, a Halifax high school this summer and it movie Bad Teacher, which is being Dee says he doesn’t remember the lessons— will begin airing February 24th. The com- spun into a CBS series this fall. which probably goes without saying. When edy is ramped up for TV, but the fictional “It’s not my kind of show because he and his former classmates get together timeline mirrors his real-life career trajec- it’s not real. Like a teacher going up they talk about teachers who did nice tory at a private school in Toronto, where to a kid and smacking him in the face things or told stories. he moved from academics to gym class. in the hall. Yeah, it might be fun for a “It’s not like, ‘Remember when he “My first three years teaching was in the comedy, but it would never happen— taught us order of operations? Oh my social sciences and I literally had no idea never. So I would say, ‘No, that’s not God, that was awesome.’ So I guess I what I was doing,” he says. “I’m not a well- the industry, that’s not the profession.’” became that guy as well,” he says. read person. It’s not something I ever really Of course, the fictional Xavier And by extension, Mr. D is that guy, got into was reading... so for me to teach Academy is populated by larger-than- like him or not. those subjects, which are very based on life characters: An enigmatic janitor, “Most of the stuff I hear is good, knowing your history and reading, I was a crafty secretary (comedian Bette but I know there are teachers out out of my element.” MacDonald), a quirky science guy, there that won’t like it,” he says. Hence Mr. D’s propensity for calling on the by-the-book rookie teacher Miss “That’s the nature of teachers students to use Les Misérables to explain Mason, Mr. D’s popular rival Mr. to me. They tend to be split the Industrial Revolution, and asking them Dwyer (hip-hop star Maestro Fresh on stuff anyway, and there are what caused the Renaissance. Wes) and ambitious vice-principal teachers that like to complain “That to me is one of the more clever Mr. Cheeley, played by teen talk- and there’s teachers that get lines, a very subtle line in Season 1—‘What show veteran Jonathan Torrens it’s a joke and don’t take it caused the Renaissance?’ You have to be (Jonovision). too seriously.” pretty clever to get that because if you just But Dee says every school needs let it fly by you miss it, you miss the joke, a Miss Mason and every school but a lot of teachers would get it,” he says. needs a Mr. D, too.

14 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 15 CALMING CLASSES WITH Profitable Fundraising. Easy and Local. FIVE-MINUTE MEDITATION

BY MIREILLE THERIAULT See how we can help you hen Cari Satran Not all kids are able to find that centre asks for five minutes of calm every time and she stresses that reach your fundraising goals. of silence in her class- the meditation is not mandatory. Even room, her students have though it’s only five minutes no student no problem with that. In who excuses themself from participating fact, they look forward to it. leaves the room either. Mornings before class or after lunch, the Satran didn’t begin the practice with middle-years teacher dims the lights and students with the goal of improving aca- leads her students at École Leila North demic performance, but a growing num- Community School in a brief meditation. ber of studies have linked meditation Soft strains of mellow music fill the air practices to better results in school. punctuated by her voice gently remind- “The potential benefits of meditation ing them to allow stray thoughts to move are quite remarkable, including decreased through the mind while focusing on their stress, increased feelings of calm, im- breathing. proved concentration, and a sense of well- Satran has taken the idea beyond the being.” she said. “If you are here now, you classroom. She led participants through already have an idea that it’s beneficial but an exercise at a SAGE day presentation if you’re one of the skeptics, then science 1 (800) 350-MOMS (6667) last October. The practice is not a time of is proving it with the MRI technology instruction on the “how to” of meditation that’s come out in the last 10 years.” www.momspantry.ca or even the merits of what some could see In the past decade meditation, even if it as a spiritual practice in a secular setting. hasn’t always been identified as such, has And at only five minutes, she doesn’t take become more mainstream. Teachers - looking to connect time from classroom instruction beyond “What I’m finding is that a lot of people what she deemed would normally be talk about visualization, deep breathing your class with agriculture? needed for students to settle down. and relaxation, but really what’s the differ- “What is meditation and why medi- ence?” says Satran. We offer full day, hands-on tate?” she asked. “There are many defini- She has read extensively on the subject workshops where students follow their tions that phrase the experience in differ- and taken a few seminars and classes but is food from the farm to their tables. They will ent ways but for me it means awareness mostly self-taught. In her opinion there is learn about farm production and investigate the of what one is feeling, thinking and doing no right or wrong way to meditate. science behind Manitoba products, transform that can be extended to our daily lives to “Teaching is a life-long practice. raw materials into tasty treats in the kitchen, and develop an appreciation for farming, food cultivate mindfulness. What’s important Meditation is a life-long practice. You have production, healthy living and food safety. for me to share, and what motivates me to start somewhere, so just start. To me the is to show them how they can learn self- sincere intention to meditate is what’s im- Four new programs available: Extraordinary Eggs, The World of Wheat, awareness and how they have power over portant. I believe anyone can do it.” Dairy Day, and The Science of Spuds their own thoughts.” “I know there are many teachers who, Most of her experience is with middle like me when I started 11 years ago, say Funding is available to subsidize busing costs for qualifying schools (for January-March 2014 years students but she sees no reason not ‘I’m going to meditate with my kids but I bookings). Call today to book your field trip! to introduce elementary level students to don’t want anyone to know.’ The first year the practice with age-suitable times and I began this at H.C. Avery School, I did Just 15 minutes south of Winnipeg on Hwy 75 at the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea expectations. For example, with her own talk to the administration about what I Research Station. students she uses music. would be doing. It’s a long time now, but I www.ffdc.ca 204-883-2524 “I just think it’s a lot of pressure in seem to remember the administrator sug- Grades 7 and 8 to be in complete silence gested I call it something else, like relax- and while there’s a lot to be said for learn- ation. But I said, ‘well no, it’s meditation. ing to be comfortable in silence, for my That’s what it is.’ There was no more said purposes the music is just a helpful tool about it. Later when I switched schools I to focus.” didn’t really say one thing or another.”

16 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 17 using and that leaves the impression it’s OK, “(Our coach) knows that kids do it, but “Everyone says they know someone Kriellaars said, adding few girls chew be- if he sees it, he’s like, ‘It doesn’t belong at with like a hole in their mouth, but I’ve cause most think it’s “disgusting.” the rink. If you’re going to do that stuff, never yet to meet somebody with that or Many student athletes One Winnipeg high school hockey you do it at home on your own time. This talk to somebody with that,” he said. player said he started chewing about a is still a school activity,’ ” he said. “Maybe that would change my perspec- year and a half ago when offered some by “The same goes for football. The foot- tive. It probably would, but I just haven’t.” a friend on his team. ball coaches don’t really know.” It is an expensive habit as a tin costs filling cheeks with chaw “I got a pretty big head rock, kind of Kriellaars said the chemicals and about $28 to $30 in Canada. However, BY JUDY OWEN like a nicotine drunk (for about 10 min- amount of nicotine in chew are high— it’s common for friends to go to the States utes),” said Tim, who didn’t want his real four to 12 milligrams in a plug of smoke- and pick up rolls for about $15 each, name used. less tobacco compared to about one mil- which equal five tins, he said. If he shares, t’s a ritual that sounds far from they have not even a comeback to be able ers aged 16 to 20, Kriellaars found 42 per “I felt really light headed. A lot of peo- ligram per cigarette. he goes through about a tin a day. appealing. to say no to it.” cent used smokeless tobacco on a daily ple puke the first time, but I didn’t really Some of the health risks include devel- As for his parents, his mom smokes and Take a pinch of tobacco, jam it The comeback could be, ‘I’m an athlete, basis, five per cent weekly, 37 per cent had swallow any so I didn’t puke.” oping oral cancer, heart disease and/or his dad is an ex-smoker. They’ve found a into your mouth, chew it into a can’t afford it, my girlfriend doesn’t like,’ tried it and 16 per cent had never tried it. It also made him tired, but now he gum and tooth disease, he said, adding 40 tin of his tobacco and thrown it out. gooey blob and then spit a brown he said. Those players were also asked why doesn’t feel much. to 60 per cent of users will have leukopla- “A bunch of people told me like it’s stream of juice into a cup, bottle or any “Just saying no isn’t going to work. they chewed. “I just like it a lot and it’s just part of kia, which are white patches on the gums, gross, don’t try it and all that stuff, and I handy container. There has to be one more step behind The No. 1 answer was because they were my life now,” he said, adding he’s never inside the cheeks and sometimes on the still wanted to try it,” he said. “I knew it While the use of smokeless tobacco them because they need to have the ex- bored while travelling (44 per cent), 33 smoked cigarettes. tongue that may lead to oral cancer. was bad for me, but, I don’t know, teen- may seem nasty, it’s a habit more and cuse because there’s time pressure and per cent liked the “rush” they got from it, “I kind of associate it with good times. Tim doesn’t deny the health risks, but agers do a lot of stupid stuff.” more young athletes are picking up and there’s peer pressure at that moment.” 11 per cent said their buddies did it or it When I’m fishing, I’ll have a dip, or when thinks they’re low. He has no idea when or if he’ll quit. naively believing is less of an addiction or When young users were asked what seemed “the thing to do” and none said it I’m hanging out with my friends, I’ll have “Sure people do get the mouth cancer, “It kind of depends where my life goes,” cancer-causing threat than cigarettes. might have got them to stop, they told helped them on the ice. a dip, or in the hockey room or football but I don’t think it’s really that much that he said. “If I go play football somewhere They would be wrong, dead wrong, says him, “Get me at 12 and make sure my Eighty per cent of the same team also said room, I’ll have a dip.” you get cancer from chew than people who I’ll probably still do it, but I don’t know. one expert who’s trying to break a habit parents will flip at me the first time I use,” they had started while playing minor hockey. Four of his Grade 12 football team- smoke,” he said. “In my opinion, it’s safer.” “If I don’t play sports anymore, I don’t most often taken up by young male hock- he said, adding most kids start between Kriellaars does yearly talks with MJHL mates dip and about five on his hockey Part of his reasoning is because he think I’ll do it. I don’t think I could do it ey, baseball and football players. the ages of 12 and 16. teams about various substances, including team, but they do it before or after games. doesn’t have first-hand evidence. and not be an athlete.” “Nicotine addiction in chewers is mas- He’d like to see parents of young ath- smokeless tobacco, and volunteers evening sive,” says Dr. Dean Kriellaars, an as- letes given a card with information about and weekends with many sports teams. sociate professor with the University of smokeless tobacco when their kids are The primary settings for being intro- Manitoba’s physical therapy department. registering for sports, particularly base- duced to chew were through an older Kriellaars held a session on smoke- ball, hockey and football. brother or family member and a team Winnipeg Jets vs. Phoenix Coyotes less tobacco in sport and schools at the Some of the information could include sports setting, he said. Take flight to see your Winnipeg Jets National Physical and Health Education figures on the percentage of athletes who A survey of a Manitoba provincial baseball Great in Phoenix. Canada conference in November at the have tried or use smokeless tobacco such team found 55 per cent of players chewed, University of Manitoba. as chewing tobacco or the popular Skoal while it was the same percentage for a March 30 – April 3, 2014 Citing several surveys he’s done on or Copenhagen “snuff or dip.” University of Manitoba football team. Includes: Flight, young athletes, Kriellaars said the key to In a survey with Manitoba It doesn’t help that EsCAApes transfers, 4 nights preventing the use of smokeless tobacco Junior Hockey League play- professional ath- Exclusive CAA departures accommodations is to educate kids as young as 12 years letes are seen Experience is the best teacher. 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18 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 19 He looked like a small Walter White Butt master, health expert A drug awareness demonstration for Grade 5 students, featuring Suzanne Somers, former actress on the old sitcom Three’s Company and demon- a simulated drug raid, went somewhat awry in Indiana when a strator of the famous ThighMaster and ButtMaster, has been telling people in drug dog bit an 11-year-old student. the U.S. all about the Canadian health system. A small amount of a drug was placed on the student to show Writing in a Wall Street Journal feature hilariously entitled “The Experts” says PORT how dogs can find substances. The dog found them and chomped “I’ve had an opportunity to watch the Canadian version of affordable health on the student. care in action with all its limitations with my Canadian husband’s family.” Another victory in the war on drugs. She starts off citing an old cover of Maclean’s magazine “showing a picture of a horse on an examining table with the headline, Your Horse Can Get Better Health Care Than You.” She then claims her sister-in-law had to wait three months to get a pill to correct a simple problem. Then says her 75-year-old friend was denied FOL Cloudy, with little chance of brain treatment here “because she was too old.” She then died. John Coleman is the founder of the Weather Channel. You would think, As well, “all of my husband’s cousins are doctors. Several have moved to the U.S. because after their years then, that he know about the weather. You would be wrong. of intensive schooling, they want to reap financial rewards.” He says ice caps are not melting, sea levels are not rising and polar bears are After some controversy, the Wall Street Journal made a few corrections, including this: not endangered. They are not endangered, he says, because “Eskimos have “The cover of aMaclean’s magazine issue in 2008 showed a picture of a dog on an examining IO now become more civilized.” table with the headline “Your Dog Can Get Better Health Care Than You.” An earlier version of this post incorrectly said the photo showed and headline referred to a horse.” Quite the “expert”.

s more and more courses were added to teachers’ workloads, an editorial in the Brandon Sun heralded the HORSE CARE? WELL, SCHOOLS SHOULD TEACH THAT—AND THAT, AND THAT, AND… development. “As time goes on the demands BY GEORGE STEPHENSON made upon schools grow more and more ex- acting. It is a far cry back to the old days when readin’, ‘ritin and ‘rithmetic constituted the to- t appears teachers really don’t have enough to do. In Britain, an education official said chil- • Boxing wave of debate over how worth- tal intellectual bill of fare. At least every few months (although it seems like dren should be taught in school how to • Emotional intelligence (huh?) while it still is. “Youth must be served. We are beginning to every day) some group comes up with an idea, a “lose graciously.” • Morals No, few things are ever dropped realize that there is no more important task recommendation, a thought that: “(Fill in the Also in Britain, where apparently teach- There are many more, but suffice to say and there is, of course, the constant confronting the community than the efficient blank) should be taught in school.” ers are running out of topics, the mayor that if the complete list were somehow in- clamour that the basics should fill preparation of our boys and girls for the du- The latest that we know of is the Conference Board of London is promoting an idea that the corporated into all schools parents would more and more of a student and ties of life. To this end the three R’s have been of Canada recommending in a report that food teaching of Mandarin should be standard be left with the task of teaching their chil- teacher’s time at school. expanded into a broader curriculum. And the and nutrition education should be part of every in all schools. dren how to turn on the TV. Again, it’s not that teachers broader curriculum recognizes the necessity curriculum at least until Grade 6. And, the calls by experts and folks with In fact none of the studies seem to con- don’t have the time. The most for educating not only the head, but also the hand and heart.” It says there are “gaps and deficits in the same depth of thought as a rutabaga sider that maybe parents and not recent MTS workload survey Canadians’ knowledge and skills related to go on and on for what schools should be schools should be teaching found that the average teacher Date of publication: March 29, 1915 food.” It says we need to improve “food teaching: children how to sew on a is only putting in 50 hours a literacy” through the schools. Just add • Creationism button or that carrots are week on school-related activities. rutabagas to the three Rs. Or, by now, • Creative writing healthier than Coke. That leaves them with more than 100 other In fact, the website Cracked has made it’s probably closer to the 1,300 Rs. • Money Amazing that research- hours in the week to concentrate on teach- some valuable suggestions for modern And growing. management ers have so little faith ing social skills and Latin (because there is education and what needs to be taught Recently, an op-ed in the • Filmmaking in parents, since many a big call for that these days) and maybe a in schools: Wall Street Journal by • Chess of them probably are class on how to get by with just two hours • Sex Ed (for girls): How to Spot a actress Roma Downey • Social skills parents. Do they wish of sleep a night. Douchebag and Survivor producer • Social media now that their teach- Of course we shouldn’t immediately re- • Political Science: Why Talk Radio is Mark Burnett advo- • Practical ers had taken the time to ject all new suggestions for what should be a Terrible Source of Information cated the manda- mechanics teach them how to box? taught in schools. Times change. New issues • Social Studies: Life is Hard and Then tory teaching of • Latin As well, the studies and re- emerge. Perhaps at one time there was How You Die, Get Over It the Bible in • Sales search and the general wailing about what to Care For Your Horse and Buggy 101. • Phys Ed.: Practical Self-Defense schools. • Poetry kids are taught and should be taught never (or, how to get away) • Car maintenance includes anything about what should be • How to sew on a button dropped to make way for an examination of social media or backyard oil changes. At the moment the idea of dropping handwriting (cursive writing, as it known to the more genteel) has generated a shock

20 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 21 NEW MANITOBA TEACHER APP

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has The app brings to three the number of created an app for tablet devices that al- ways the magazine can be viewed. As well lows members to download issues of The as being in print, a PDF of the magazine Manitoba Teacher newsmagazine for free. is available on the MTS website. That ver- Development of the app was approved sion, however, has been difficult to read at the last MTS Annual General Meeting for members and is limited in the content as part of a series of recommendations we can carry. from an ad-hoc committee that exam- As we get more comfortable in design- ined all aspects of the magazine from ing the app version, it will allow for added the format to content. features such as links, video and slide- In an effort to move away from printing shows to appear with articles. paper copies for all members, it was de- Members can download the app by: cided a starting point would be creation 1. Making sure you have signed into the of an app to allow easy access to the members’ area of the MTS website. Go magazine on tablet devices such as the to the MyProfile button at the bottom iPad. The app is available for the iPad left of the home page. The password (in the Apple app store) and Android de- you create here will be the one you use vices (in the Google Play store). to download your subscription to the It was decided to develop the app af- magazine. ter learning from the annual MTS mem- 2. Go to the Apple or Google Play store, number bers’ survey that a third of the member- search for Manitoba Teacher maga- found on your member- ship (as of a year ago) was now using zine and download the app. ship card. On the second line enter your tablet devices. 3. To access copies of The Manitoba MTS password (the one used to access The committee recommended, and its Teacher, click the sign-in button at the the members’ area of the website). report was approved at the AGM, that top (the subscribe button is for people 4. That’s it. Future editions of the maga- over the next two years the numbers of who wish to purchase a subscription). zine will appear automatically in your printed copies be reduced as online and On the first line enter your membership digital newsstand for download. digital readership grows. Benevolent, bright and bold

Our province is home to many public school students who make a difference in the world through acts of compassion, creativity and courage. If you know of an individual or group of students who exhibit these qualities, nominate them for a 2014 Young Humanitarian Award. May 6 & 7, 2014 Fort Garry Hotel & Conference Centre Nomination forms can be found at: mbteach.org/yha/yha.html Deadlines for nominations: Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 4:00 PM.

CANADIAN CONFERENCE Individual students and groups will be honoured at the awards ceremony ON DEVELOPMENTAL on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at The Fairmont Hotel. DISABILITIES & AUTISM Technology to support learning, Managing challenging behaviours, Creating authentic networks 2 days packed with information you can use immediately in the classroom. CCDDA.CA

22 THE MANITOBA TEACHER JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 Celebrating Teachers – Excellence in Our Classrooms

Greg Stan Ron Jim Kerri Kevin Selinger Struthers Lemieux Rondeau Irvin-Ross Chief MLA for St. Boniface MLA for Dauphin MLA for Dawson Trail MLA for Assiniboia MLA for Fort Richmond MLA for Point Douglas Premier of Manitoba 204-622-7630 204-878-4644 204-888-7722 204-475-9433 204-421-9126 204-237-9247 StanStruthers.ca Ron-Lemieux.ca JimRondeau.mb.ca KerriIrvinRoss.ca KevinChief.ca GregSelinger.ca

Jennifer Peter Eric James Flor Andrew Howard Bjornson Robinson Allum Marcelino Swan MLA for Fort Rouge MLA for Gimli MLA for Kewatinook MLA for Fort MLA for Logan MLA for Minto 204-946-0272 204-642-4977 204-943-2274 Garry-Riverview 204-788-0800 204-783-9860 JenniferHoward.ca 1-866-253-0255 Eric-Robinson.ca 204-475-2270 FlorMarcelino.ca AndrewSwan.ca PeterBjornson.ca JamesAllum.ca

Dave Christine Erna Theresa Greg Erin Gaudreau Melnick Braun Oswald Dewar Selby MLA for St. Norbert MLA for Riel MLA for Rossmere MLA for Seine River MLA for Selkirk MLA for Southdale 204-261-1794 204-253-5162 204-667-7244 204-255-7840 204-482-7066 204-253-3918 DaveGaudreau.ca ChristineMelnick.ca ErnaBraun.ca TheresaOswald.ca 1-855-695-1361 ErinSelby.ca GregDewar.ca

Sharon Ron Frank Deanne Gord Nancy Blady Kostyshyn Whitehead Crothers Mackintosh Allan MLA for Kirkfield Park MLA for Swan River MLA for The Pas MLA for St. James MLA for St. Johns MLA for St. Vital 204-832-2318 204-734-4900 204-623-3358 204-415-0883 204-582-1550 204-237-8771 SharonBlady.ca RonKostyshyn.ca FrankWhitehead.ca DeanneCrothers.ca GordMackintosh.ca NancyAllan.ca