2018 SEE The 4 Stages of PAGES 8 AND 9. Summer PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS See infographic on page 3. Learn from the past. Inspire the future. June 12, 2018 Volume 52, Number 19 News Publication of The Alberta Teachers’ Association CORY HARE Jen Kish, former captain of Canada’s Women’s Sevens Rugby Team, speaks at W.P. Wagner High School in Edmonton on June 6. Her former high school (and Edmonton’s mayor) declared the day Jen Kish Day. Kish recently announced her retirement due to injury. Her message to students was to love themselves enough to make good choices in life. Calling retired teachers Let’s make change Public education needs your Properly funded inclusion wisdom and voice. model is worth fighting for. Read Jonathan Teghtmeyer’s Read Viewpoints on page 3. editorial on page 2. From the Archives The wisdom of elders New teachers’ organization Indigenous knowledge keepers makes an impressive entrance. share their views on reconciliation, See story on page 4. education and the future. See page 7. Going international Partnerships provide once-in-a- Golden milestone lifetime opportunities. Volunteer not slowing down after 50 years. See page 6. See story on page 11. This … Whew, it’s summer! See page 5. from ATA President Greg Jeffery 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: Jen Janzen | [email protected] | 780-447-9417 June 12, 2018 Volume 52, Number 19 Designers: Erin Solano and Kim vanderHelm Copy Editors: ATA Editorial Staff Retired teachers: Lend us your power! You now join the large list of ATA life At the same time we are moving into Association president Floyd Sweet. EDITORIAL members — and I would like a minute a provincial election where the politi- Booi said that he believed most teach- to speak to all of our retired teacher cal parties are positioning a number of ers were motivated to become teachers Jonathan Teghtmeyer readers. And I know you’re listening. issues related to education as election because of the simple desire to “make ATA News Editor-in-Chief I am always impressed and amazed wedge issues: building new schools, a difference.” But he also shared some- by our large and loyal retiree reader- education funding, school choice, cur- thing similar that Sweet had to say ship. The ATA News receives a large riculum and supports for sexual and about retired teachers. amount of feedback and submissions gender minority students. “Well, Larry, just because you are he countdown is on and there is And so, I have been thinking about no longer employed by a school board nothing like the feeling of the last from retired teachers. And I also hear T the power of our retired teachers. doesn’t mean that you stop being day of school. As teachers, we are pretty regularly from retired teachers who I won’t assume that retired teachers a teacher.” lucky to get that experience each year. say they enjoy reading the News — and have a ton of free time. There is no Well, retirees, you never stop being But some of you are headed toward that they enjoy having the time now to doubt that you have earned the right a teacher, you never stop caring about your last, last day of school. read the News. Well, I enjoy hearing from you. Please to spend more time with family, to get children and our future, and I do not I can only imagine how bittersweet to the gardening and housework you keep that feedback coming in. But I believe that you ever stop wanting to that must be, with the regular antic- have always wanted to do, to travel the have a request for you. make a difference. ipation of summer, the added enthu- world and to pick up a new hobby or The year ahead will be an interesting I’m hoping you will help us out in the siasm of not having to go back in the practise the one that you weren’t able year for public education. The Alberta year ahead by talking with your family, fall combined with a strong sense of to do when you were working. friends, neighbours, MLAs and can- melancholy marking the end of your economy is recovering from recession But I’m hopeful that you might be didates about public education. Write career. Oh yeah, and don’t forget all and the provincial treasury is improving. able to access some of that time to help letters (to me, to the local paper, to your the added work associated with pack- But yet there is still a significant deficit, out your colleagues and the students MLA), meet candidates for election and ing up a classroom. growing debt and pressure to bring the that you have always shown such For those who are retiring, I would budget into balance. dedication and commitment to. I’m get involved in political campaigns. like to take a moment to congratulate In schools, class sizes are at the larg- hoping that you might see advocacy You know what students need, what you on your achievements, your est they’ve been in at least two decades, and participation in support of public teachers need and what public educa- accomplishments, and a successful and more English-language learners education as a valuable and rewarding tion needs to be the difference. I look career and retirement. I also want and students with complex needs are way to spend some of the time that you forward to hearing your voice. ❚ to thank you, on behalf of your col- included in classrooms without ad- used to use for work. I welcome your comments — contact leagues and the profession, for all equate supports. These two issues At last month’s 100th-anniversa- me at [email protected]. of your service for students and the are the top priorities for teachers as ry celebratory banquet, former ATA cause of public education in Alberta. bargaining approaches for collective president Larry Booi told attendees All the best in retirement. agreements that expire in the fall. about former Alberta Retired Teachers’ Non-partisan doesn’t mean apolitical maintains contact with all major po- in the importance of education and teachers, as citizens, in the political pro- Q & A litical parties,” while 14.A.16 stipulates public knowledge of the aims of edu- cess, including through partisan activity.” that “the Alberta Teachers’ Association cation, financial support for education, Ultimately, the power of the profes- Dennis Theobald and its subgroups are prohibited from and other education matters” (sections sion is maximized when the largest ATA Executive making financial contributions to par- 4(a) and (c)). number of individual teachers are ac- ties or candidates for political office.” The implications of this mandate tively engaged in the political life of the Secretary The ATA’s approach is not necessarily for the political activity of the Asso- province by participating, supporting Question: In a recent Q&A, you consistent with the practices of other ciation are set out in policy as well: and funding the political parties that were highly critical of a United Con- teachers’ organizations in Canada. In policy 14.A.1 states that the Association best represent their beliefs. servative Party (UCP) policy to divide British Columbia and Ontario, for ex- “works within the political system to Walking the non-partisan line can be the ATA into two separate organi- ample, some teachers’ organizations influence decisions affecting educa- tricky at times, and one concern I have zations: a union and a professional have chosen to formally align them- tion” while 14.A.2 says the Association is that the Association’s ability to have association. How can you criticize the selves with, or actively and explicitly “undertakes both formal and informal meaningful dialogue with all political UCP when the ATA is supposed to be support, individual political parties. political engagement.” parties depends largely on the willing- non-partisan? Throughout the history of the Associa- For the most part, the Association’s ness of every party to have meaningful tion, its leaders have been of the mind political activities are educative: we dialogue with the Association. Presi- Answer: Well, this may be the first that such an approach does not yield try to highlight to the public, to elected dent Greg Jeffery’s letter to Jason Ken- time we’ve run a Q&A on a Q&A, the best results for teachers. When the leaders and to civil servants teachers’ ney following the UCP convention was but the question is an important one party supported by the teachers’ orga- concerns and then advocate for legis- an effort to initiate a conversation with and highlights some important issues nization is in power, it is all too easy lation, policy and funding consistent the UCP leader — unfortunately we around the role of the Alberta Teachers’ for politicians to take for granted the with the extensive body of policy that have not yet heard back from him, but Association in the political life of the teachers’ contribution to their success. has been approved by the Annual we continue to be open to a dialogue. province. When a hostile government is in place, Representative Assembly. To this end, Finally, we are non-partisan because To start with, the Association is, it has scant motivation to accommodate policy 14.A.11 states that the Associ- the work of political engagement is by policy, non-partisan.