Monthly Archives: March 2019

Collective Bargaining   Whether because of financial winds or political agendas, rarely has progress followed a clear path for the MTS. It’s dealings with the provincial government of the day to local school boards ran front a spirit of cooperation, negotiation and compromise to fierce defiance and resolution. In 1919 the “militancy” associated with unions and demonstrations was new for teachers in Manitoba, but it was catching on elsewhere. The Winnipeg General Strike took place only 23 days after the […]

Technology in the Classroom – WITH EACH GENERATION, A REVOLUTION If ever there was a common thread in education these last hundred years or so, it is technology in the classroom. Each incarnation of the newest trend in teaching tech – from radio, to teaching machines to iPads — has been met with a mix of enthusiasm and condemnation by educators as well as the general public. Along the way the Society has been a voice of moderation, speaking on […]

Teacher Certification The term Normal School routinely elicits a perplexed chuckle these days, but for generations of teachers, graduation from one of the province’s training centres was the official start of their careers. So named because of the emphasis on established “norms” of social and moral behavior for students and teachers as well as basic curriculum, the first teacher education institutions of Europe were established in the 17th century. At home, the Manitoba Teachers’ Federation was a driving force in […]

Protecting Teachers Considering the huge steps the Society has made for all members over the last century, it’s easy to forget that there were ordinary teachers living in terrible circumstances on that road to progress.  Long before there was such a thing as Teacher Welfare, the welfare of teachers was the cornerstone of the Federation. Sub-standard salaries were at the root of most bad situations. When you barely earn enough to pay for necessities there is no saving for a […]