Reorganization day has come and gone in our school board and people are feeling the pinch. The pinch of not enough dollars and not enough people to support a growing number of needs in the classroom. Enough is definitely not enough.
Apparently there is enough money for government errors and enough people in the Education Minister’s office to spread half-truths about the negotiating process – just enough of the truth to get the media listening, and just enough of the not truths to make education workers look badly.
I read a piece this week written by a teacher, who I do not know, but I know her kind (the good kind), who was deeply concerned about the effects of the reorganization day on her students. She had lost more time with support from an Educational Assistant (time that was already too short to help all the students who needed help). She was asked to do more with less – yet again.
That seems to be a theme with education these days – do more and more with less and less. Less money, less supports, less respect – more students, more needs, more derisive comments from our government.
The short-sightedness in the constant hacking of our education system is appalling (these are not cuts, they are wound creating, permanently scarring amputations) .
Educators deserve better. Students deserve better. The education system, the one that good societies are built on, deserves so much better.
Oh, and have I mentioned the large number of educators who are doing all this without a contract?
writing in the (mom)ent 
Paula, your words really hit home. As an E.A. our board laid off 49 of us in June and yet recently have posted some temporary positions. Teachers I know who have been teaching since 2008 and earlier and this year are only teaching 1 period as an LTO. More and more students will have their time with support removed, leaving teachers to figure out how to reach all of their students. It leaves much angst in the classroom and in a profession with caring and incredibly talented educators wondering when they will be able to do what we love while trying to provide a bright future for not only students but themselves.
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It is a very scary prospect going forward. It’s as if being a caring individual is being used against us.
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Well said Mrs Turner, have you ever thought of running for an elected position in government?
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I’d never be approved by any party – I have a slight tendency to speak my mind, making me unable to follow along the herd of “yes” people.
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Fantastic article. Thank you!
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