My initial reaction to the Calgary Board of Education coming out against the current teacher collective agreement with the province was WOW, that's out of character, standing up for what they believe in. Then you read the linked release and see what it is that they stand for. They say "Benefits for students are conspicuously absent from the agreement.
Based on our analysis, we conclude this is not a good deal for students." but do not address any issues that affect students.
They say "We are concerned that the proposed agreement gives individual teachers exclusive control over their professional learning." also "Excellent teachers benefit from the support of visionary leaders who see the future of education. These leaders connect teachers to a vision through professional learning, which is at its best when it exists as a collaboration among professionals. If individual teachers solely direct what becomes their personal learning, how does a school district advance a common vision for student success? " Reminds me of a book I read in school called "Animal Farm".
Today, Don Braid of the Herald wrote an excellent column I encourage you to read on these issues and what they reveal about the Administrative culture at the CBE. I would like to discuss the culture of the Board of Trustee's. The comments I quoted above show a clear willingness of this board of Trustee's to follow the will of Administration. Chair Pat Cochrane said in a Metro article by Jeremy Nolais "she wasn’t worried about local relationships being impacted. She added a “one size fits all” approach may not work for Alberta school boards." But Frank Bruseker of the teachers association said in the same article “They’re making some pretty direct comments and I would say this kind of letter is not helpful,”.
They are fighting to keep administrators and are willing to throw the front line teachers under the bus to do so. The board decided to not support this agreement in a private meeting and I suspect it was not unanimous? Therefore individual trustee's, running for election in October, are not on the record for their own beliefs about this agreement. So are we fighting the good fight? Against the Government who is the sole source of your funding and against the teachers who are the front lines of delivering education to students, and for the bureaucracy. That is the question I would ask myself as a Trustee.
I had an opportunity to ask my current Trustee a question last evening at the North East Community Presidents meeting. "Now that you have come out against the agreement, what happens next?" She replied "That's the thing, we don't know"
UPDATE: News surfaced last night that indicate the board during this same private meeting voted 5-2 for raises to upper and middle management. Another clear statement by the board.
They say "We are concerned that the proposed agreement gives individual teachers exclusive control over their professional learning." also "Excellent teachers benefit from the support of visionary leaders who see the future of education. These leaders connect teachers to a vision through professional learning, which is at its best when it exists as a collaboration among professionals. If individual teachers solely direct what becomes their personal learning, how does a school district advance a common vision for student success? " Reminds me of a book I read in school called "Animal Farm".
Today, Don Braid of the Herald wrote an excellent column I encourage you to read on these issues and what they reveal about the Administrative culture at the CBE. I would like to discuss the culture of the Board of Trustee's. The comments I quoted above show a clear willingness of this board of Trustee's to follow the will of Administration. Chair Pat Cochrane said in a Metro article by Jeremy Nolais "she wasn’t worried about local relationships being impacted. She added a “one size fits all” approach may not work for Alberta school boards." But Frank Bruseker of the teachers association said in the same article “They’re making some pretty direct comments and I would say this kind of letter is not helpful,”.
They are fighting to keep administrators and are willing to throw the front line teachers under the bus to do so. The board decided to not support this agreement in a private meeting and I suspect it was not unanimous? Therefore individual trustee's, running for election in October, are not on the record for their own beliefs about this agreement. So are we fighting the good fight? Against the Government who is the sole source of your funding and against the teachers who are the front lines of delivering education to students, and for the bureaucracy. That is the question I would ask myself as a Trustee.
I had an opportunity to ask my current Trustee a question last evening at the North East Community Presidents meeting. "Now that you have come out against the agreement, what happens next?" She replied "That's the thing, we don't know"
UPDATE: News surfaced last night that indicate the board during this same private meeting voted 5-2 for raises to upper and middle management. Another clear statement by the board.
