The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Question: It’s time to mobilize teachers. If the Wildrose Alliance Party wins, they will undermine public education, promote charter and private schools, declare education an essential service and take action against the Association. Why are we doing nothing?

Answer: Whoa. We have received quite a few inquiries from members in the past week, calling for particular forms of political action or endorsement of a party. But the Association maintains a strict nonalignment policy. I ­recognize that this is different from what other teachers’ organizations in Canada do. Some work closely with the New Democratic Party or through organized labour; some support a particular political party in provincial ­election campaigns (British Columbia and Ontario are examples). The Association does not do so. Rather, we relay information to members from various political parties and encourage our members to participate in the political process. This edition of the ATA News includes a summary of the education platform of each party. In addition, the Association has sponsored two education forums: an actual one at Barnett House a few weeks ago and an electronic one in the form of a telephone town hall on April 3, in which over 10,000 members participated. We’ve also established a special website, www.vote4kids.ca, that has information on the provincial general election. We’re supporting Student Vote, to facilitate and promote a parallel election for students in conjunction with the provincial general election. We have produced lawn signs and bumper stickers promoting public education in Alberta. We hope our members will engage with the election issues, consider the future of public education and make an informed choice as citizens. We don’t mobilize, we don’t endorse and we don’t become partisan.

The Association’s interests are served by nonalignment. One has only to look at provinces where teachers’ organizations align with political parties to see the consequences. Instead, we work closely with the minister of education and the government of Alberta, no matter what political party forms government, to advance the cause of education consistent with the Association’s responsibilities in the Teaching Profession Act and our rights under the Labour Relations Code.

I encourage members to read this issue of the ATA News, to consider the education platforms of the various political parties in Alberta and to vote on election day.