Alberta educators gathered in Calgary on Saturday for the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) annual representative assembly, where President Jason Schilling reflected on the evolving challenges facing public education in the province.
A Changing Climate for Teachers
Schilling painted a vivid picture of the teaching experience: "My classroom, early morning light shining through the windows, stretching across the floor, standing at the door, students arriving, some eager, some distracted, some carrying burdens that I will truly never see, and still I got to work, and I teach, not because it was easy, not because the conditions were ideal, but because it's what I believe, a belief of honesty and justice, a belief that I can make a difference."
His remarks come more than six months after thousands of teachers were ordered back to work by the province using legislation enacted within a day, following a brief strike for better working conditions.
Political and Policy Shifts
Schilling characterized recent provincial policies as "flooding the zone," a term popularized by right-wing U.S. political figure Steve Bannon. He specifically criticized the use of the notwithstanding clause to limit gender-affirming health care, such as hormone blockers, ban transgender girls from participating in amateur female sports, and require parental consent for students changing their names or pronouns in schools.
He also denounced additional mandatory screening tests in literacy and numeracy, which teachers argue add little value to their existing knowledge of students. Schilling further voiced concern about legislation affecting how teachers address sensitive topics in the classroom.
Bill 25 and Classroom Neutrality
Bill 25, effective September 1, grants the education minister broader control over school superintendent contracts and aims to remove "politics and ideology from classrooms" by requiring teachers to remain "impartial" when teaching topics. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides stated, "I firmly believe that it's a professional responsibility of teachers to ensure that they are neutral and impartial in their own personal views."
Critics argue the bill could have unintended consequences for pedagogy, including how subjects like genocide are taught. The ATA noted, "While vague, this legislation may impact teachers and school leaders directly and indirectly, positively and negatively. We need to look beyond the clickbait title of this bill to understand its full scope."
Separatism and Funding Concerns
Schilling warned of a potential flood of disinformation on separatism entering schools, despite government expectations that teachers avoid discussing it. He also highlighted issues such as increased funding for private schools and public dollars being used for private buildings, referencing the Education Amendment Act passed in July 2019, which exempted charter schools from municipal joint use and planning agreements, allowing public funding to be funneled to private entities.
