Teachers convention opens today

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on February 23, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Southwestern Alberta public school teachers will be meeting in person for two days of convention at the University of Lethbridge starting this morning.

The South West Alberta Teachers Convention Association will be drawing 2,000 delegates to hear 152 speakers. Teachers will have more than 100 workshops available to attend during the convention.

Alberta Teachers Association president Jason Schilling in an online address welcomed teachers to the first in-person convention since 2020.

Schilling spent 17 years teaching English and drama at Kate Andrews in Coaldale. In his address, Schilling said as a teacher he remembers his own time spent at conventions and how he looked forward to the learning and connections he made with colleagues.

“As we enter this year’s convention season, I would like to thank the teachers who volunteered their time to organize such world-class professional” events for their colleagues, he said.

Conventions provide teachers a chance to learn new things and to improve their professional practice which helps them enhance students’ learning, said Schilling.

“Convention is also an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the value of learning and the importance of public education,” Schilling added.

The ATA offers teachers several opportunities to enhance their professional development including workshops on professional matters such as the new Code of Conduct as well as Indigenous education, Schilling said.

“Let’s write our own story about public education and not let others write it for us. When we combine our voices together and stand for education we make a difference. The curriculum is a good example. We were left out of its development and implementation plan but we used our voices and raised objections that this curriculum is not in the best interests of students,” Schilling added.

“We worked with others who had an interest in education, such as parents, universities and other education partners to ensure the government heard our message. Together we were able to make the government step back from their initial plan of replacing the entire curriculum of K to 6. If we don’t take the lead on issues in education, then who will?” Schilling asked.

Teachers have experienced years of significant challenges and changes, he said.

“Now more than ever we need to use our collective professional voices to change the story, to put forward a hopeful vision for the future of education. We have an opportunity this spring to bring education to the minds of Albertans, to stand strong for public education, to show all political parties that education is important,” Schilling added.

He said an education campaign was started with a rally last October at the Alberta legislature that drew more than 5,000 supporters from across the province to demonstrate the importance of public education and to bring forward teachers hopes for the future of education.

“Now we’re hearing from Albertans across the province in roundtable events. We’ve heard that Albertans want smaller class sizes and more support for the learning and emotional needs of students.

“Albertans are asking for modern curriculum that will prepare students for the future and we’re asking for a public education system that is properly funded,” Schilling added.

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