Page Content
Education continued to receive a fair amount of attention as the legislative assembly reconvened November 18 following a constituency week. Featured here are highlights of the education issues raised in question period between November 18 and November 25.
Teaching Excellence Task Force
November 19—Deron Bilous (ND—Edmonton-Beverly–Clareview) asked Minister of Education Jeff Johnson to admit that the Task Force for Teaching Excellence is not about promoting excellence but about “setting up teachers to take the fall for this government’s cuts to education.” Johnson replied that the education budget has increased by $200 million to $300 million. “Many teachers on the ground asked us to have a discussion about do they have enough time to prepare, do they have enough resources and do they have enough support. That’s a part of what this task force is about,” he said. Bilous asked Johnson to admit that the task force is not about promoting excellence but about “passing the buck.” Johnson responded by suggesting that Bilous would like to believe that class size is a silver bullet. The minister added that funding for the Class Size Initiative has increased to approximately $375 million. Bilous asked Johnson to admit that the task force “is nothing more than a teacher witch hunt.” Johnson replied that the task force is about teaching excellence, not about a witch hunt. He added that, while teaching quality and class size are both important, teaching quality is more important than class size.
School Class Sizes
November 25— Donna Kennedy-Glans (PC—Calgary-Varsity), noting that some Grade 12 students had expressed concern about large classes at a recent education forum hosted by her constituency office, asked Johnson to respond to students’ concerns, given his assertion that, according to research, class size does not matter. Countering that class size does matter, Johnson replied that government increased class size funding to $248 million in the 2013/14 budget. He added that parental involvement and teaching quality are more important than class size. “Internationally we see countries like Japan or Korea with very high class sizes. Some of the largest bring in some of the best results,” he said. Kennedy-Glans asked Johnson to outline the changes he envisions to teaching approaches to ensure that learning can happen for every student in a classroom of 40 to 50 students. Johnson replied that he looks forward to the report of the Task Force for Teaching Excellence. “They’re going to talk about the things that teachers need to be excellent, how class size contributes, and the diversity in the classroom, the time they need to prepare and others,” he said. Kennedy-Glans asked Johnson whether there is a ceiling on class size for academic classes in elementary, junior high and high schools “after which the emotional ties to the educator are just no longer probable.” Johnson replied that, while government has class size guidelines, or jurisdictional averages, “it’s very difficult and virtually impossible to give hard caps on what class sizes should be because every class is different. . . . You just can’t put a cap on any particular class.”
School Construction and Modernization
November 21—Bruce McAllister (W—Chestmere–Rocky View), referring to Premier Alison Redford’s election commitment to build 50 new schools and renovate 70 others, asked Johnson how many of the 120 projects are under construction. “The constant criticism we get from across the way on the amount of capital that we are building or aren’t building is a little bit troubling,” Johnson replied. When other MLAs interjected, Speaker Gene Zwozdesky rose to restore order. Suggesting that none of the 28 new schools announced since the election is under construction, McAllister asked Johnson whether he will honour his government’s commitments. Johnson replied that government does honour its education commitments, pointing to the restoration of $107 million, the “ATA deal” and the new Education Act. He added that 70 projects are under way or completed, with 30 more announced last spring and even more to be announced later this year and in the spring of 2014. “It’s really difficult to be accountable in 2013 for something we’re doing in 2016,” he said. McAllister again asked Johnson how many of the 120 projects are under way. “Ask me that question in 2016,” Johnson replied. “We’re going to have a number of schools built, and we’re going to have more than 120 projects well under way or built by that time, during this term.”
LGBTQ Student Supports
November 19—Kent Hehr (AL—Calgary-Buffalo) asked Johnson whether government will enact legislation to mandate gay–straight alliances in all schools where students want them. Johnson replied that, while such alliances can do a lot of great work, government leaves such decisions up to local school boards and schools. Hehr asked Johnson to commit to enacting legislation to mandate gay–straight alliances in all schools where students want them. Johnson replied that, while government supports such alliances, it will not legislate them. He reiterated that government leaves such decisions up to local school boards. Hehr asked Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Jonathan Denis whether government will repeal section 11.1 (the parental notification provisions) of the Alberta Human Rights Act, which are “a slap in the face to our LGBTQ community.” Johnson replied that schools are not prohibited from discussing the topics of religion, sexuality and sexual orientation. He added that practice has not changed and that parents have always had the right to opt out their children from such discussions.
Bullying Prevention
November 19—Matt Jeneroux (PC—Edmonton-South West) asked Associate Minister of Family and Community Safety Sandra Jansen whether it is time to stop talking about preventing bullying and do something to stop it before it begins. Describing bullying as a serious issue, Jansen replied that government is working with educators, parents, children, employers and seniors to address bullying and promote good, healthy relationships. Jeneroux asked Jansen when government will introduce legislation to address bullying and cyberbullying. Jansen replied that the Education Act contains some of the most proactive and effective antibullying provisions in the country. She added that, rather than legislating bullying away, government is promoting respectful relationships. Jeneroux asked Jansen what government is doing to address bullying in dating relationships. Describing dating violence as a significant issue, Jansen pointed to a peer support pilot project at Mount Royal University in Calgary that helps students understand what healthy relationships are. She added that government would like to use the model in other communities and right across the country. ❚
