Consultation Wrap Up

The public consultation period for the K-12 education review has wrapped up. Manitobans participated by sending written submissions, attending a public interactive workshop or filling out an online survey.

According to education minister Kelvin Goertzen, as reported in Steinbach Online, the Education Review Commission has received between 15,000 and 20,000 submissions.

Participants were also able to submit a brief, with recommendations, for consideration to present before the commission at a public hearing.

There were 62 submissions vying for a chance to present at the public hearing. They were submitted from a diverse group of individuals and organizations, ranging from school boards and parents who home school their children to psychologists and dietitians.

MTS participated in the consultation process, using all means that were applicable, and representatives also met with members of the commission in early May to discuss The Society’s written submission.

The Society will soon find out whether it was selected to present at the public hearing. The date for the public hearing is yet to be determined. All 62 submissions for consideration for the public hearing are now available on the commission website. The MTS submission is Brief 12.

MTS Submission to K-12 Education Review

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society presented the Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education with 17 recommendations aimed at improving the K-12 education system.

Click here to view the submission.

How to Participate in the K-12 Education Review

Public Workshops

Ten public workshops will be held as part of the public consultation for the K-12 Review.

The workshops, led by facilitators, is an opportunity to get more information, provide feedback, or take part in round-table discussions based on your time and interests.

You must register to attend.

Click here to register and view the schedule.

Public Hearings

Individuals or locals that would like to present their perspectives and recommendations at a public hearing must submit a formal brief to the commission. Selected groups and individuals will be invited to present to the commission, however all briefs will be posted on the commission’s website. The dates for the public presentations have not been scheduled, but will be in June 2019.

Click here for the template.

Written Submissions

The written submission can be a short as a paragraph or as long as deemed necessary. These submissions can be emailed to the commission K12educationcommission@gov.mb.ca

To ensure the commission considers your submission, please include your name and contact information. The deadline for written submissions is May 30, 2019.

Collection of Exemplary Practices

The commission is inviting Manitoba teachers, those currently teaching and those who are retired, to share exemplary practices they have implemented and that have resulted in increased student achievement and outcomes.

Click here to submit an exemplary practice.

Online Survey

An online survey is available for teachers who would like to participate. Please note that MTS was not involved in creation of the survey and you will be required to provide a Teaching Certificate Number for validation purposes. This has raised privacy concerns, which the government has addressed in this statement.

Members who are comfortable with providing their Teacher Certificate Number and wish to voluntarily fill in the online survey and/or the Exemplary Teaching Practice Form should be at all times mindful of their obligations to colleagues under the MTS Code of Professional Practice, as well as their duty of fidelity to their employer.

If you are uncomfortable with providing your certificate number, we encourage you to participate through the hearings and workshops, as well as written submissions.

Click here to view/participate in online survey.

Collection of Exemplary Practices

The commission is inviting Manitoba teachers, those currently teaching and those who are retired, to share exemplary practices they have implemented and that have resulted in increased student achievement and outcomes.

In 200 words or less, you are invited to provide a brief description of your exemplary practice, outlining what you did and the results that were achieved. Please be sure to include your name and contact information, so they can contact you for additional details and clarification if necessary.

Click here to submit an Exemplary Practice.

K-12 Review Public Consultation Dates

The Manitoba Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education is hosting a series of public workshops as part of its public consultation. We encourage you to attend. The voices of educators are crucial in ensuring that the classroom realities and challenges are front and centre.

Registration is now open.

Where is the Manitoba Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education Headed?

That seems to be an open question in light of a number of actions taken by the provincial government in the past few weeks.

Those actions have called into question whether the commission will be the unbiased voice of educational change, free from ideology and government interference, which the province promised.

In fact, we know very little about the commission except for its members. They were announced almost two months ago (Jan.23) and since then there has been total silence.

At least silence from the commissioners. The Minister of Education Kelvin Goertzen has made his voice heard – loudly. There he was fighting with Manitoba’s largest school board. There he was defending closure of the teachers’ resource library. There he was talking about the hiring of the commission’s lead consultant, Avis Glaze.

The last alone gives one pause. If the commission is free of government interference, why would the education minister be explaining the hiring of its consultant and not the commissioners?

It should be the supposed independent commission doing the hiring and defending its choice.

The hiring of Glaze has come under some criticism, not because she is any way unqualified, but that her history suggests a possible bias toward some changes this government has long been suspected of supporting.

Click here to see a brief biography of Avis Glaze’s work in education.

Unfortunately, they include weakening the unions responsible for representing teachers and principals. In other words, to take away some rights of educators: the right to bargain and work collectively and to have a say in matters such as discipline.

In Nova Scotia she recommended principals and vice-principals be removed from the teachers’ union and put in its own “association”. That association has no power to protect its members. She also recommended Nova Scotia set up a teachers’ college to handle issues such as certification and discipline. The government turned down the second suggestion.

Click here to see what the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Union faced when, and after, Avis Glaze studied its education system.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society had been hoping that the primary focus of the commission would be on student learning, but that has been overwhelmed by the government’s own verbiage about amalgamations, recalcitrant school boards and the hiring of the consultant.

We hope that when the commission does show itself, that it focuses on students and not on peripheral issues well beyond the classroom and that have no clear connection to improving student learning.

Teachers must make their voices heard as to what needs to be done to improve student learning.

See How to Send a Written Submission to the review commission below.

What is the K-12 Education Review?

The K-12 education review will be led by a nine-member Commission tasked with proposing a “renewed vision” for kindergarten-to-Grade 12 education and making “bold recommendations to ignite change” within existing systems and programs that will inspire excellence in teaching and learning.

What will be the Focus of the Review?

1. Long-term vision: What should the goals and purpose of K-12 education be in a rapidly changing world?
2. Student learning: What are the conditions required to achieve excellence in student achievement and outcomes in Manitoba?
3. Teaching: How can teachers and school leaders become more effective?
4. Accountability for student learning:How can the education system develop a stronger sense of shared accountability for student learning?
5. Governance: What type of governance structures are needed to create a coordinated and relevant education system?
6. Funding: What actions are required to ensure that the education system is sustainable and provides equitable learning opportunities for all children and youth?

Who are the Commissioners?

Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education includes Ian Wishart, legislative assistant to the minister of education and training, who will lead public consultation and stakeholder engagement. The eight other commissioners are:

Dr. Janice MacKinnon (co-chair) served as a Saskatchewan cabinet minister from 1991 to 2001.

Clayton Manness (co-chair) was a member of the legislative assembly for Morris from 1981 to 1995, and served as minister of finance, minister of education and training and government house leader.

Terry Brown is an owner and partner of Legacy Bowes Group and the past chair of the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce.

Mark Frison is president and chief executive officer of Assiniboine Community College.

John Daniel (JD) Lees is a former science teacher at Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

Jill Quilty (January to May 2019) is a lawyer with Law North Law Corporation and served as a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Academic Working Group, the Ad Hoc Response Committee for Gender Discrimination and the Indigenous, Black and Mi’kmaq Standing Committee.

Linda Markus (Beginning June 2019) is an educator with over 25 years experience in public and post-secondary systems. She has worked extensively in Northern Manitoba, for Mystery Lake and Kelsey School Divisions, as well as for Brandon University, and other post-secondary educational institutions. She has a Masters in Education, with Certification in Student Services and Administration and is a member of the Governing Council for University College of the North.

Laurel Repski served as vice-president (human resources, sustainability and audit) at the University of Winnipeg from 2006 to 2018.

Denis Robert is a retired principal with 32 years’ experience in Manitoba schools. He spent the final 23 years of his career at Collège Béliveau, one of Canada’s first French immersion schools.

How can Manitobans Participate?

All Manitobans are encouraged to participate in the consultation process, which will run from February to May 2019. You can participate by attending a public meeting, submitting a written report or filling out the online survey.

MTS will participate as a stakeholder but it is especially important that teachers from across the province take the time to add their voice to this review.

The Commission will also seek input from students.

What is the Timeline?

• February – May 2019: Online engagement and public and stakeholder meetings
• June 2019 – January 2020: Analysis and formulation of recommendations
• February 2020: Recommendations to the Minister of Education and Training
• March 2020: Public release
• October 2020: Provincial election

For more information about the review visit www.edu.gov.mb.ca/educationreview/.

How will The Manitoba Teachers’ Society Participate?

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society will be intensely involved in the Education Review, and will speak up at every opportunity and in every forum available.

We will encourage and support local associations who wish to do the same – and we’ll guarantee that staff will attend every public meeting.

Count on us to keep you current on the dates and venues of public and stakeholder meetings, share the most recent developments through email and social media and the Manitoba Teacher.

We want you to know the issues and be able to communicate our position so that our collective voice cannot be ignored.

Media Round Up: Education Funding Announcement and K-12 Review

There has been a flurry of media activity leading to both the Education Review and Funding Announcements.

Click here to access all of it including the MTS President’s comments.

Click here to read the Society’s position on seven current issues (English). 

Click here to read the Society’s position on seven current issues (French). 

How to Send a Written Submission?

One way in which you can participate in the public consultation for the K-12 Education Review is by providing a written submission to the Commission. A written submission is an excellent opportunity to get your voice on the record about the realities of Manitoba’s classrooms and the challenges you face in your specific school or division as well as offer recommendations on ways to improve our public education system.

To ensure the Commission considers your submission, please include:

• Your name and contact information; and
• References for any supporting documentation referred to in your submission.

Submissions may be sent to:

K12educationcommission@gov.mb.ca
Fax: 204-945-0221
Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education
470 – 800 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4

The deadline for receipt of written submissions is May 30, 2019.