Manitoba says union is circulating 'misconceptions' about proposed education changes
Manitoba’s education minister has written a letter to the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS), saying the union is circulating misconceptions regarding Bill 64: The Education Modernization Act and the Better Education Starts Today strategy.
“Bringing parents and students into the mix and sharing false information creates fear, politicizes the classroom, and does nothing to support our leaders, students, and families who need this support now, more than ever,” says Education Minister Cliff Cullen in the letter addressed to MTS President James Bedford.
Bill 64 would see changes to Manitoba’s Kindergarten to Grade 12 education system, including replacing the school divisions with 15 regions overseen by a provincial oversight body. It would also remove elected school boards and the role of school trustees.
According to the province, the goal of the Better Education Start Today strategy is to strengthen the roles of principals, vice-principals and teachers. It notes that principals and vice-principals are still defined as teachers and require a valid teachers’ certificate.
“They also still engage with students, parents and lead staff,” the letter says.
“They can form their own bargaining unit or be non-unionized, if that is what they decide.”
Cullen writes that the Public Schools Act is 100 years old and does not reflect the diversity and needs of all of Manitoba’s regions. He says the proposed changes would reduce “top-heavy and duplicative administration practices,” which would allow the province to put more money into resources for educational assistants, special needs programming, and supports identified by parents and teachers.
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCILS
Under the province’s proposed education changes, parents and primary caregivers would be able to represent individual schools through school community councils with elected members.
Cullen says the goal is to provide parents with more of a voice, while still respecting the roles, responsibilities and value of principals, vice-principals, teachers and school staff.
“It is not either/or,” the letter states. “Parents are not replacing educators.”
PROVINCIAL ASSESSMENTS
In the letter, Cullen says provincial assessments are one part of the overall assessment plan, but the new framework would “build in more classroom supports and resources for formative assessment.”
“Every learner in unique and information about their growth is gathered through conversations, observations, and other interactions in the classroom; portfolios; personal reflection; and self-assessments,” he says.
“Summative assessments at the end of the year will provide pertinent information about each student’s knowledge and skills in relation to learning outcomes as set out in the provincial curricula, and will help to improve student learning by identifying student strengths and needs that can be addressed in subsequent years.”
The minister notes that steps will be taken to prevent comparison and test scores won’t impact teachers’ pay.
THE PROVINCIAL OVERSIGHT BODY
As for the move to replace school divisions with 15 regions overseen by a provincial oversight body, Cullen says the Provincial Education Authority would not make decisions in isolation and would rely on local leaders at the regional and school levels.
He says the education system would be led by regions with greater parental and community input.
“This will ensure that local decision-making will be stronger and will build upon successful programs that currently exist in your schools or new programs developed as identified through input from the School Community Council,” he says.
Cullen notes the province wants to open doors, not close them, and asks the MTS to correct any false information it’s been circulating.
THE NEED FOR A MEETING
Bedford says when he read the letter all he could really think is that the province and the MTS need to have a meeting.
“That letter, the points that are made and the lengthy attachment really speaks volumes to the fact that we need to sit down and have a conversation, ask some questions, get some answers, have a discussion,” he said, noting the union has been asking for a meeting, but is still waiting.
He said a lot of the letter really demonstrates the fact that there hasn’t been communication between the two groups.
“What I really am looking for is a back and forth conversation,” he said,
Bedford said public educators have a lot of questions about the legislation and a conversation with the province would allow them to get some answers.
“I think that we all want the best for our students. Our students today, our students in the next school year, and our students for the next decade and the decades after that,” he said.
- With files from CTV’s Michael D’Alimonte.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army ordered some 100,000 Palestinians on Monday to begin evacuating from the southern city of Rafah, signaling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent and further complicating efforts to broker a cease-fire in Gaza.