Politics, Education: the Alberta teachers’ situation, part 2

Self-tutoring about politics and education: the tutor continues about the Alberta teachers’ situation.

The following is my understanding.

I began talking about this situation in my earlier post here.

It seems one of the main issues of the Alberta teachers’ situation is class size. Therefore, the government offer on Thursday might be a bit surprising.

The government’s offer is for the teachers to return to work Monday, and stay there pending enhanced mediation. A report would be prepared from said process by November 13, which one imagines would lead to a new offer. A ratification vote of said offer would occur on November 20, after which time a strike or lockout could resume. (Sounds encouraging, eh?)

It seems a specific provision of said mediation process is that it would be unable to commit to class size limits.

Back in 2003, Alberta’s Commission on Learning gave recommendations for class sizes. Moreover, the Commission suggests that classes that include students with special needs or ESL students should be smaller than the general recommendation. Students from those categories seem to be increasing in number.

Not too surprisingly, it seems, the Alberta government’s offer was rejected. It’s been suggested the government isn’t listening to teachers. From my reading, I would tend to agree.

Source:

msn.com

cbc.ca

open.alberta.ca