October 15, 2019 Volume 54, Number 3 News Publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association
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The most wonderful Off Script time of the year. with ATA President Jason Schilling See page 4. Off Script #MyClassSizeIs with ATA President Jason Schilling Tell your classroom story to your MLA. See editorial on page 2. October 15, 2019 Volume 54, Number 3 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association Project Overseas Teachers share life-changing travel experiences. | See pages 8-10. It’s a race Award winner Two candidates step Research into reading forward in Calgary District difficulties nets award for Candidates byelection. U of A education prof. See page 4. See story on page 7. Education minister Teacher participation touts funding review Getting into the spirit on Q&A with Orange Shirt Day and World Adriana LaGrange. Teachers’ Day. See page 5. Page 16. EVERY Success Stories CHI M TTEA LD Lunch program helps RS hundreds of students. See story on page 6. 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 Managing Editor: Cory Hare | [email protected] | 780-447-9438 Advertising: Clevers Media | [email protected] | 1-778-773-9397 October 15, 2019 Volume 54, Number 3 Designer: John Labots Graphic Design Inc. Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Write a letter for public education of that apartment and eventually bought were being asked to do more for less. By than they were in 2002. Eighty per cent EDITORIAL a place of her own. my second year of teaching, teachers had of K – 3 classrooms exceed recommended This is around the time Ralph Klein had enough. guidelines, and that’s not accounting for Jonathan Teghtmeyer became premier. My parents were both It was 2001/02, and I saw teachers and increased complexity. Too many students ATA News Editor-in-Chief public sector workers, and their work- the Alberta Teachers’ Association taking go without the specialized supports and places became more stressful as layoffs a principled stand to protect and promote services they require for success. intensified the work while anxiety about public education. I knew then that I had The road ahead looks rough for educa- further job losses rose. to join the fight. grew up in a lower middle-class tion funding. I worry about more cuts to My father nearly led his union local And we won that fight. It wasn’t easy — I neighbourhood in northeast supports and services that students and on strike as management pushed for a nearly two-thirds of members walked off teachers rely on. Edmonton. My father was a public sec- 33 per cent wage rollback. Both parents tor plumber and my mom suspended We need to speak out. I am asking you survived successive rounds of layoffs, but to join me, the Association and your col- her nursing career to stay home and they could hold on only so long. Mom was leagues in the fight for public education. raise the children. I was the youngest eventually laid off and dad was pushed We cannot allow the turmoil of the 1990s of five kids. into early retirement. We need to to be repeated. We didn’t have a ton of money, but we As an adolescent growing up through lived a decent, modest life. this, I came to understand clearly that speak out ... we The first step is the #MyClassSizeIs let- When I was seven, my parents divorced. education would be fundamentally impor- ter writing campaign that we launched My mother moved into a low-end rental in tant for me. Working hard at school, going cannot allow the this fall. Your ATA school representative Edmonton’s Beverly neighbourhood with to university and getting a good education has received a pad of letter templates that two of my siblings, while my brother and I represented a pathway out of poverty. turmoil of the 1990s we are asking you to use to send a quick stayed to live with Dad. My other brother But I knew our struggles were not note to your MLA. Tell the story of your left home at 16. unique. I saw many families around to be repeated. classroom, share your letter on social The next few years came with struggles. me with the same or worse challenges. media and return it to your school rep so My mother, battling depression, went on Education represented hope for them and we can send it to your MLA. social assistance. My dad had the costs of for society generally. I decided education By coming together and engaging all of one household while also paying support would not just be my goal, but it would the job — but we won a fair arbitration for our colleagues, we can ensure that pub- for the second household. also be my purpose. And by 2000, I was a salary and a commission on learning that lic education remains a priority and that I am incredibly proud of my mom, teacher with my own classroom. brought about recommendations on class it continues to live up to the promise that though. She worked hard to get back The challenges affecting my parents’ size and learning conditions. it offers for all Albertans. ❚ up on her own feet. She went back to work were also affecting teachers. Class Unfortunately, colleagues, it feels like school and ultimately returned to nursing. sizes were large, students weren’t getting we are headed back to that dark place. I welcome your comments—contact Within a couple of years she moved out the supports they needed, and teachers Already, our class sizes are now larger me at [email protected]. Strike action isn’t an option … yet are met, the most fundamental being be subject to disciplinary measures up avenue open to them is to take strike Q & A that the collective agreement between to and including dismissal with cause. action. In such an event, the Association the union and the employer must be While the Association, in fulfillment of would ensure that members are fully Dennis Theobald expired and that the parties must have its duty of fair representation, would informed before proceeding intention- entered into bargaining. Currently, an do its best to defend a teacher in this ally, democratically and legally. ATA Executive agreement is in place on central mat- circumstance, our options would be In the meantime, Association bargain- Secretary ters between the Alberta Teachers’ very limited and the prospects for the ing units are busy. They are undertak- Association and the Teachers’ Employer teacher would not be good. ing local bargaining within the context Question: Like a lot of teachers, I Bargaining Association (TEBA) until Several teachers taking action in con- of the current 2018–20 collective agree- am very frustrated by the delay in our Aug. 31, 2020. This means that any cert could also be deemed to be engag- ment and preparing for the round ahead. arbitration and the suggestion in the strike action regarding salary or any ing in an illegal strike. Not only would As an individual teacher, you can help Mackinnon Report that the government other matter within the scope of the these teachers run the risk of being by engaging in the Association’s advo- should limit or even cut teacher sala- central agreement would be unlawful, subject to sanctions or dismissal indi- cacy efforts to raise government and ries. My friends and I are fed up and and none of the protections provided vidually, the Association, as the teach- public awareness of issues affecting want to “work to rule” and perhaps take for striking workers under labour law ers’ union, would be expected by the teaching and learning conditions, and other labour actions to make our point. would have effect. Labour Relations Board to take imme- by actively participating in local meet- Will the Alberta Teachers’ Association diate steps to bring the action to a stop. ings and activities around bargaining. support us? Failure to do so would likely result in Currently we are encouraging teachers the Association being penalized. In the to write a letter to their MLA through Answer: While I appreciate your case of widespread illegal action, there is the #MyClassSizeIs campaign. You can frustration, what you are suggesting is The right to precedent for the courts to impose fines keep on top of provincial developments illegal and could have very serious con- strike is a powerful in the hundreds of thousands or millions by reading the ATA News and updates sequences for you, your friends and the of dollars in addition to other adminis- posted to the members-only section of Association. tool ... and is very trative sanctions on the union involved. the provincial website at www.teach- In Alberta, a strike is defined as “a The right to strike is a powerful tool ers.ab.ca (to access secure areas of the cessation of work, a refusal to work, or much an instrument available to unions and is very much site you will have to ensure you have a refusal to continue to work, by two an instrument of last resort. While the updated your member profile). or more employees for the purpose of Association is proceeding to arbitration of last resort. Finally, it is not too early to begin to compelling their employer to agree to determined to achieve the best possi- plan for an interruption in income that terms or conditions of employment.” ble outcome for the current agreement, would result should strike action be This definition includes any depar- we are under no illusion that the next necessary.