Curriculum development begins LONG DAYS... Experts gather to begin long process. LIMITED VALUE? See story on page 5. ATANEWS Non-instructional days on the rise See infographic on page 3. October 11, 2016 Volume 51, Number 4 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association Schools rally around Orange Shirt Day See pages 8 and 9 for coverage. CORY HARE Melissa Purcell (far right), a teacher employed with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education, Edmonton Public Schools, leads a group of indigenous dancers during the launch of Orange Shirt Day at Edmonton’s city hall on Friday, Sept. 30. They danced for healing for residential school survivors, their families and the community. CTF Corner New feature showcases work of national counterparts at the Canadian Teachers’ Federation. See page 4. Back to school Cabin fever Unemployed tradespeople consider teaching as a career option. Construction program provides students with real-world experience. See story on page 5. See story on page 7. teachers.ab.ca WHAT’S ONLINE? New issue of the ATA Magazine: International Partnerships Official ATA iOS app Registration open: Leadership Essentials for Administrators Teacher Qualifications Service 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: Kim Dewar | [email protected] | 780-447-9436 October 11, 2016 Volume 51, Number 4 Designers: Yuet Chan and Erin Solano Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Make your voice heard on testing issues about what exactly he is planning to do testing model for our students.” related matters. Inordinate and unnec- EDITORIAL about PATs and other standardized and Because the Association’s long-stand- essary attention is paid to these instru- international tests,” said Smith. ing policy to eliminate PATs is voted on ments by the media, trustees, school Jonathan Teghtmeyer A Calgary parent group posted a every three years with near unanimity board administrators and even parents. ATA News Editor-in-Chief release that suggested some sort of among 500 teachers at the Annual Rep- We need to talk about how this pressure backroom deal between Eggen and the resentative Assembly, I found it odd that is eroding rich learning in schools. Association. The group’s spokesperson a teacher as education minister and a We know three things principal- said that Alberta Education has “es- teacher as education critic would trade ly about standardized tests: (1) they ast month, an editorial I wrote in sentially given the union control over barbs over protecting standardized measure parental income levels are Lthis paper on changes to the Grade curriculum development” and this, tests. most effective at; (2) they assess only a 6 math Provincial Achievement Test combined with my editorial, according But I suppose this is recognition that small fraction of the learning that goes (PAT) made some waves after a state- to the group confirmed that a secret we still have work to do with the public on in schools; and (3) the results come ment in it drew the attention of some, agreement must exist. and elected officials over issues with too late to actually help students who including the Wildrose Party. I closed need it. the column by stating that tweaks to So, whether or not you are teaching Grade 3, whether or not We also need to tell our stories about PATs will be irrelevant once the tests the Student Learning Assessments have been eliminated “as promised.” (SLAs). The minister is assessing the Of course, I was referring to the May you are in the pilot this year, your experience related to SLAs value of these tools now as well. So, 2013 announcement made by then whether or not you are teaching Grade education minister Jeff Johnson that 3, whether or not you are in the pilot PATs would be ended and replaced with needs to be considered before important decisions are made. this year, your experience related to beginning-of-the-year assessments. SLAs needs to be considered before Yet, three years later, we still have PATs. I wish we had a firm agreement with standardized testing. important decisions are made. The response to the “as promised” Eggen to finally eliminate PATs. We do Teachers need to tell their stories If Minister Eggen is “committed to clause in reference to the elimination not. I was merely hoping to push the about the harmful impacts of the finding the best testing model for our of PATs was interesting to say the least. minister to confirm his intention to 35-year-old PAT regime, not just the students,” then teachers need to make Wildrose education critic and former move forward on the last stated public stress that students experience, but their voices heard. ❚ position of the government on PATs: to also the stress that is placed on class- teacher Mark Smith challenged current I welcome your comments—contact education minister David Eggen to clar- get rid of them. rooms in general. I think many people me at [email protected]. ify his position on standardized testing. Eggen did reply to the Wildrose state- would be surprised to learn how many “With the ATA seeming to set the ment. In a tweet, he wrote, “We are not people-hours are spent in meetings agenda about standardized testing, removing standardized tests. What I and board-directed staff development Minister Eggen needs to provide clarity have committed to is finding the best days discussing PAT results and various The profession and the union The Association does stand members under the Labour Relations Q & A Code and the Public Education Col- up for its members. But we lective Bargaining Act. Since 1942, the Gordon Thomas Association has held the bargaining It’s just really also protect the public and certificates for our active members Executive Secretary across the province. We routinely rep- the profession from the resent our members when there are concerns that parents or others may sad to see that I read that a teacher was Question: unacceptable professional be unreasonable. Bullying a teacher is hounded by a parent for disciplining entirely unacceptable, but that’s very their child and hauled in front of a conduct of members, different from a complaint filed under the kids are professional conduct committee and the Teaching Profession Act about a threatened with the loss of the teach- including taking action that teacher’s professional conduct. In rare er’s career. This is getting ridiculous. and very extreme cases, the Association I’m tired of teachers being bullied by can remove members from has initiated civil action against indi- missing out. parents. Why doesn’t my union stand viduals who defamed teachers, and we up for me? the profession of teaching. have won substantial awards through the courts. Answer: Whoa. Let’s start with some a complaint is received, I am required to So the Association does stand up for facts. The Alberta Teachers’ Association investigate the complaint and to consid- its members. But we also protect the was established under the Teaching er whether the concerns raised in the public and the profession from the Profession Act, first passed in 1934, and investigation warrant a hearing. Where Alethea Wallace, principal, unacceptable professional conduct our objects outline our statutory obliga- there is sufficient evidence of unpro- of members, including taking action Alexis School, tions. One of our obligations is to pro- fessional conduct, I order a hearing of that can remove members from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation the Professional Conduct Committee. tect the public and the profession from profession of teaching. Our obligations The Association’s responsibility is to conduct that is unacceptable. Conduct include both professional regulatory protect the public and the profession, Responding to a news report standards are set by the Association and union functions. that First Nations schools are and appear as the Code of Professional so our role is to present our concerns to If you have further questions about Conduct, approved by our Annual Rep- the hearing committee. The Association our obligations, feel free to contact me lagging behind provincially- resentative Assembly. does not represent the member whose at Barnett House. ❚ funded schools due to chronic A process has been established to professional conduct has been called underfunding and systemic address allegations of unprofessional into question. Questions for consideration in this conduct, and any person can lodge a While we have very clear obligations column are welcome. Please address shortfalls. As reported by the CBC. complaint about the conduct of any to protect the public and the profession, them to Gordon Thomas at Barnett active member of the Association. When we also have responsibilities to our House ([email protected]). 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, October 11, 2016 ❚ 3 LONG DAYS... YOUR VIEWS LIMITED VALUE? ON THE TWITTERSPHERE Tweets from #WorldTeachersDay Some school divisions are filling up teachers’ time with an increasing number of working days or part days (through early dismissal) without Rachel Notley @RachelNotley students present.