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Executive secretary reviews highlights of 2011 and 2012
The year 2012 may prove to be “a year of progress for the Association.”
Such was the observation of Dr. Gordon Thomas, ATA executive secretary, in his annual speech to ARA delegates. And while 2012 holds the promise of advancements, he described 2011 as “an interesting year.”
The year 2011 began with discussions between the Association and the Government of Alberta, as the government “was interested in reopening the final year of our five-year agreement,” said Thomas. The government proposed replacing the salary increase tied to the Alberta Average Weekly Earning index with zero, in exchange for “substantial changes to teachers’ conditions of practice” and “significant reductions” in instructional time and “limits” on assignable time. However, with the resignation of Premier Ed Stelmach, discussions ended.
The election of a new premier and a cabinet announcement that saw Thomas Lukaszuk named education minister opened the door to renewed tripartite (government, ATA and Alberta School Boards Association [ASBA]) discussions. An agreement was not reached, however, for unlike the government, the ASBA was not open to discussing teachers’ workload.
According to Thomas, a highlight of 2011 was Alison Redford’s pledge to restore $107 million in funding to school boards if elected premier, and her decisive action to do so within days of taking office. Restored funds and the resultant hiring of additional teachers was good news, said Thomas. But, despite restored funding, school boards have yet to honour fully Redford’s commitment; Alberta remains 300 teachers short of last year’s count.
Another positive story emerged from last year’s ARA, when teachers approved a budget that would maintain the Association’s full complement of clerical and intermediate staff, thereby ensuring uninterrupted service to members.
Shifting gear to 2012, Thomas reported that just prior to ARA, he and ATA President Carol Henderson met with Jeff Johnson, Alberta’s new education minister. The executive secretary told delegates that he is “very impressed with the new minister, who clearly wants to continue the close working relationship we have established with the Government of Alberta.” Thomas added that Johnson has invited the ATA and the ASBA back to the table to discuss a “framework for a new multi-year agreement” that “would include worklife issues.” Thomas is optimistic about the ATA’s relationship with the minister. “My clear sense is that the new minister is very serious about [tripartite discussions] and wants to get an agreement.” As well, the minister is aware of the issues regarding instructional and assignable time and understands that “the matter needs to be addressed.” Johnson’s extensive experience with former education minister Dave Hancock’s transformation agenda gives the new minister insight into how “Alberta’s education system can be transformed,” said the executive secretary.
Thomas is encouraged by the prospect of working with Minister Johnson and Tim Wiles, the new deputy minister of education. Achieving a framework agreement regarding collective bargaining and resolving key issues around teacher time will open the door to transformation, he said. “We may finally be at the point of action,” where “we may start to land key elements of transformation.” From the perspective of teachers, “the road is fairly straightforward,” he said. The future will be “defined by teaching quality, and our ability to continue to be one of the very best performing education systems in the world.” However, the future hinges on adequate time for teachers to plan and prepare lessons, to work with colleagues and to assess student learning. “Without time,” Thomas warned, “the system starts to fail.”
Although the road ahead may appear straightforward, it is marked by potholes and speed bumps. Thomas cited an ever-expanding and increasingly unwieldy provincial program of studies. The solution, he said, is to adopt a “model of core curriculum, where the province sets key content and teachers, working in their school communities, take it from there.” Such a step would give teachers a say in what students learn in their school communities. As a bonus, professional collaboration between schools would increase, “resulting in even more powerful lessons and student engagement.”
Greater reliance on professional teacher assessment, wraparound services, early learning and restoring the class size initiative would all be welcome outcomes of a renewed impetus for educational transformation, Thomas said. Personalization of learning and technology’s role in teaching and learning must also be addressed. Further, a major feature of transformation relates to granting the ATA the responsibility for practice standards: “in other words, to hand over teacher certification so that the role of Alberta’s teachers is similar to the role played by doctors, lawyers, engineers and many others in governing their own professions.”
A tradition of the executive secretary’s annual address is to acknowledge ARA honorees, ATA officials and staff, and people who have made a difference in education. Thomas acknowledged that ATA President Carol Henderson had endured an extremely challenging year. “Carol’s sudden illness last summer was a big surprise for all of us and her immediate admission to hospital for aggressive treatment was worrying.” Needless to say, ATA staff and teachers are “absolutely delighted to have her back, cancer-free and getting stronger,” he said.
Thomas paid tribute to ATA Past President Frank Bruseker, who was recently elected president of the Calgary Public Teachers local. When teachers first elected Bruseker ATA president in 2003, they not only elected a former Liberal MLA but they elected a president who then premier Ralph Klein loathed, Thomas said. They also elected the person who would “pave the way to resolve the unfunded liability of the Teachers’ Pension Plan.”
ARA honorees Dr. Ernie Clintberg and Dr. Sandra Anderson were singled out for special mention, as was Keray Henke, retiring deputy minister of education. “In his administration of Alberta Education, [Henke] restored the close working relationship with Alberta’s teachers, a natural product of his evident and profound respect for the teaching profession,” Thomas said.
The executive secretary closed by thanking delegates for their commitment to the democratic governance of the ATA.
