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Dennis Theobald
For the first time in the history of the event, a sitting minister of education has addressed the ATA’s annual Summer Conference in Banff.
The Honourable Dave Hancock, speaking to more than 380 teachers on the opening night of the five-day conference, emphasized the value of teachers and public education.
Hancock disclosed to teachers his lifelong belief that “educating our children is the most important function of our society.” The minister went on to stress the importance of preparing students for their life after graduation, to participate not only in the economy, but also in a fair, just, tolerant and nurturing society.
In a ringing defence of public education, the minister praised schools’ role in creating cohesive communities and celebrated their diversity. “Our students can learn firsthand about different languages and cultures, both in the classroom and in the schoolyard. The child who plays with children who are Asian, Arab, African and European is much more likely to be accepting of diversity and will begin to understand that whatever our origins, we’re much more alike than we’re different.”
He warned that the “greatest threat to our society is tribalism—withdrawing into groups that put their individual ideas, needs and values ahead of those of the greater society in which they live.”
The minister also spoke about the importance of recruiting the best and brightest into the teaching profession and the need to raise the profile and status of teachers. He also recognized that teachers need help and support from the government and the community to address the needs of children outside of school and before and during their years in the K–12 system. “Children who are victims of bullying are likely to bully other children. Children who come from abusive or neglectful home environments begin their education at a distinct disadvantage. Children who begin the day without enough to eat are at a disadvantage. And children who haven’t had their developmental needs addressed early on are at a disadvantage.”
What, then, is the solution? According to Hancock, we need to provide students with “wraparound” support in their schools. “The idea is simple: there’s no point in asking a student to wait until next week and to go across town to see a counsellor if they need one right here, right now. These supports belong in schools.”
Furthermore, he identified the need to coordinate the provision of government services to children in the community and to involve business, labour and industry in more meaningful ways in building an education system that will ensure that all children find their passion and succeed.
“Good ideas are good ideas regardless of where they originate,” he said. “I’m supportive of any idea that will help create an education system that produces the best prepared graduates anywhere in the world and that helps each child overcome any barriers to learning to their full abilities.”
The minister used his speech to lay out the objectives and the philosophical underpinnings of a major project he will initiate shortly. “Our focus has to be on the long-term objective of ensuring success for every student. Creating the best prepared graduates anywhere isn’t a goal we can achieve on our own—we need the broader community to play an active role in the education of our children. All sectors in society need to pay more than lip service to the importance of education to the future of this province.”
Hancock said he will be “initiating a dialogue with Albertans about education that will form the basis of our future activities. We need a policy framework that sets out what our schools will be for the next 10 to 15 years.”
Read the transcript of Minister's Remarks at 2008 ATA Summer Conference.
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