Volume 52, Number 5 News Publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
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FROM THE ARCHIVES Indigenous role model recognized as one of Will the real Bruno Gerussi please Canada’s best. stand up? See story on page 4. See story on page 8. Learn from the past. Inspire the future. October 24, 2017 Volume 52, Number 5 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association Project Overseas makes a difference Alberta teachers share their experiences with international co-operation. See pages 6 and 7. SUPPLIED Explaining the teacher discipline process. See infographic on page 3, feature story on page 5. INVESTIGATIONS HEARINGS SUSPENSIONS & EXPULSIONS Social Engineering 101 Teachers sprint their way We can’t ignore our colonial past. to classroom solutions Read Jonathan Teghtmeyer’s ATA program experiencing editorial on page 2. exponential growth. See story on page 4. Income taxed Financial resources are at the Local agreements root of food insecurity. delivering improvements Read Viewpoints on page 3. Mediation expected in some locals as bargaining continues. Publication Mail Agreement #40065477 See story on page 5. 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 Acting Advertising and Business Manager: Renee Hughes | [email protected] | 780-447-9417 October 24, 2017 Volume 52, Number 5 Designers: Erin Solano and Kim vanderHelm Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Let’s not throw a blanket over our colonial past only recently — at the Calgary Begin- EDITORIAL ning Teachers’ Conference — had the opportunity to participate. Wow! The awareness will begin with our profession as we work Jonathan Teghtmeyer While I have come to learn of many ATA News Editor-in-Chief of the injustices put upon our Indig- to inform and educate children about this history, but I enous peoples through 500 years of colonization, I had never had a full ap- am also hopeful that the education and awareness can preciation for the accumulative weight he white European man walked up of these actions until participating in extend to the generations of adult Canadians who will Tto me and told me that since I had this great experiential learning activity. gained a university education, I would And yet, at the same time, there was not get them through schools. be enfranchised. a great deal of new learning too. “Now step off your blanket,” he said. The calls to action of the Truth and In the Kairos blanket exercise, an ar- Reconciliation Commission (TRC) are ray of blankets spread across the floor spurring a national awakening to the Unfortunately, despite the recom- of common knowledge and skills, but are used to signify the land of Turtle troubling residential school experience mendations of the TRC, there is still it is also sharing the values that are Island (aka North America). Partici- and that is spurring the spread of this some resistance to the history of col- common to the society. pants, taking on roles as Indigenous important learning through programs onization being included in new cur- I will not apologize for thinking that persons, walk their way through 500 like our Walking Together project. But riculum. Some — including a few very those values should include respect for years of history. As blankets are folded there is still much work to do. influential people — believe that ed- diversity and support for an inclusive up and participants separated from Unfortunately, as I read social me- ucation about colonization is a sign of and cohesive society, and that they each other, this signifies the removal of dia commentary on news stories or problematic “social engineering” being should be informed by an understand- land and the placement of Indigenous listen to talk radio call-in shows, it is embedded into the curriculum by the ing of how Canada’s colonial past has peoples on scattered, segregated and absolutely clear that Canada’s roots of NDP government. worked against the same values. suppressed reserves. racism against Indigenous people are It’s ridiculous. You know what If this is social engineering, so be it. Under the federal government’s en- dug in deep. As Canadians, we all have was social engineering? Residential franchisement policy, all First Nations a journey of reconciliation to complete schools. You know what else was social On a side note, I am very sad- people who became teachers, doctors, and I, like most other white Canadians, engineering? A system designed to dened by the recent passing of lawyers or soldiers were rewarded with am still ashamedly working through keep young Albertans, like me, from one of my favourite musicians, the full colonial citizenship. some deeply engrained stereotypes. learning about residential schools. I Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie. His It sure didn’t feel like a reward. But education and learning are an didn’t really know about them until I songs taught us about important Rather, I was being kicked off the last important part of that. was well into my 20s — and already moments in Canadian history and little bit of land that I had left and sep- The awareness will begin with our practising as a teacher. geography. I am grateful that he arated from my people who remained profession as we work to inform and Nevertheless, this causes me to shared his music with us and also on the blanket. I was enfranchised, but educate children about this history, but reflect. Some of my colleagues in the grateful that he chose to use his in the process, I was being stripped of I am also hopeful that the education Professional Development program spotlight to shine some light on my legal Indian status and much of my and awareness can extend to the gen- area point out to me that education issues facing Canada’s Indigenous identity as an aboriginal person. erations of adult Canadians who will is social engineering. Curriculum is people. ❚ The Kairos blanket exercise is a not get them through schools. I wish social engineering. profound and moving experience. I had every Canadian could experience the Through public education, society I welcome your comments — contact heard many great things about it, but blanket exercise. is instilling into its young people a set me at [email protected]. ‘Pedagogical supervisor’ a position that raises questions things by your principal or by others who teacher’s professional practice, this Q & A serve as an agent of the board. position does not really line up with That said, it is highly doubtful that a the support requests made by teach- And there it was. Gordon Thomas lawful order can compromise your stat- ers. We hear calls for more support for ATA Executive Secretary utory obligations to teach competently inclusion, for complex classrooms and Boom. and to follow the program of studies. for reduced class sizes. Establishing You are responsible for meeting the a pedagogical supervisor to engage Big place for room requirements of the Teaching Quality in surveillance and provide feedback Standard and you must adhere to the wouldn’t be anywhere near the top of I’m to be visited by a for improvement Question: Code of Professional Conduct. a teacher’s support wish list. “pedagogical supervisor” from central A pedagogical supervisor cannot I would encourage you to advise your of basic skills. office who is going to tell me how to replace the principal, whose responsi- pedagogical supervisor of the supports teach. Do I have to put up with this? bilities with respect to teachers are also that you require to improve your ability I’ve taught for 20 years and I know what established in the School Act. I have no- to meet your professional obligations I’m doing. ticed a significant increase in positions as a teacher. Those would be the most Answer: Let’s start at the beginning. like this one in the past two years. constructive conversations to have. If If the goal of the pedagogical super- You hold a certificate of qualification to your pedagogical supervisor seeks to Education Minister David visor is to provide surveillance of the teach in Alberta, and that means that direct your professional practice, you Eggen reacting to news teacher to central office, it is a waste you must adhere to section 18 of the should contact Barnett House or the that about one-third of of money and serves to undermine the Southern Alberta Regional Office and School Act, which sets out your statutory Grade 6 students failed the role of the teacher and the principal. ask to speak to a Member Services ex- duties as a teacher. They include teaching no-calculator portion of the If the goal is to direct the teacher’s ecutive staff officer. ❚ competently and following the program professional practice, that may cross 2016–17 PAT math exam of studies approved by the minister of into the teacher’s statutory duties. A Questions for consideration in this col- that he introduced last year. education. You are also an employee of teacher’s instructional duties are not umn are welcome. Please address them As reported by Postmedia. a school board and you can be directed to be handed off to a pedagogical su- to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House lawfully, as an employee, to do certain pervisor. 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