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Time for Thanks
Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.
—Henry van Dyke, American author, educator and clergyman (1852–1933)
As I write my last column for the ATA Magazine, I recognize the speed with which the last four years as ATA president has passed. I want to thank you and express my gratitude for the confidence you placed in me as your president, and I would also like to thank you for the leadership, learning and advocacy opportunities.
I’ve enjoyed every moment of my tenure, even the difficult ones. When I was first elected ATA president in 2009, I knew I’d miss my students and colleagues at Big Rock School, in Okotoks. Back then, I anticipated returning to the classroom to finish my career, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I don’t believe that will be possible. If my health permits, however, I will continue to serve you as ATA past president.
During my two terms as president, I’ve observed the willingness of members of Provincial Executive Council to learn about and to practise good government. Council members have studied, learned and grown together. Our commitment has always been to make the best decisions for our members and the teaching profession. Every level of staff at Barnett House, in Edmonton, and at SARO, in Calgary, has shown professionalism and a readiness to work hard for members, and the work of your Association continues. Council and ATA staff are preparing for what teachers will face in 2016. Our work today and over the next few years demands no less vision, no less commitment and no less courage than that of our founders.
One of the most important aspects of my work was to stay connected to the daily realities and challenges facing teachers, the classroom and public education. I took every opportunity to speak personally with teachers across Alberta, and I listened to their stories of successes and challenges. Of particular concern to me is teacher workload. I spoke to one teacher who, in 15 years of teaching, has never taken a lunch break because of workload. Another teacher told me that she and her colleagues shoulder 180 minutes of supervision every week. Based on what we’ve gleaned from surveys and heard first-hand from teachers, let us hope that issues of assignable time will be addressed through Premier Redford’s offer. (As an aside, I urge you to think carefully before signing up for volunteer activities this fall—your families also need you, and you can’t sustain 55- to 60-hour work weeks.)
With respect to the premier’s proposal, I respect members’ solidarity and the collective voice with which they accepted the agreement, even though it does not benefit every local equally.
Under the agreement, teachers will have excellent opportunities to improve their professional autonomy and to address workload issues. We let this opportunity slip at our peril. Although you teach and lead quietly without fanfare and often unnoticed, you will be asked to advocate for improving teaching and learning conditions. We have only a short time in which to prepare for upcoming school trustee elections and to influence the 2014 provincial budget. That is why the theme at this year’s ATA Summer Conference is advocacy.
In closing, let’s not forget that the highest reward for teachers is the knowledge that somewhere we’ve had a positive influence on a young person’s life and future. Thanks to our efforts, these young people will contribute greatly to society in the years ahead. I’d like to acknowledge and honour each one of my students, whose relationships over the years enriched my life. immeasurably. These special relationships cannot be measured.
I’ll miss working at Barnett House. I’ll miss the opportunities to engage in discourse and action at the provincial level. Most of all, I will miss the day-to-day work with my colleagues.
I thank you for the honour to have served you as ATA president.
