Teachers’ conventions and Mark your specialist council conferences SLA calendar See pages 8–9. BURDEN ATANEWS See infographic on page 3. January 17, 2017 Volume 51, Number 9 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association YUET CHAN Hallway hopping Sweating it out Alberta students jump on board activity initiative. Grade 1 student Rafael Yacob crouches inside a symbolic See story on page 4. sweat lodge created by indigenous dancing hoops during a cultural workshop at Inglewood School in Edmonton in Math concerns prompt government changes ATA president continues push for public assurance late December. Introducing students to various aspects overhaul. of indigenous culture, the event was facilitated by Dallas See story on page 5. Arcand, a world champion hoop dancer, motivational speaker and musician from the Alexander (Kipohtakaw) Opening the archives Cree Nation, located northwest of Edmonton. Association dusts off prized artifacts in preparation for centennial. See story on page 6. Online ATA account a must-have for teachers to vote in 2017 Voting on new collective agreement and in upcoming council election requires online account. See story on page 7. Publication Mail Agreement #40065477 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 ATANEWS Managing Editor: Cory Hare | [email protected] | 780-447-9438 Advertising and Business Manager: Bromley Chamberlain | [email protected] | 780-447-9417 January 17, 2017 Volume 51, Number 9 Designers: Yuet Chan and Erin Solano Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Sign up now for your ATA online account has determined that such votes will races will also be contested. to ensure you have your ATA online EDITORIAL be conducted online using the on- Your opportunity to participate and account: voting on central bargaining, line accounts made available to every have your say starts with your online voting in PEC elections and printing Jonathan Teghtmeyer member through our website at account. your membership card for teachers’ ATA News Editor-in-Chief www.teachers.ab.ca. The third important reason to ensure conventions. These three reasons are in A different and equally important you have your ATA online account addition to the other great benefits that can be accessed with your ATA online vote is already scheduled to occur on- could literally open doors for you next account, including no-cost specialist our ATA online account will open line between March 13 and 20, 2017. At month. Eight of the 10 teachers’ con- council memberships, the ATA library’s Yup some pretty important doors that time, you will be able to vote on the vention associations in the province over the next few months. online services, bargaining updates and Central table bargaining is now well the option to sign up to receive mem- underway, and it is quite reasonable Three great reasons to ensure you have your ATA online bers’ update emails. to believe that in the coming weeks Now, I know how busy teachers are, your representatives on the Central account: voting on central bargaining, voting in PEC elections and I would hate to see anyone miss out Table Bargaining Committee will need on these important functions because to hear from you on future directions. and printing your membership card for teachers’ conventions. they didn’t have their online account If an agreement is reached, then each and were worried about how long it teacher in the province will have a vote might take to sign up. Instead, don’t teachers who will represent you on PEC are using the ATA membership cards as delay. Take just a few minutes now to to decide whether the agreement is for the next two years. identification to enable entry into their ratified. If an agreement is not reached sign up or to retrieve your lost infor- The 2017 PEC election is already conventions. Those without their mem- mation. While you are logged in, you in the next month or so, a provincially shaping up to be one of the largest and bership cards risk being denied entry. can also print your membership card appointed mediator may be needed to most competitive elections the Associ- If you know where your membership and be set for convention. The process help resolve outstanding issues. A vote is quick, simple and easy. of members is required by our process- ation has had in many years. Although card is currently located, then you are Taking just a little bit of action now es to authorize your representatives to the deadline for nominations is not in good shape, but if you don’t, there is will ensure you are ready when it’s time request mediation. quite here, enough candidates have no need to worry. Simply use your ATA to act. Either way, a provincial vote of teach- already declared their intentions to en- online account to log in to our website ers on bargaining matters is reasonably sure that we will have hotly contested and print off a new card from the web- I welcome your comments—contact likely in the next few months. Your races for president and vice-president. page cards.teachers.ab.ca. me at [email protected]. Provincial Executive Council (PEC) A number of district representative So there you are. Three great reasons We’ve got ourselves an election; get involved You’re all acting professors and other certificate holders. teachers’ conventions, as well. Q & A The General Bylaws do introduce some If you have not yet set up your ATA like heathens as far further restrictions. online account so you can vote, you Gordon Thomas Given that Provincial Executive need to do so to participate in the bal- as I’m concerned. Executive Secretary Council governs the affairs of the active loting. (You also need an ATA account teaching profession, teachers who are to vote for a central table collective in receipt of an Alberta Teachers’ Re- agreement, so it’s really important to You could have tirement Fund pension are not eligible sign up.) to run for a position on Council. There But you should do more than that. Get Question: How does this election is no requirement to have experience involved. Engage with the candidates, saved taxpayers a stuff work? Can any teacher run for in local office to run for Provincial and ask them about their platform Provincial Executive Council or do you Executive Council. and their vision of the ATA. It’s a very have to have local experience? The election to fill positions on the important democratic process that’s lot of money. at the heart of your organization. And Answer: In general, an active or 2017–19 Provincial Executive Council you decide who serves on Provincial associate member may be a candidate commences this month, with nomina- Executive Council. for provincial office. In fact, to hold tion day on Jan. 18. The election period Teachers elected to Provincial Exec- office in any ATA position you need to will be underway, with voting by elec- In addressing representatives utive Council take office on July 1 for a be an active or associate member. The tronic ballot scheduled for March 13 to of the Alberta government and two-year term. The 18 teachers elected Teaching Profession Act requires this, 20. The results of the election will be the Trinity Christian School As- on March 21 will join past-president although the General Bylaws can fur- announced on March 21. sociation, Court of Queen’s Bench Mark Ramsankar on Council, and in ther expand on membership. Candidates for table officer positions Justice E.J. Simpson suggests the my role as executive secretary and Active members are teachers em- and district representative positions two sides should have reached an chief executive officer, I will continue agreement without going to court. ployed by public and separate school will be campaigning hard to win the to serve as a non-voting member. boards, excepting the superintendent of provincial election. You can read the In October the government shut schools or central office teachers who platforms of all candidates in the elec- Questions for consideration in this col- down the association over concerns opted out of ATA membership. Gener- tion issue of the ATA News, and the umn are welcome. Please address them about its financial management. ally, associate members are teachers ATA’s website will include additional to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House On Jan. 5 the two sides agreed that a government-appointed financial who can’t be active members and information from the candidates. In ([email protected]). advisor will oversee Trinity for who acquire what is essentially a pro- many parts of Alberta, there will be at least a year. fessional membership, and typically election forums, and candidates will include superintendents, charter and certainly be soliciting your vote. You As reported by Postmedia. private school teachers, education can expect to see many candidates at www.teachers.ab.ca www.facebook.com/ABteachers @albertateachers Canadian Publication Mail Agreement No. 40065477 ISSN 0001-267X Download the app now by Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to the following address: Member of Canadian Educational Press Association scanning the QR code or Editorial Office, Barnett House, 11010 142 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 2R1 Association canadienne de la presse éducationnelle searching “Alberta teachers” Telephone: 780-447-9400 in Edmonton;1-800-232-7208 toll free in Alberta in the App Store. The ATA News, January 17, 2017 3 YOUR VIEWS $15.6 MILLION ON THE TWITTERSPHERE #abed SLA BURDEN Jay Gamble @DrJayDrNo from 2013–2016 Hey, #abed teachers.