Provincial funding announcement 'first step', says MTS president

January 28, 2010
Today’s announcement of an additional $31.3 million for the 2010 - 2011 school year is the first step in determining how much funding actually finds its way into public schools, says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “The provincial announcement is only one part of the funding that schools receive. Divisions have a significant role in ensuring that public schools receive the resources they need to deliver excellent programming to students.”

The announcement includes more money for school operations. “Money that gets into classrooms is always paramount for us,” says Isaak. “It helps teachers maintain the quality of education Manitoba students need. With increasing expectations placed on our schools, both government and school divisions should be working together to get more resources into the classroom.”

Isaak says one of the major components of the announcement is that more than half of the new operating funds for the next school year are dedicated to equalization. “Equity is one of the most important principles in funding. We appreciate the increased support to equalization because it signals that it’s also a priority for government.”

Provincial news release on funding announcement

 

Province announces parent-child centres in three community schools

January 27, 2010
The Manitoba government has committed $195,000 for three new community schools and $60,000 to pilot the incorporation of parent-child centres in the schools, Education Minister Nancy Allan and Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Eric Robinson, minister responsible for Aboriginal education, have announced..
 
"Community schools have demonstrated success in building relationships, sharing resources and strengthening a community's identity by bringing teachers, parents, elders and other local leaders together in a welcoming environment," Allan said.  "We believe the long-term goals of building student success and increasing graduation rates will be enhanced by including parent-child centres in the schools."
 
The community schools concept started with a pilot project in December 2004 at Wapanohk-Eastwood Community School in Thompson and today there are 25 community schools across the province.
 The new community schools that will incorporate parent-child centres under this pilot project are Ruth Betts School in the Flin Flon School Division, Grand Rapids School in Frontier School Division and Shaughnessy Park School in Winnipeg School Division.

"We have seen community schools become integral parts of the towns and First Nations they serve and they are ideal settings to deliver new resources such as supports for parenting, improving children's nutrition and literacy skills, and building the capacity to help families," Robinson said.  "By providing gathering places where adults and children can get together for educational, social, cultural and recreational activities, community schools are helping improve early education opportunities for Aboriginal students to better prepare them for success in high school and beyond."
 
 
"Each parent-child centre in Manitoba is unique, using a locally determined approach to community development," Allan said. "Community partners in these three newly funded locations will meet to assess the needs of families in the area and examine ways to build on existing community resources as well as making additional programs and services accessible."
 
Parent-child centres focus on four key areas: nutrition, parenting, literacy and capacity-building.  For example, early intervention may ensure healthy nutrition for mothers during pregnancy and for children from infancy to adulthood.  Activities may be used to support families by teaching parenting skills, literacy, numeracy, recreation and other means of encouraging healthy child development.

 

Education International appeals for aid to help Haitian teachers

Education International has made an appeal to teachers and teachers' organizations to help Haitian educators and their families.

Education International is doing its best to establish contact with colleagues in Haiti. Initial reports suggest that the destruction and loss of life is considerable. The Haiti Press Network reports that many school buildings have collapsed and that hundreds of students are trapped under the rubble. The President of Haiti, René Préval has described a bleak situation to the Miami Herald, saying “Schools have collapsed. There are a lot of schools that have a lot of dead people in them.”

Ei has created a special fund to help the families of teachers who have been affected and "to support our member organisation CNEH, the Confédération National des Enseignants d’Haïti, to re‐establish its work of caring for teachers and promoting education."

Read the complete EI appeal here

MTS poll shows majority of Manitobans oppose 'no-fail' policy

Recent telephone surveys sponsored by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society have found that the majority of Manitobans strongly oppose the ‘no-fail’ policy in public schools and 24 per cent of teachers have been asked to promote a student against their professional judgment.

Fifty two percent of Manitobans said they strongly opposed the no-fail policy, with another 24 per cent moderately opposed.

The findings were in one of two polls commissioned by The Society. Each year MTS surveys the public and its members on issues related to public schools and teachers.

In an October, 2009, telephone survey 800 Manitobans were asked: “Currently in Manitoba, students are promoted to the next grade whether or not they pass all of the academic requirements. This ‘no fail’ policy was introduced because it is believed that students who are held back a grade are generally worse off than if they were promoted.  Do you support or oppose the “no-fail” policy?  Would that be strongly or moderately support/oppose?”

Only 20 per cent of Manitobans said they supported it. Support for this policy is higher among people with school-aged children (26 per cent) than those without (17 per cent). Interestingly, opposition to the ‘no fail’ policy increases with income from 72-73 per cent of people earning less than $50,000 to 77-78 per cent of those earning $50,000 or more.

Manitobans were also asked: “If your child did not meet all of the academic requirements to be promoted to the next grade, would you prefer to have them held back and repeat a year of school or would you prefer they advanced to the next grade?”

Three quarters of Manitobans said they would like their child held back to repeat a grade. Only 13 per cent said they would like their child passed anyway. Men are more likely to want their children held back.

Society president Pat Isaak has heard concerns from teachers who feel they are being required to pass students to the next grade against their better judgment.

“I remember clearly a meeting last year in rural Manitoba where an experienced teacher talked about his professional integrity being questioned because he was being asked to pass students who had not met the academic requirements. He was very emotional about this issue. For him, it cut to the core of why he was a teacher and how he felt he should have the autonomy to do his job.”

In its annual telephone survey of 800 MTS members conducted in December, 2009, 24.4 per cent of teachers said that they had been asked to promote or grant credit to a student against their best professional judgment. When asked if they have adjusted a final mark for a student, 19 per cent of teachers said they have had a final mark adjusted.

MTS also asked teachers who asked them to change students’ marks. Twenty per cent of teachers mentioned marks were adjusted due to pressure by parents, 87 per cent mentioned school administration and 15 per cent mentioned school division administration.

In the 2008 survey of MTS members, the no-fail policy appeared as a top concern for about four per cent teachers. Since the Society began polling teachers more than 15 years ago, it was the first time the promotion of students registered as a major concern.

The Society is examining the promotion of students as a result of a resolution passed at the 2009 Annual General meeting that asked the provincial executive of the Society to strike a committee to study the professional autonomy of teachers regarding the integrity of promotion and credit of students within the province of Manitoba.

Provincial Executive members Adam Grabowski and Pat Hamm are chairing the Professional Autonomy of Teachers Committee. They will present their report to the Society’s 2010 Annual General Meeting in May.

These random telephone surveys were conducted between October 20 and 26, 2009 (public) and between December 1 and 8, 2009 (MTS members). A proportional to population size sample design was used for the public survey. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20. A random representative sample of 824 MTS members was surveyed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.3 per cent,  19 times out of 20.

 

Need for Operation Donation just as great now as 10 years ago

Even after 10 years, the schools-based Operation Donation food drive in Manitoba may be the most needed yet.

“It’s so unfortunate that we have been doing this for a decade and there is still a great need, indeed a greater need, for this,” says teacher Frank Restall, who has organized almost all the Operation Donation drives. “This is a desperate year. This is a state of emergency.”

Each year in March, schools and classrooms across Manitoba collect food for Winnipeg Harvest and, in turn, for organizations and food banks in their communities. Last year 114 schools participated, resulting in the collection of 114,000 pounds of food.

Restall says that when the project started, it was hoped it wouldn’t be needed in 10 years time, but that is far from the case this year.

David Northcott, executive co-ordinator of Winnipeg Harvest, says this year demand has skyrocketed.
That has been the case for children using Harvest and the food banks it supplies.

In September, 2008, 11.300 school-aged kids used Winnipeg Harvest. In September, 2009, that number was 15,500, a 23 per cent increase. The numbers of children aged two to 12 alone increased to 10,400 from 8,200.

The food drive this year will be held March 1 to 5. During that period, teachers and students are asked to bring one food item to donate or as the project says: One Week, One Donation, One Hope. It is not a competition between classrooms or schools.

The drive is sponsored by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and Manitoba Public Insurance. And Peak of the Market matches the total amount of donations raised by Operation Donation.

Schools and classes who want to get involved can register with Winnipeg Harvest at 982-3670 or visit its website at www.winnipegharvest.org.

All food collected during the drive is used to help food banks in the communities from which the donations are made.

 

Twenty schools receiving grants to support citizenship education projects

Projects raising awareness of human rights, teaching youth about the parliamentary process and promoting empathy and community volunteerism are among those receiving one of 20 grants to support innovative citizenship education projects, Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors Minister Jim Rondeau announced today.

"The Manitoba Grants for Innovation in Citizenship Education provide opportunities for students to learn about citizenship hands-on," said Rondeau.  "Whether learning about how government works or the importance of getting involved in their communities, these projects will help students across the province learn to be better citizens and build strong communities."

In 2009, 72 applications were received from 28 school divisions across the province.  Twenty schools will receive a $1,000 grant to support their project.  Each of the successful projects focuses on social or cultural issues to help students learn more about their communities, other cultural backgrounds or global issues.

"We want to support our youth as they learn about their role in the community and what they can to do make the world a better place for everyone," said Rondeau.  "Learning about something hands-on only increases the meaning and importance of the lesson being learned and these grants will support the innovative work happening in schools across Manitoba."

Since the program first began in 2004, $90,000 in citizenship education grants have been provided to public and funded-independent schools across Manitoba.

A detailed list of projects being funded can be found at:
www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/citizenship/c_grant/index.html.

Education films on tap for January at Cinematheque

Two films, one featuring a Winnipeg teacher, will be shown at the Winnipeg Film Group’s Cinematheque theatre in January.

First up is Prom Night In Mississippi, the story of the integration of a high school prom night in 2008.
In 1997, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at Charleston High School in Mississippi under one condition: the prom had to be racially integrated. His offer was ignored. In 2008, Freeman offered again. This time the school board accepted, and history was made. Charleston High School had its first-ever integrated prom - in 2008. Until then, blacks and whites had had separate proms even though their classrooms have been integrated for decades. Canadian filmmaker Paul Saltzman follows students, teachers and parents in the lead-up to the big day.

Later in the month is The Storytelling Class. Veteran Winnipeg documentary photographer and filmmaker John Paskevich (Ted Barlyuk’s Grocery, The Gypsies of Svinia) and filmmaker John Whiteway created a poignant film about the healing power of storytelling based on a workshop initiated by Marc Kuly, a dynamic young teacher at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg. Based on his students reading a new book by author Ishmael Beah about his one-time experience as a child soldier in Sierra Leone’s civil war Kuly initiated an after-school storytelling project whereby the immigrant students would share stories with their Canadian peers.

Times:
PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI
Dir. Paul Saltzman | 2008 | Canada | 90 min
Sat Jan 2 & Sun Jan 3 - 7:00 PM
Wed Jan 6 - 7:00 PM
Thu Jan 7 – 9:00 PM

THE STORYTELLING CLASS  
Dir John Paskievich and John Whiteway | 2009 | Canada | 60 min
Wed Jan 20 & Thu Jan 21 - 7:00 PM
Sun Jan 24 - 7:00 PM
*Group rates and bookings are available for THE STORYTELLING CLASS by contacting Kristy Muckosky – Cinematheque Operations Co-ordinator /
kristy@winnipegfilmgroup.com or 925-3459

Manitoba teachers feel well-informed about H1N1

It appears Manitoba public school teachers are both well-informed and comfortable with policies and procedures involving the H1N1 virus.
A poll by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation found that 81 per cent of Manitoba teachers surveyed said they were very comfortable (32 per cent) or somewhat comfortable (49 per cent) with their school’s level of preparedness.
As well, 97 per cent said they were aware of H1N1 policies or strategies at the school or division levels. More than 70 per cent said they received training concerning their school’s preparedness at a regular staff meeting.
And more than 70 per cent also reported that their schools have a communications plan in place to advise parents and other members of the school community in the event of an H1N1 outbreak in the school.
The survey results from Manitoba were part of a national poll conducted for the Canadian Teachers’ Federation to provide a snapshot of teachers’ views on H1N1 preparedness.
The levels of comfort with school policies and awareness of policies was much higher in Manitoba than in the rest of the country overall.

 

Provincial government outlines plans for education

The Selinger government delivered its first throne speech on November 30, 2009.

The significant parts of the throne speech for Manitoba teachers are:

 

MFL holds Day of Remembrance - Empowerment Fair, Dec. 4

The MFL Women's Committee will host a Day of Remembrance - Empowerment Fair on Friday, December 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event is in remembrance of all the women who have died by violence. The evening will feature a memorial service, guest speakers and displays by various organizations who assist people affected by violence.

December 6, 2009 marks the 20th Anniversary of the killing of 14 Women at Ecole Polytechnique. There will be a memorial service for the 14 women killed in Montreal, as well as a remembering the women who have died by violence in Manitoba this year. Manitoba's Minister Responsible for the Status of Women will speak, as well as several other guest speakers. You will also be able to speak to representatives of several organization involved with violence towards people who will be in attendance with displays and resources for women.

Voluntary cash donations accepted at the door with all donations going to the Women's Memorial Project which the Manitoba Federation of Labour Women's Committee has been working on. It would also be appreciated if you could bring and donate your unused and unwanted old cell phone and charger. These will be donated to SAGE House, a Women's Resource Centre. SAGE House will distribute the phones to women who are 'street involved'. Phones will be used to access 911 only.

Please join the Day of Remembrance - Empowerment fair on Friday, December 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the second floor auditorium of the Union Centre, 275 Broadway. Light refreshments will be served.

Evironmental group Green Street offering grants for student projects

Green Street’s Youth Leadership Challenge is providing an innovative opportunity for youth across Canada. In partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, Green Street is offering grants to dedicated change makers who want to improve their schools and communities.

Green Street is challenging youth to think critically and develop a project that meets the needs of their communities.

For additional information, review the guidelines http://www.green-street.ca/en/ylc.html or contact info@green-street.ca.

Big jump in kids using food banks, says Winnipeg Harvest

The Winnipeg Harvest has seen a significant jump in the number of people using the food bank since last fall, and a 24 per-cent increase in the number of school-aged children relying on the organization.   

“We are in difficult times. It’s a shocking jump, and has added pressure to schools, and day cares and food banks. The donations this past year have just barely kept pace,” said David Northcott, Executive Co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Harvest. “It’s a difficult issue that keeps surfacing in Manitoba and the rest of the country, and I only see the need rising this year.” 

Winnipeg Harvest is a not-for-profit organization providing emergency food assistance to over 40,000 people a month – an equivalent to filling the MTS Centre once with adults, and once with children.  According to the organization, 18,000 children each month require emergency food – 10 years ago that number was 5,512. Around 29 Winnipeg daycares, 48 community centers and 27 schools receive meals and snack food from the organization. 

This fall’s Brown Bag Thanksgiving campaign officially kicked off at Sisler High School in September, where students planted and grew 20 apple trees and donated the crop to the Winnipeg Harvest.

“We were so impressed with the teachers and principal at Sisler high school,” said Northcott. “These kids are close to graduation and it really gives you a hope for the future because you know they’ll continue to be involved after high school and in their higher education years.  So at least there’s some hope there.”

Northcott said that a lot more donations will be needed this year to feed the hungry. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and about 100 schools were involved last year in the annual campaign Operation Donation.

Operation Donation is coming up in spring and Northcott says the more people that participate the better. “Manitoba’s schools have been great in both donating food and engaging their students. The numbers over the last 12 months have been tough, we’d really appreciate as much help as we can get.”

Schools can donate to the Winnipeg Harvest throughout the year and classes can volunteer their time at the warehouse as the organization relies on volunteers for nearly aspect of our operation.  If you or your school would like to help out, call Gary at 204-982-3678, or visit: www.winnipegharvest.org

 

Can students create and evaluate digital content—and stay safe online?
National Media Literacy Week – November 2-6

Today’s students are immersed in a world of Facebook, MySpace, iPods and text and instant messaging. But can they protect their privacy, stay safe on social networks and be good digital citizens? How do they evaluate and make sense of what they find online? Do they know how to access, create, repurpose and distribute digital content?

This year’s theme for Media Literacy Week (MLW), November 2-6, is Media Literacy in the Digital Age. “Students today need to develop multiple literacy skills to successfully navigate their way in the digital media world. It’s just part of being literate,” says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

There’s danger in children passively absorbing media without learning to filter, analyze, and challenge the messages that come at them, says Isaak. “They also need to know how to create content while being good digital citizens. That’s a big part of what National Media Literacy Week is all about.”

Chris Harbeck, a math teacher at Sargent Park School in Winnipeg, says Media Literacy Week is about “allowing student curiosity to be the engine that drives the learning environment.” With his mentorship, his students leave dozens of constructive comments on classroom blogs every night. Andy McKiel, a curriculum coordinator in St. James-Assiniboia, says his work helping to infuse technology into classrooms for kindergarten to Grade 8 students does “wonders for student engagement.”

One of the Society’s Special Area Groups, The Manitoba Association for Computing Educators (ManACE), together with Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth (MEYC), will be co-sponsoring two Media Literacy Week activities on Monday, November 2.

The first is a series of five-minute pan-Canadian presentations on “What does media literacy mean to you?” Next is a panel discussion with a number of Manitoba teachers on “What does media literacy look like in your classroom and how do you make it part of your students’ Literacy with ICT across the curriculum?” Complete details are at www.manace.ca/blog and www.tr.im/medlitlet.

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation will be streaming a news conference from Ottawa featuring a panel discussion with award-winning journalists and the vice-president of policy communications for YouTube from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Winnipeg time. Details at:
http://www.ctf-fce.ca/Newsroom/news.aspx?NewsID=1983984665&year=2009

For complete information and background on Media Literacy Week, go to http://medialiteracyweek.ca

 

Manitoba teachers recognized by prime minister's awards

Five Manitoba teachers have been honoured with the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence.

Two received certificates of excellence and three certificates of achievement.

 Certificate of Excellence winners were:

            Certificate of Achievement winners were:

 

Teachers and School Boards Work to Keep Students, Staff Safe—Kids Learning

With a view to keeping Manitoba schools operating as normally as possible in the event of a serious H1N1 flu outbreak, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Manitoba School Boards Association today issued a joint statement to their members. 

In that statement, the two organizations asked that teachers and school boards be guided by reasonableness and flexibility when making decisions about continuing school programming, keeping schools open and redeploying personnel.

Both MTS and the Manitoba School Boards Association will provide assistance at the local level to help resolve any questions that may arise in the event of an H1N1 outbreak, including those relating to collective agreements.

See the joint statement

Nominations sought for Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission has called for nominations for the annual Sybil Shack Human Rights Youth Award.

The youth award recognizes a youth group or young person under the age of 25 who has promoted respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Manitoba.

The deadline for nominations is Nov. 6, 2009. More information can be found at the commission website.

 

World Teachers’ Day – Monday, Oct. 5

Teachers in Manitoba will celebrate World Teachers’ Day next Monday with a focus on peace education and social justice. “The theme for this year is ‘Peace. Live it. Teach it,’” says MTS president Pat Isaak, “and it couldn’t be a better fit.”

“Peace starts with small things,” says Isaak. “Certainly, when we talk about public schools, peace starts in the classroom. It starts with teachers showing students the importance of civility and kindness. You know, world leaders often talk about peace on their stage. But teachers talk about peace on their stage everyday in their classrooms”

One of the many Manitoba teachers who have embraced peace education is Tanis Westdal. She teaches middle years at Churchill High School and is piloting the new Grade 7 human rights curriculum which she helped to write.

“We’re big on raising human rights issues in my classes. About this time last year, we focussed attention on Halloween and promoted the issue of fair trade chocolate and reverse trick or treating. Even an event like Halloween has a social justice component to it.”

Currently, Westdal is helping her class identify needs versus wants in an exercise where students lobby “government” for basic human rights. “We talk about things like clean water, freedom from abuse, and more. But some of my students’ responses are surprising—they’ve suggested that “being loved” and “having a mother” are basic human rights, too.”

Isaak says Manitoba teachers will soon participate in a number of peace-related workshops. “Everything from genocide to clean water to conflict and terrorism and more will be discussed at some of the 28 Special Area Groups (SAG) conferences the Society is holding that day.”

More information on World Teachers' Day

 

Anti-homophobia booklet available for schools this fall

This fall, Manitoba schools will receive the newest province-funded resource publication, ShoutOut Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Heterosexism. The 44-page, full-colour pocket-sized booklet was created by the Rainbow Resource Center and aims to examine the impact of the phobias and to provide context as to why youth may be vulnerable to coping strategies such as alcohol and drug use. 

“Shout aims to capture what youth currently face,” says Reece Lagartera, Education and Resource Development Coordinator at the Rainbow Resource Center. “We wanted to facilitate discussion on how homophobia does impact health and wellness.”

The booklet is the second of its kind; a federal government version was released 10 years ago, but Lagartera says there has been a definite need for an up-to-date and positive resource that celebrates people’s identities.  ShoutOut addresses issues such as disclosing your identity; decision making around sexual behaviour; issues impacting self-esteem; and how to see a queer positive health provider. 

As well as including a list of local and national resource supports, “…all the interviews, stories and artwork are from local artists and youth. It’s really true to life. We wanted to capture youth’s experiences as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and two-spirit.”  Lagartera says the book can be a useful read for anyone, regardless of their sexuality. “ShoutOut shares our culture. At the same time the booklet provides hope affirmation and useful strategies for stress management.” 

The Rainbow Resource Center initially aimed to print 5,000 copies of the book but Lagartera says the demand has surpassed anything they expected and agencies in and outside of Manitoba has been ordering the booklet.

“We ended up printing 10,000 and it’s been extremely well received. It’s nice that places like Toronto, B.C. and the Eastern provinces want our resources.” A French version is likely the next step, depending on funding.

Schools will receive free copies of ShoutOut and a PDF version of the booklet is available on the Rainbow Resource Center website.

 

MTS president cites education progress under Premier Doer

August 27, 2009
During his time as Premier, Gary Doer has made a strong education system a priority and kept his commitments with respect to public schools. The students of Manitoba have benefited because of his leadership.

The Premier, who announced he is stepping down, has repeatedly said that a good education policy is good economic policy and Manitoba teachers wholeheartedly agree.

One of the proudest moments for me and for all Manitoba teachers was when his government fulfilled their election promise to overturn Bill 72, the regressive teacher collective bargaining legislation enacted by the previous government.

Manitoba teachers have always been especially appreciative that he has honoured his pledge to increase funding for public schools at or above the rate of Manitoba’s economic growth, especially in light of difficult economic times.

Under his leadership, significant improvements were made to our pension plan that will benefit teachers for generations to come. 

Premier Doer can be proud of his legacy of improvements in our public schools and in the working lives of teachers.

I would like to congratulate him on his ten years as Premier and thank him for what he has done on behalf of students and teachers in this province. I wish him well as he embarks on the next stage of his life.

 

Ministers study big jump in copyright fees paid for school photocopying

The Copyright Consortium of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, is reviewing last week’s decision by the Copyright Board of Canada, which established the rate that must be paid to Access Copyright, a collective representing certain authors and publishers, in order for schools to photocopy published print materials. The rate applies to schools operated by school boards in all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec, and will permit schools to photocopy materials for which the copyright is held by members of Access Copyright.

“We are pleased to have a decision on this important matter; however, we will need time to assess the implications of this tariff on public education,” said Marilyn More, Nova Scotia’s minister of education and chair of the CMEC Copyright Consortium.

Access Copyright filed an application in 2004 requesting that the Copyright Board of Canada establish a rate of $12.00 for each full-time-equivalent student attending a kindergarten-to- grade-12 school. In its recent decision, the Copyright Board set the rate at $4.64 per full-time- equivalent student for the first four years of the tariff, 2005 to 2008. The rate will increase to $5.16 for 2009. The tariff, which applies to all provinces and territories except Quebec, will cost about $20 million per year, based on a student enrolment of about 4 million students.

The decision replaces a five-year, pan-Canadian licence, which expired in August 2004. Under that licence, the negotiated rated was $2.45 per full-time student. “It has been a long process, which has resulted in a comprehensive decision by the Copyright Board,” said Ms. More. “I want to thank CMEC’s Copyright Consortium, in particular, the officials of the consortium’s steering committee, who worked so hard on this issue on behalf of students and teachers.”

“This has been a challenging issue for all parties involved,” said Ms. More. “We have to ensure that teachers have access to a wide variety of print materials for their students. At the same time, our creators and publishers must be fairly compensated for their work, which is of great value to teaching and learning in our schools.”

CMEC is an intergovernmental body composed of the ministers responsible for elementary-secondary and advanced education from the provinces and territories. Through CMEC, ministers share information and undertake projects in areas of mutual interest and concern. The CMEC Copyright Consortium comprises members from all provinces and territories with the exception of Quebec.

Teachers offered ticket deal for Bachman-Cummings concert

The MTS Center and Take Pride Winnipeg are honoring teachers as local heroes through a special promotion for the upcoming Randy Bachman-Burton Cummings concert, Tuesday, June 30 at the MTS Center.

“The MTS Center was doing a special 2 for 1 deal for heroes such as firefighters and policemen,” says Tom Ethans, executive director for Take Pride Winnipeg. “I told them ‘why don’t we add teachers to the list as well’; all my heroes have been teachers.”

To receive the promotion, visit www.ticketmaster.ca and look up the Bachman Cummings concert in Winnipeg.  Select two tickets under the Promotions and Special Offers field and use the code herot to receive two tickets at $29.00, instead of $59.00 each. 

 

The timing of a baby's birth is critical for teachers

If you are expecting a baby, you are undoubtedly aware that your collective agreement provides for up to 17 weeks of maternity leave Supplementary Employment Insurance (top-up) benefits, and in most cases, an additional 10 weeks of parental leave top-up benefits.

You may also be aware that, in the case of the maternity leave top-up benefits, the timing of your baby’s birth will have an impact on how many weeks of benefits you will actually receive. Currently, no top-up benefits are payable for non-teaching periods including summer, winter, and spring breaks, but despite this, there are some things you can do to maximize your benefit entitlement.   

In order to be paid top-up benefits, you must first apply for Employment Insurance benefits.  The Employment Insurance maternity benefit period can start anytime from 10 weeks prior to the expected due date, up to the actual birth date or the original due date, whichever is later.  Your maternity top-up benefit period is the same as your Employment Insurance benefit period.  Therefore, if you are expecting a baby over any of the non-teaching periods, particularly the summer, the timing of your Employment Insurance benefit period is critical.

If your baby is due over the summer break, the later you are able establish your Employment Insurance maternity benefit period, the more weeks of maternity top-up will be available to you after the summer.  In order to maximize your benefits, you need to use the latter of the two latest dates on which you can start your EI maternity benefit period, either the due date or the actual date of birth.  Furthermore, to ensure your claim starts when you want it to start, you must make your application for benefits no earlier than the week you want the benefits to begin.  For example, if your baby is due on July 24th, but is born on July 17th, you will make your application for EI benefits the week of July 24th.  However, if your baby is due July 24th, and is not born until August 1st, you will make your application for EI benefits the week of August 1st.  Applying for benefits any sooner, no matter how convenient it may be, will result in your benefit period starting earlier than necessary, and will result in a loss of top-up benefits.

It is also critical that you carefully check your EI benefits confirmation information to ensure that your benefit period has started in the correct week.  Service Canada, the government network that delivers Employment Insurance programs, will sometimes change the benefit period start date in accordance with their policy of back dating claims when a claimant applies within four weeks of the interruption of earnings.

 The Record of Employment for teachers expecting summer babies will always show the interruption of earnings occurring on the last teaching day in June.  It is therefore possible that your claim may be back dated to the beginning of July if you apply within four weeks of the end of June.  The same problems can occur around the winter and spring breaks.  If your claim is back dated, contact Service Canada immediately and request that your benefit period start date be adjusted. 

For further information regarding maternity or parental leave, please contact Nancy Kerr at The Manitoba Teachers’ Society at 831-3086, 1-800-262-8803 extension 216, or at nkerr@mbteach.org.  When using email, please ensure you use a personal and not divisional email address.    
 

MTS supports government over debt-repayment legislation

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has expressed its support for the proposed provincial law to amend Manitoba’s balanced budget legislation.

Bill 30 would allow the government to forego making minimum annual payments of $110 million on the provincial debt for two years. The bill had originally said three years, but the government announced it would amend it to two.

Read the complete presentation

MTS President Pat Isaak said in a presentation to the legislative committee studying the bill that the proposed change makes “sound fiscal sense.”

She said that in uncertain economic times it makes sense for the government to have the flexibility on how much to pay down the debt and how much goes to ongoing expenses.

“Education program and service delivery by public schools to student throughout our province requires the support of the provincial treasury,” she said. “As several presenters have said before me, this bill does not authorize the Minister of Finance to stop making a yearly debt retirement payment for three fiscal years, but gives the minister discretion as to the amount of the annual payment.”

 

Students, teachers invited to online webcast for green project

On June 9, the One Million Acts of Green project is inviting students and teachers to take part in an online webcast from noon to 12:45.

The Canadian Teachers' Federation. through the Green Street Program, highlighted the CBC's One Million Acts of Green to member organizations.

The webcast will feature Dr. David Suzuki and touch on rediscovering nature, how to be a leader and the history of "eco" from economy to ecology.

The CTF says it would be best suited for Grades 5 to 8.

Ken Pearce named as General Secretary of MTS

The Provincial Executive of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is pleased to announce the appointment of Ken Pearce as General Secretary effective June 1st, 2009.  Ken is a Past President of the Society and currently holds the position of Chairperson of the Council of School Leaders.  Ken brings to the position of General Secretary over 30 years of experience in public schools in Manitoba and we look forward to Ken’s leadership in his new role.


Pat Isaak
President

Highly-acclaimed, The Class, returns to Winnipeg

One of the most acclaimed movies about teachers and students returns to Winnipeg this month at The Cinematheque.

The Class,  winner of the Palmes d’Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, has received widespread praise, The Class  takes place entirely within the classrooms, teachers lounge and on the playground of a working-class, multi-ethnic Parisian middle school.

In French with English subtitles, it focuses on François and his fellow teachers as they prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighborhood. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement stop them from trying to give the best education to their students.

Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, The Class runs from May 9 through May 21.

More information can be found at the website for The Cinematheque, charitable, artist-run organization committed to promoting the art of cinema.

 

Teachers' federation video focuses on value of unions

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation has produced a satirical video on the value of teachers' unions.

The OSSTF says the six-minute video was created to demonstrate, in a humourous fashion, the benefits of belonging to a union.

"We have had a changeover in members - many newer and younger members do not understand how many of the gains that we have won were hard fought and we wanted to educate them."

Pat Isaak re-elected to second term as MTS president

MTS President Pat Isaak has been re-elected to a second term, the MTS returning officer announced.

The count of the ballots took place April 21 at McMaster House.

Ballots cast: 7,811

Corinne Barrett-DeWeile received 2,611 votes

Pat Isaak received  5,169 votes

Spoiled ballots: 31

 

Students from Dauphin, Flin Flon, Thompson and Winnipeg YHA recipients

Mathew Backhouse from Thompson, Bryn Helgeson from Dauphin, Aurora Whitehead from Flin Flon, and a group of eight students from Winnipeg will be recognized for their humanitarian work on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:00 pm, at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People at The Forks.

“These youth are a great example of the compassionate students we have in our public schools,” says Pat Isaak, the president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “They’re an inspiration to their families, schools and communities.”

Bryn Helgeson is a Grade 5 student from Henderson Elementary School in Dauphin, Manitoba.  When a new student with special needs joined Bryn’s class, she volunteered to work with her new classmate and help her feel included. Bryn took daily interest in the student’s well being and struck up a friendship, helping the student become a part of the class.  Her actions have demonstrated to her school community a powerful lesson in inclusion and compassion.

Recognized as a celebrity in her community and among her peers at school, fifth grader Aurora Whitehead from McIsaac School in Flin Flon, organized a dance that raised $1,600 for Cancer Care Manitoba. Always seeking ways to be of service and to make her help count, Aurora approached local businesses and organizations to gain support for the cause near to her heart – her father is a seven-year cancer survivor.  With the help of her family and friends, Aurora’s dance was a success, and through her organization of the event she has learned many new skills which will serve her well as a future leader in her school and community.

Mathew Backhouse is a Grade 12 student at R.D. Parker Collegiate in Thompson who embarked on a project to raise funds to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in recreational facilities after hearing of the death of a young Russian hockey player who died from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  He organized a fundraising campaign to purchase an AED for the Thompson arenas, hitting the phone lines, approaching businesses and spreading the word through radio interviews and meetings with various organizations around the city.  Mathew has raised $5,400 to date, enough to buy 2 AEDs, while also finding time to volunteer at elementary schools and public skating nights at his local arenas.

A group of eight students from Collège Louis-Riel’s Alternative Program travelled to the Dominican Republic to take part in a charity project to build houses in poor villages that have suffered hurricane damage.  The students, between 15 and 17 years of age, fundraised to cover the costs of the trip and donated money for the purchase of local building materials.
   For two weeks, the students lived with the Dominican people, striking up friendships and stepping up to the challenge of building two homes, despite the lack of running water and electricity. The students forged strong bonds with the local people, and made a clear difference in their new friends’ lives. 

“Beyond the 3 Rs” conference explores more than just the basics

Avis Glaze brought her rigorous character education message to a full house of 350 teachers, school division officials, government representatives and community leaders at the Victoria Inn, Winnipeg today.

Speaking at the Society’s “Beyond the 3 Rs” conference, Glaze, who has been a teacher, administrator, author and member of Ontario’s Royal Commission on Learning, reminded teachers to never forget the impact they have when they stand up for social justice issues.

“Every teacher,” she said, “is a human rights advocate. And we can never be selective about the people for whom we advocate.”

Glaze said empathy is easy when we empathize with people similar to ourselves, “but much harder across the lines that divide us.” And she highlighted her personal philosophy that, “societies do not become civil because they are rich. They become rich because they are civil.”

She praised Manitoba teachers for the work the do in nation building. “One of the most important things teachers can realize is that what they do every day affects the health and well-being of the nation.”
She took several digs at the instrumentalist view of education that schools are just for preparing children for work. Instead, Glaze said she thinks of schools, “as family, as haven, as community, as the hub of the community—as incubators as social values.”

“Intelligence alone is not enough,” she said, quoting Einstein. “Intelligence and character is the true goal of education. Good citizenship is essential to build the country.”

Shifting her focus to future challenges, Glaze reprised 16 trends that will affect education in the future saying that in the near future the old will outnumber the young, majorities will become minorities, and ethical issues will continue to regularly challenge our students.

She expressed concerns over boys’ performance in reading and how this will affect their futures, and said we must do more to prepare children for the technological trends of the future, even though in some ways they might be ahead of us.

“Recently I was in a classroom in Singapore where every child had a laptop. They were creating projects,” she said speaking about the millennials, children who have grown up with in a digital world. “I’m not saying that laptops are changing the world, but we have to keep up with technological advancement. And sometimes, we may have to sit back with humility and be taught by young people.”
“Children,” said Glaze, “are the only substance from which responsible adults can be made.”

She praised teachers for being in tune with the students who are marginalized in the schools. Every day you are working with children who are poor, who are marginalized. You are also playing multiple roles in their lives and you do such a good job of it.”

For more information, see the conference site at www.beyond3Rs.ning.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More than 100 schools bring in 120,650 lbs. of food for Operation Donation

Three eloquent Grade 5 students from MacGregor Elementary School stole the show at a Winnipeg Harvest news conference this morning. Randi Wright, Joel Dale and Kierstyn Rodgers spoke passionately about the needs of hungry children, and of their school’s participation in the 10th annual Operation Donation campaign.

About 150 people including 22 students from MacGregor gathered in the Legacy Centre of the Louis Riel School Division this morning for the big reveal. Bruce Michalski, Acting General Manager of Winnipeg Harvest announced a total of 58,113 lbs. of food was collected by students at 113 Manitoba schools. The total for the Operation Donation 2009 campaign was 120,650 lbs.

In her remarks, Randi said it’s surprising that “so many children’s families have to turn to food banks to eat in a country as wealthy and prosperous as Canada.”

Joel said of his classmates, “We may not be very old, but we see what is happening around us and we worry about a society that tolerates children coming to school hungry.”

Kierstyn Rodgers expressed her wish for a world where “no child goes to bed hungry, where every child gets a chance to learn, to grow and to hope.”

The MacGregor students and their teacher Kyle McKinstry arrived by school bus with 10 blue bins full of donated food which were quickly carried into the venue. They were recognized along students and teachers across Manitoba for their contributions to the campaign.

“It is so important students know that the work they do is not invisible,” said Pat Isaak, President of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “They deserve a lot of recognition for their incredible contributions to this campaign.”

Isaak said the annual campaign represents what is best about public schools and students. “It also represents what is best about the teachers who nurture those students, because Operation Donation could never have happened without the involvement, support and commitment of teachers.” 

Isaak asked students present from MacGregor and Louis Riel School Division to express their appreciation to the teachers in the room—which they did with a rousing “thank you.”

McKinstry said he was impressed by the caring the MacGregor students showed. “It really speaks to their compassionate hearts. And it speaks well of the community, the school, and the surrounding area, because everyone rallied around them.

“They also developed an awareness of social justice for themselves and realized just how fortunate they are.”

Bruce Michalski, said participation in Operation Donation grows every year. “Earlier, we set a goal of having 100 schools participate in the campaign. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society was instrumental in getting 113 schools involved this year. The participation of rural schools was inspiring. And, of course, the amount raised just grows year after year.

 

Teachers working to make Telus Cup tournament a success

A principal in the Lord Selkirk School Division is nearing his goal of getting 5,000 students out to support Canada’s national midget AAA hockey championship being held in Manitoba April 20-26.

            Wayne Davies, principal of Robert Smith School in Selkirk, is heading the schools’ program for the Telus Cup tournament, which features the best 15 to 17-year-old teams from across Canada.

            The schools’ program features inexpensive tickets for each first games of the tournament each weekday.

            “Things are rolling right along,” says Davies, who, as of March 9, had 3,400 students from across Manitoba lined up to attend games. One school in Winnipeg will have 322 students attending.

            Tickets for students are $2 and their chaperones will get in for free. “We want to make it teacher-friendly,” he says.

            The schools’ program is designed to give kids the opportunity to see a national hockey tournament as well as to provide an audience for the 11 a.m. games which might otherwise be sparsely-attended.

            While Davies is spearheading that effort, other teachers are working on a volunteer basis on a number of aspects of the tournament.

            “A lot of teachers are involved in the background,” says Davies.

            Six area schools will be official hosts and hold pep rallies for specific teams. For example, the French Immersion school in Selkirk, Ecole Bonaventure, will host the Quebec team.

            A bilingual teacher has volunteered to be rink announcer and another is organizing a tin-for-the-bin food drive for the local food bank. Davies says even the local school board chair has been involved.

            Davies says there are still spots for students at all games except Friday, which already has 1,400 seats spoken for. All games are at the Selkirk Recreation Centre. Teachers and schools can get ticket information at 482-3677.

 

Carried by students and teachers, Operation Donation into 10th year

Operation Donation, the schools-based food drive for Winnipeg Harvest, heads into its tenth year in 2009 and organizers hope to set new records for donations.

“We would like to see every student in the province participate,” says teacher Frank Restall, who has spearheaded the initiative in all but one year of its history. “That is our ultimate goal.”

In the drive’s first year, four schools participated. In 2008, 100 schools were involved and helped bring in 110,000 pounds of food. That was a significant portion of the 280,000 that has been donated over Operation Donation’s 10-year history.

The drive is held during a single week in March, during which students at participating schools are asked to bring in a single food item each. Once the schools’ totals are weighed, Peak of the Market matches the donations pound for pound. The Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation also sponsors the drive and collects food within its organization.

The week-long drive in 2009 will be held March 2 to 6.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society began helping Operation Donation two years ago, informing and urging teachers and schools to become involved in the effort. Restall says the Society’s involvement helped double the number of schools participating from 50 to 100.

“It’s just been amazing, the support of MTS and individual teachers and students from all over the province,” says Restall, adding that he hopes more schools from outside Winnipeg will consider participating.

For more information phone Winnipeg Harvest at 982-3666 or visit the Winnipeg Harvest website at www.winnipegharvest.org

Education minister, MTS president address chamber of commerce

Provincial Education Minister Peter Bjornson and MTS President Pat Isaak both addressed the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Breakfast Series Feb. 10, emphasizing the shared educational goals of all organizations.

"We have been an active particpant in these chamber events or a number of years now," Isaak said. 'It's a partnership that we value, because we recognize that education is at the core of our success as a province and a nationa and that it cannot be the responsibility of any one person or group."

Bjornson echoed that view and emphasized some of the government's goals and successes such as increasing graduation rates and actively promoting education for sustainable development, rural education and support for special needs students.

Text of Isaak's remarks

Text of Bjornson's remarks

President questions FP article's unsupported assertions

MTS President Pat Isaak took strong exception to an article in the Winnipeg Free Press that although education spending has increased there is “little evidence of any major improvement in the quality of education for most students.”

The article, however, did not attribute that statement to anyone nor give any evidence at all that it is true.

The Free Press ran a letter to the editor from Isaak, but cut out the third paragraph.

The full letter (with the edited portion highlighted) was as follows:

Letter to the editor:

The first paragraph in the January 29th piece Spending on public schools ballooning states there is “little evidence of any major improvement in the quality of education for most students.”

With no backup to substantiate that allegation in the story, it can only be viewed as an undeserved shot at 15,000 hard-working professionals—Manitoba’s public school teachers.

The Winnipeg Free Press should not allow a reporter’s personal views a free pass in a news piece on public schools funding. Obviously, he could find no one to corroborate his fabrication.

There is substantial evidence that Manitoba’s public schools are amongst the best in the country. And Manitoba teachers work incredibly hard to provide quality programming and the widest possible range of opportunities for their students.

Pat Isaak
President, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society

 

MTS launches radio message for I Love To Read Month

To support February “I Love to Read Month” activities at schools around the province, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has rolled out a 30-second radio commercial that encourages parents to read with their children.

In the spot, Society President Pat Isaak thanks parents for their participation, reminding them that reading “sparks imagination, builds vocabulary and feeds a growing mind.”

Schools' funding announcement welcome news, says MTS president

Jan. 29, 2009
Today’s announcement of an additional $53.1 million for the 2009 - 2010 school year is welcome support for public schools, says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “Given today’s economic climate, we appreciate the provincial government’s continuing commitment to fund public schools at or above the rate of economic growth.”

Isaak says teachers will see the increase as a signal that government “continues to see education as an investment and is focusing on the future, while clearly being mindful of the present.”

Teachers also appreciate the increases for students with special needs, students for whom English is not a first language, physical education programs, and equalization, says Isaak.

The guaranteed instructional support for small schools of 65 students or fewer is also welcome.  “Money that gets to classrooms is always paramount for us,” she says, “because that money helps teachers maintain the quality of education Manitoba students deserve. And given the increased expectations placed on our schools, it’s important for government to direct additional resources to the classroom.”

Isaak says Manitoba schools benefit from having some of the best qualified teachers in the country. “This announcement shows respect for the job they are doing in the classroom and for the needs of Manitoba’s 170,000 public school students.”

Government funding announcement

 

History Society announces search for top Canadian history teachers

Canada’s National History Society is seeking nominations for the 14th Governor General’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History. It is urging History and Social Studies educators to submit their unique teaching approaches to the program.

Six Recipients are Awarded $2,500, a medal and a trip for two to attend the Awards festivities and official ceremony with Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

Schools Share in the Winnings. An additional $1,000 is awarded to the recipients' schools.

The Society says all approaches and teachers at all grade levels are welcome. Teachers can present their work individually, as a group, or be nominated by a student, parent or colleague.

Deadline for Submissions: April 30, 2009
Here is how to apply: Rules: http://www.historysociety.ca/gga.asp?subsection=rul
Form: http://www.historysociety.ca/gga.asp?subsection=nom
Information: prixggawards@historysociety.ca  1-800-861-1008

Sponsors: TD Bank Financial Group and Library and Archives Canada

 

Nominations being sought for MTS Young Humanitarian Awards

Is there a young humanitarian in your class? Every teacher knows students who’ve had a big impact on their classmates, schools and communities.

And each year the Society looks for students, both as individuals and groups, who demonstrate compassion, self-sacrifice, leadership and creativity in serving others.

The MTS Young Humanitarian Award committee is busy preparing for this year’s April 21, 2009 awards show at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. And it’s looking for nominations to add to the Society’s 11-year history of honouring the humanitarian work of public school students in Manitoba.

The array of good works highlighted in past years is dizzying: everything from helping to build an operating room at an orphanage in Vietnam to reading to the terminally ill right here at home; from collecting and delivering baby formula and diapers to hurricane victims in the U.S. to raising money for a best friend with a rare brain disease.

Last year:

The Young Humanitarian Award is not a sports award. It’s not for getting good grades. It’s for students who show compassion by helping in their schools and in their communities.

You can check out the stories and pictures of previous year's YHA winners, all the way back to 1998, by going to the MTS Library on the website home page, then opening the YHA file.

Nomination forms will be mailed to every school in Manitoba on Jan. 23. They’ll also be posted here. The deadline for nominations is 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.

 

MTS General Secretary Judy Bradley retires

An educational career that spanned more than 30 years came to an end at the beginning of the year with the retirement of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s General Secretary.

Judy Bradley, the first woman to hold the Society’s highest management position, was General Secretary for four years. Before that she had been Assistant General Secretary for five years.

Bradley has always strived to represent the Objects of the Society and has been a strong advocate for teacher rights and for the teaching profession. 

Recently, Bradley was heavily involved in MTS initiatives pertaining to teacher certification, adult learning centres, special education, education finance, bargaining, pensions, special needs legislation, and educational assistants.

In outlining some of the successes of the Society over the past few years, Bradley has pointed to gains made for substitute teachers and equity gains made in the provision of maternity and parental benefits for many teachers and enhancing the profile of teachers and their work.

She began teaching in the Winnipeg School Division in 1968 and in the 1970s went west to teach in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. She taught Grades 9 to 12, served as department head, developed an Adult Business Education Program, and established a school community-relations program featuring a Christmas Dinner for seniors.

She was president of the St. James-Assiniboia Teachers’ Association in 1984 and became president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society in 1991. She was an MTS staff officer from 1992 until she became Assistant General Secretary.

Bradley has also served on numerous committees and commissions concerning issues such as professional services, education finance, collective bargaining, pensions, labour relations, benefits and teacher education and certification. She was involved with the Commission that established DSFM; presented to the Roy White consultations on changes to The Public Schools Act; was a member of Society Work Group on teacher collective bargaining under the LRA; developed a MTS Professional Self-Governance Model; served on and chaired the Board of Teacher Education and Certification; served on the Minister's Curriculum Program Review Committee and Council and the Joint Committee on Curriculum Evaluation; and served on the Minister's Education Finance Advisory Committee. 

Bradley was a director of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and worked with the Canadian Education Association Planning Committee, served on the CTF Economic Development Steering Committee and the CTF CMEC Liaison Committee. In 1999 she was honoured by the Manitoba Business and Computer Technology Educators’ Association for her professional achievements.

She has always strived to ensure people realize that public education is not only a success but, most importantly, one of the underpinnings of democracy.

“Our teachers are the ones who make that happen,” she says. “I don’t believe there is any other job or profession that is charged with as great a responsibility as teaching. Parents entrust us with the education and care of their children.”

 

Canadian Association of Principals meets in Winnipeg next May

A number of internationally-renowned speakers will highlight the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Principals to be held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in May.

Author and educator Andy Hargreaves will speak on ways to deal effectively with change in school and the importance of sustainable leadership. Hargreaves is the Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Its mission is to promote social justice and connect theory and practice in education.

He is also co-founder of the International Centre for Educational Change.
 
Delegates will also hear from Wayne Hulley of the Canadian Effective Schools organization, who has worked across Canada and in more than 40 American states.  He will introduce an integrated system for ‘smarter thinking’ when making decisions.  His sessions will explore “SmartSkills” in communicating, managing and motivating and the building of effective teams.

From Scotland, Bart McGettrick, former Dean of the Faculty of Education at Glasgow University, member of the Board of Regents of Bethlehem University and Chair of the Scottish Forum for Professional Ethics, will address the issue of leadership through professional and personal values and will explore with conference participants the possibility of leading an educational institution by such values.

Some of the other speakers include:

Participants can get more information and register online at www.cosl.mb.ca.

 

Bullying Awareness Week – November 16 - 22

Bullying is not simply a “normal” part of growing up. It’s a serious issue, made more complex by technology that allows bullies to pursue their victims at school, around town, into their homes—even into their own bedrooms. In the words of Glenn Stutzky, an expert on bullying at Michigan State University, “The bully has gone mobile…it’s like being tethered to your tormentor.”

Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, says where more traditional bullying is concerned, there are thousands of successful interventions that Manitobans will never be aware of simply because teachers have been right there to step in. “Teachers and principals are very concerned about all aspects of bullying,” says Isaak. “But cyberbullying is harder to detect, and students will post things on Facebook, and make comments in IMs and text messages that they wouldn’t think of repeating face to face.”

According to a Kids Help Phone survey conducted last year, more than 70 per cent of Canadian teens have been bullied online and 44 per cent admitted to cyberbullying someone else at least once. “Many times, teachers become aware of a cyberbullying case, only when it bubbles over into the classroom or schoolyard,” says Isaak. “We need everyone—especially parents—to be vigilant about cyberbullying.”

Isaak says The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Canadian Teachers’ Federation are raising awareness of cyberbullying through the media and by pointing parents and everyone concerned to the following resources.

Bullying Resources

www.bullyingawarenessweek.org

Complete details on Bullying Awareness Week, along with day-by-day ideas and resources. Features a downloadable 30-second radio spot for schools to play permission to play over their PA systems.

www.bullying.org
The world's most visited and referenced Website about bullying
www.cyberbullying.ca
The world's first Website about cyberbullying
www.bullyingcourse.com
Offers online courses and Webinars about bullying and cyberbullying
http://tcs.cybertipline.com
Every day children are sexually solicited online. PSAs and information on the ugliest form of cyberbullying.

 

Education Minister Sports No Do As New Do In Support of Cancer Foundation

Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson will be saving money on shampoo following the The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s “Brave the Shave™” event at Shaftesbury High School on November 17th.  Ace Burpee from HOT 103 FM was in charge of shaving the minister’s head bald in support of the annual fund raising event.

Shaftesbury High School was the top fundraising school this year, while Manitoba student fund raising for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was up 400 per cent because of the Minister’s participation in the program.

Besides Bjornson, a number of students and staff volunteers went bald as the rest of the school and media participants cheered on. All of the participants received t-shirts and “Brave the Shave™” toques to keep warm in the chilly November weather.

“I’m very pleased to support students who are raising funds for breast cancer research,” said the Minister. “We are on our way to find a cure.”

CTF involved in Million Acts of Green movement

The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, Canada's late-night talk show, and a number of organizations, including The Canadian Teachers’ Federation Green Street program, are partnering to spearhead a massive, nationwide environmental movement.

The Hour will attempt to mobilize Canadians to commit One Million Acts of Green. In partnership with Cisco, and the power of their 'Human Network Effect' the collective goal is to change how we live and how we treat the planet, one act at a time.

All Canadians have to do is commit one act of "green" (or more), then register the act. There will be a highly interactive One Million Acts of Green (OMAoG) website (www.onemillionactsofgreen.com) where anyone can log their acts and see an immediate impact via an extensive green calculator designed by GreenNexxus.

The project has already drawn interest from a number of schools across Canada that have begun planning projects.

The site will also be a hub of information about OMAoG, and will serve as an educational resource of "green" content. Registrants will be able to learn more, inspire and challenge others to act.
The campaign will officially kick off on Tuesday October 21, 2008 and will run over The Hour's entire upcoming season, through to June 2009.

Other partners include Clean Air Foundation, The David Suzuki Foundation, Earth Day Canada, Environmental Defence, Evergreen and The Climate Project-Canada. They are results-based, community-centred and absolute authorities on what it takes to get to 'green.' Their support and commitment to OMAoG is invaluable.

 

Manitoba educators asked to participate in national survey

Educators at Concordia University are conducting a national survey to determine how knowledge resulting from educational research is used in schools.

"We believe that this information will allows school practitioners to examine everyday practices," the researchers say. "It can also allow researchers and research brokers to evaluate the efficiency of strategies used to bring research to practical education."

The group hopes Manitoba educators will help with the project by filling out a 15-minute, online questionnaire.

The questionnaire can be accessed here: http://echoonline.ccl-cca.ca/Default.aspx?release=010edbbd-b2d0-4f53-9f7c-a164f5838d63

 

The Manitoba Teachers' Society sends letter of condolence to Finnish educators

Mr. Erkki Kangasniemi, President
Trade Union of Education in Finland
Opetusalan Ammattjarjesto OAJ
P.O. Box 20 (Rautatielaisenkatu 6)
FI-00521 Helsinki,
Finland

Fax: 011-358-9-145-821

September 24, 2008
Re: Grieving for Kauhajoki
Dear Mr. Kangasniemi:
We, the 15,000 public school teachers of Manitoba, Canada, are profoundly saddened by yesterday’s tragic shooting in the town of Kauhajoki.
We cannot imagine the magnitude of the grief being felt in that community and across Finland. We certainly mourn the loss of those 10 young lives here in Canada.
Our hearts go out to you and your families, relatives and friends. We hope that one day all those who grieve might find comfort. For now, we pray you’ll have strength to bear up under the enormous sorrow of the coming days.
Please accept our deepest sympathies as you deal with the unimaginable loss of this cherished group of young people.
With condolences and solidarity,

 

Pat Isaak, President
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society

 

'Teachers change your life' theme of World Teachers' Day

Remember that one special teacher? It seems that many Manitobans can recall a teacher who has inspired them—who made a difference in their lives.

The theme for the Oct. 5 World Teachers’ Day 2008 is “Teachers change your life.”

“Teachers have a huge influence on children’s lives,” says Pat Isaak, Manitoba Teachers’ Society president. “They know the best way to have that is by connecting with students one on one. They know each child is unique. They recognize that and build on those individual differences. And they help children discover the joy and passion of learning. That really is the essence of teaching.”

But increasingly, class size and composition issues are making it harder for teachers to spend the time they’d like to with their students, says Isaak. “More and more we’re hearing that workload issues are definitely having an impact on how much individual attention teachers can give their students.”

Isaak says, for years, the Society’s polling has shown the connection between class size-composition and student behavior, and the impact it has on teachers’ workload.

“Teachers are committed to playing a major role in each child’s development, but they need the necessary time to do it,” says Isaak. “Our working conditions really are students’ learning conditions.”

One of the ways teachers help and influence their students is by keeping themselves professionally sharp, staying on top of current and innovative teaching practices. Besides their personal professional development, thousands of teachers across Manitoba will be taking part in the largest PD event of the year—27 Special Area Group (SAG) conferences organized by the Society held concurrently this November 28th. This year’s conferences will include hundreds of presentations by leading educators from across North America.

For more information on World Teachers’ Day, or to send an e-greeting to your favourite teacher, go to http://www.ei-ie.org/worldteachersday2008

 

Legislature passes law to enact teachers' pension changes

After five years of extensive lobbying by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society for improvements in the Cost of Living Adjustment for retired teachers, MTS praises the passage of Bill 45 today in the Manitoba Legislature.

“Bill 45, The Teachers’ Pensions Amendment Act, represents a win-win-win for active teachers, retired teachers and the provincial government,” said Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Pat Isaak. “The issue of COLA has been in the making for more than two decades. We are pleased that government has moved on an issue that will benefit both active and retired teachers and provide a balanced, long term and fiscally responsible resolution to a long standing problem.”

“These amendments to The Teachers’ Pensions Act will provide a better cost of living adjustment and protect the basic pension benefit for all active and retired Manitoba teachers.  We appreciate the willingness of government to deal with a difficult issue in a balanced and fiscally responsible manner.”

These changes to the legislation that governs teachers’ pensions will:

The amendments contained in Bill 45 provide an immediate and significant improvement to retired teachers’ cost of living adjustment without increasing pension contributions for active teachers.

 

Union leaders kick off United Way labour campaign

Pat Isaak, Manitoba Teachers’ Society president, donned an apron and joined about 150 union members and labour leaders at the 2008 United Way Labour Campaign Presidents’ Breakfast, this morning.

This year’s campaign chair, Bob Silver, made the case for more business and labour participation in the campaign. He praised Winnipeg’s community spirit and said the soon-to-be-announced campaign goal will be higher than the $17 million target set last year.

Darlene Dziewit, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour challenged more union members to make the personal sacrifices needed to contribute at the “leadership level” of $1,200. Dziewit told stories of a garment worker and grocery store clerk who set their personal donation goals at that level.

The breakfast took place at 275 Broadway Avenue and was sponsored by the Winnipeg Labour Council.

 

MTS concerns about implementation of phys-ed changes remain

Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Pat Isaak was asked for the Society’s take on Education Minister Peter Bjornson’s re-announcement Wednesday of a mandatory phys-ed program for Grade 11 and 12 students.

“Anytime there is an implementation of additional compulsory credits, it creates stresses in other parts of the system,” said Isaak in the Global TV clip which aired Sept. 3.

When asked about major concerns with the new program, Isaak pointedly said teachers “want to ensure that those credits are being taught by certified teachers” a position the Society has raised in the past with government and education officials.

Unfortunately, the Global reporter injected somewhat of a cliché into her remarks, before Isaak’s first clip. “While many are praising the province’s efforts to keep kids fit, some say the plan isn’t healthy,” she said.

“The Society is entirely onside with the physical education and healthy living goals for students,” said Isaak. “I emphasized that right up front. But we do have concerns with the implementation of this program.”

Isaak says now that the program is in place, the Society will be monitoring very closely the effect it will have on MTS members and Manitoba students. “We will provide that feedback directly to government.”

At the minister’s announcement, Bjornson was asked whether the level of funding for the launching the new curriculum was sufficient—another concern the Society has raised.

“We have a commitment to keep an eye on the progress this year,” he said. “And if there are challenges, we’ll address those challenges.”

For more information on changes to phys-ed curricula in Manitoba high schools, go to the Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth website at: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/physhlth/curriculum.html#grades11to12

 

Education minister praises Manitoba schools cited by magazine

Education Minister Peter Bjornson has congratulated three Manitoba schools selected among the top 25 in Canada in the Today's Parent magazine Great Schools 2008 competition.

The magazine's fifth annual survey of Canada's "stellar schools" featured in the publication's September 2008 issue includes the Lakeshore School Division's Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, the Pembina Trails School Division's École Dieppe School in Winnipeg and the Winnipeg School Division's Luxton School.

"It was exciting to learn that three public schools were selected by an independent publication and characterized as excellent on a national scale," Bjornson said.  "This news supports our view that Manitoba has one of the highest-quality public education systems in Canada and I congratulate the schools and divisions for their exceptional work."

Alf Cuthbert School in Moosehorn, a Manitoba Interlake community, won in the Real Respect category.  The magazine quoted one parent as saying there is "an unwavering expectation of good citizenship" at this school.  Students from higher grades pitch in to help younger students with breakfast programs and lunch preparation.  Older students help to run intramural sports programs.  Christmas dinner is served by support staff each year.

École Dieppe School, located in west Winnipeg, won in the Terrific Teachers category.  As one example, music teacher Andrea Wicha helped her students bring home a large number of awards from the Winnipeg International Music Festival.  Her music students also performed a composition they wrote with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra.

In central Winnipeg, Luxton School won in the Community Commitment category.  A school family centre is organized and staffed by parents and volunteers who hold activities for students and their families.  The school offers adult upgrading programs, English courses evenings and weekends, and a recreational program for children.  According to Today's Parent, this award is about helping students learn they belong to a wider community capable of handling cultural, recreational, social and emotional enrichment programs.

"As a former teacher, I know first-hand that it takes more than a building with desks and books to make a great school," Bjornson said.  "The real credit belongs to the teachers, students and families who have made their schools clearly stand out against a backdrop of thousands across the country."

 

MTS education conference registrations accepted, early-bird deadline soon

The early-bird deadline for registrations for the April 8-9, 2009 MTS education conference is Oct. 15.

Up to that date, registrations will be accepted for $299 for individuals and a $249 group rate of six or more registrants. After the deadline, registration costs jump to $349 for individuals and $299 for members of groups.

The conference, to be held at the Victoria Inn and Conference Centre in Winnipeg, features over 25 different sessions on topics such as media/technology, citizenship and character education, social justice and equity and Aboriginal education.

Main speakers include Avis Glaze, chief executive officer of the Ontario Numeracy and Literacy Secretariat and Michelle Dagnino, a Toronto-based leadership consultant, named one of Canada's top 25 leaders under 30 by Macleans magazine.

For more information:

Paul Olson, MTS vice-president, polson@mbteach.org

Bobbi Ethier, bethier@mbteach.org

Judy Berard, jberard@mbteach.org

Conference registration form

MTS makes presentations on pension plan changes

July 22, 2008
Numerous teachers have made presentations to the provincial government in support of changes to the teachers' pension plan.

The changes, reached after years of discussion between the province and The Manitoba Teachers' Society, will see pension Cost of Living Adjustments increasing from current levels.

The changes introduced in the Manitoba Legislature would provide an improved cost-of-living adjustment through the pension adjustment account.  Over a 10-year period this adjustment would, subject to available funding in the account, be up to 5.33 per cent or two-thirds of the annual increase in Canada's consumer price index on Dec. 31 of the previous year.  After 2018, increases would, subject to available funding in the account, be limited by the Canadian consumer price index on Dec. 31 of the preceding year.

Some retired teachers oppose the move, demanding a COLA of 100 per cent.

MTS submission by President Pat Isaak
Pat Isaak's oral presentation to the legislative committee

Bill 45 presentation: Adam Grabowski
Bill 45 presentation: Barb Cummine
Bill 45 presentation: Blaine Johnson
Bill 45 presentation: Brian Ardern
Bill 45 presentation: Corrina Kroeker
Bill 45 presentation: Dan Turner
Bill 45 presentation: Daniel Kiazyk
Bill 45 presentation: Jamie Krutkevich
Bill 45 presentation: John Ehinger
Bill 45 presentation: Julia McKay
Bill 45 presentation: Karen Wiebe
Bill 45 presentation: Kelly Turner
Bill 45 presentation: Kristin Ellis
Bill 45 presentation: Kyle McKinstry
Bill 45 presentation: Margrose Madak
Bill 45 presentation: Mary Chalmers
Bill 45 presentation: Matt Turner
Bill 45 presentation: Orah Moss
Bill 45 presentation: Pam Stinson
Bill 45 presentation: Pat Hamm
Bill 45 presentation: Paul Olson
Bill 45 presentation: Phil MacLellan
Bill 45 presentation: Roland Stankevicius
Bill 45 presentation: Tracy Fyfe

Views differ on education impact of proposed Copyright Act amendments

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation is pleased with the federal government’s proposed amendments to the Copyright Act,  tabled in the House of Commons today.

The CTF believes specific provisions concerning education will go a long way to help teachers, students, schools and school libraries take greater advantage of the Internet.

“We are particularly pleased the Bill contains specific exceptions for educators to use material that has been posted on the Internet by copyright owners who do not expect to be compensated for its use,” says CTF President Emily Noble. “If amendments are passed, teachers and students could use material that they find on the Internet as long as it is used for educational or training purposes.

“Although we have yet to analyze all the details contained in the Bill, we are pleased that the federal government has listened and addressed our concerns with respect to giving teachers and students free access to materials for educational purposes, allowing them to use material on the Internet that is publicly available for anyone to use, without being afraid of breaking the law.”

However, digital law expert Michael Geist says the details paint a different picture of the issue.
A law professor at the University of Ottawa, Geist says on his blog that “the education community received several provisions that are largely gutted by the fine print.

“For example, library materials can be distributed in electronic form, but must not extend beyond five days. In other words, it turns librarians into locksmiths. Moreover, there is an Internet exception that educators wanted but it does not apply for any works that are either password protected or include a notification that they cannot be used.

“In other words, online materials that are available under a Creative Commons license are fair game (as they are already), but most everything else is still potentially subject to a restriction.  This was precisely what many feared - rather than pursuing the far superior expansion of fair dealing, the education community got a provision that does little to enhance classroom learning.”

CTF speaks for 220,000 teachers in Canada as their national voice on education and related social issues. CTF membership includes Member organizations in every province and territory in Canada as well as an Affiliate Member in Ontario. CTF (http://www.ctf-fce.ca) is also a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (http://www.ei-ie.org).

 

Say yes to COLA; Register your support for the pension changes

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is asking all active and retired teachers who want to see the COLA doubled for retired teachers this year to register to make a presentation at the Legislature in support of amendments to teachers’ pension legislation.

On June 9 the provincial government introduced Bill 45, The Teachers’ Pension Amendment Act that will implement the recommendations in the Sale Report and as a result will double the COLA for retired teachers this year.

Members of the Legislature will hear presentations on this Bill sometime between June 16 and September 8th. Presenter must call the clerk of the Legislature at 945 3636 to register. Presentations are to be no longer than 10 minutes. There will be at least two days notice of the date when the legislative committee meets to hear presentations.

MTS will provide assistance in the preparation of presentations including making the 20 copies the clerk requires. Presentations may also be less formal. Presenters can speak from handwritten notes for only a few minutes, if they choose.

It is important that there is a large show of support from MTS. Please contact Judy Edmond at jedmond@mbteach.org if you require more information.


Read Minister's comments on Bill

Read the Teachers' Pensions Amendment Act

Read The Teachers' Pensions Act

 

Provincial government moves on changes to pensions, COLA

Proposed amendments to the Teachers' Pensions Act would double the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retired teachers this year and change the way teachers' pension fund contributions are managed, says Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson.

"Both active and retired teachers have asked for improvements to their pension plan and cost of living adjustments that will offer a long-term solution to long-standing pension issues," Bjornson said, adding the changes are based on recommendations of the Teachers' Pension Task Force which was chaired by Tim Sale.

The Manitoba Teachers' Society earlier announced a plebiscite of 25,282 members of the Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund which resulted in 52 per cent of those members casting ballots voting in favour of accepting a longer-term solution to pension issues.

MTS President Pat Isaak said the Society is pleased the province has gone ahead with legislation to address the issue.

The changes introduced in the Manitoba Legislature would provide an improved cost-of-living adjustment through the pension adjustment account.  Over a 10-year period this adjustment would, subject to available funding in the account, be up to 5.33 per cent or two-thirds of the annual increase in Canada's consumer price index on Dec. 31 of the previous year.  After 2018, increases would, subject to available funding in the account, be limited by the Canadian consumer price index on Dec. 31 of the preceding year.

The result would more fairly reflect cost of living increases faced by retired teachers on fixed incomes and help to provide former educators with a more stable, more fair and enhanced pension plan over the next 10 years, Bjornson said.

Additional administrative and technical amendments to the act would:

"The proposed amendments relate to long-term concerns of teachers and we are pleased to address the issues," Bjornson said.

Read the Teachers' Pensions Amendment Act

Read The Teachers' Pensions Act

 

Society concerned about freeze on school closures, must be consultation

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has told the provincial government it has several concerns with the province’s moratorium on school closures

In a brief on the proposed amendments to the Public Schools Act, MTS President Pat Isaak says the decision was made with no consultation with the Society “and apparently without consultation with any of the partner organizations in education.”

She said MTS is hopeful the moratorium is a pause that will allow all parties to come up with a solution for what is a complex issue.

“A one-size-fits-all approach to this complex issue will not serve our students well,” she said.

“For teachers, the issue of closing an elementary school in a small town an hour away from anywhere else is different from closing one half-empty school in the city of Winnipeg and asking those students to travel an additional 10 minutes to fill another half-empty school nearby.

“The solution must be found in consultation with those who are on the frontlines serving public schools students. The Society believes the guidelines for public school closures do need revamping. The genuine differences between rural and urban schools must be considered.”

See the complete presentation

Three Winnipeg schools receive technology grants

HP Canada has announced it is awarding 10 K-12 schools and five universities and colleges in Canada more than $775,000 in technology, cash and professional development.

In Manitoba, three public schools in Winnipeg will receive grants as part of the 2008 program, including:

The grants, part of the 2008 HP Technology for Teaching grant program, are designed to improve student achievement through the innovative uses of technology in the classroom while encouraging student interest in careers in technology, engineering, math and science, including environmental science.

 

Teachers’ pension plan members vote in favour of changes
MTS urges government to pass necessary legislation

The majority of members of the teachers’ pension plan have voted in favour of making changes to their plan, according to the results of the May 26th plebiscite. Fifty-two per cent of plan members voted yes to the ballot question: “Do you support the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Sale Report?”

The results of the plebiscite are as follows:

52% Yes (5848)
48% No (5351)
  Spoiled (72)
11,271 plan ballots were cast.
44% rate of return.

Click here for the full press release.

Winnipeg vice-principal named 2008 Woman of Distinction

A vice-principal at St. John's High School in Winnipeg's North End is the winner of a YWCA-YMCA 2008 Women of Distinction Award for Education and Training.

Chris Penner "has brought a unique culture of compassion to students, parents and grandparents by developing programs that answer their needs."

Penner created a Grandma Support Group at the school because 30 per cent of the students are currently being raised by grandparents.

She also personally visits all the homes of incoming Grade 7 and Grade 8 students.

"More than half the school's students live below the poverty line; she buys clothing and food, co-ordinates donations and was instrumental in the development of the school's free breakfast and lunch programs," says the Y nomination. "If a student gets in trouble with the law, she is there for their court dates, and visits them in custody."

Public schools legislation now available for your handheld devices.

Now you can put the Manitoba’s Public Schools Act and the Education Administration Act on your Palm or Pocket PC handheld.

The Society has obtained permission from the Queen’s Printer for Manitoba to distribute free PDF versions of these documents for the internal use of MTS members and staff only.

Please send your request to rjob@mbteach.org

Put “PDF request” in the subject line.

 

Teachers break world record for teaching a single lesson

More than 11, 600 Canadians - from Victoria, BC to Hammond Plains NS and Qikiqtarjuaq NU - joined 7.5 million children, adults, teachers and campaigners in over 100 countries around the world to break a world record for the World’s Biggest Lesson as part of the Global Campaign for Education’s Global Action Week!

The world record for the largest simultaneous lesson in history has been broken already – and the numbers are still coming in.  The World's Biggest Lesson focused on providing a quality basic education to everyone, especially the 72 million children and 774 million adults who are currently missing out.  All over the world Politicians and Ministers – including 5 Canadian MPs, 4 MPPS, and numerous local officials - went back to school, were taught the lesson by children and asked what they planned to do to make sure everyone gets a quality education.

The World's Biggest Lesson was the highlight of the Global Campaign for Education's (GCE)'s Action Week which is taking place 21st – 27th April.  Every year civil society across the world takes part in this week that pressures all governments to keep their promises and meet the Education for All goals, which were signed up to by 164 governments in Dakar in April 2000.  With the phenomenal success of the World's Biggest Lesson, 2008 is having the biggest Action Week since the beginning of the Global Campaign for Education in 1999.

To view an updated list of the schools in Canada who pre-registered, visit: http://www.campaignforeducationcanada.org/en/index.php

To see what has been happening around the world, visit the GCE website: http://www.campaignforeducation.org/action/2008/action_2008_country.html

 

Students from Winnipeg and Riverton receive Young Humanitarian Awards

Aidan Notarianni, Stephanie Melsted, Breanna Wiebe and Francesca Possia’s Grade 2/3 class from Lord Wolseley School will be honoured for their humanitarian work next Monday night, April 28 as this year's recipients of the MTS Young Humanitarian Awards.

“The MTS Young Humanitarian Awards recognize students for good works and kind hearts,” says The Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Pat Isaak. “They are truly an inspiration to their families, schools and communities.”

 

The youngest YHA recipient this year is Aidan Notarianni. A Grade 3 student from Grosvenor School, Aidan was inspired by his long-time hero Terry Fox. After the annual run, which Aidan has participated in since he was four years old, he decided to create his own event called Bikes in Motion so he and others could bike from Winnipeg to Lockport to raise funds for The Cancer Research Society. Aidan has created the concept, designed his own posters and done the legwork in approaching various companies for sponsorship. The event is set for August 24.

 

Stephanie Melsted is a Grade 7 student from Riverton Early Middle School near Arborg. Stephanie’s compassionate heart drives her to seek out those who need help—whether it’s a South American student learning English, or a classmate who needs tutoring in math. Stephanie is friendly, warm-hearted and always eager to pitch in for charities such as World Vision and the Rainbow Society. After much work collecting donations for the Terry Fox Run, and participating in the run herself, Stephanie cut off most of her beautiful red hair to donate to cancer patients. She often supervises in early years classrooms. Younger students like her because she’s patient and fair. Her peers respect her, too. One month, during Riverton School’s Character Counts program, every nomination written up by Stephanie’s classmates included her name for exhibiting the character trait of the month. When Stephanie is not helping others, she relaxes by riding and grooming her horse Root Beer.

Oak Park High School’s Breanna Wiebe has a strong humanitarian heart. This cheerful young woman balances her school work with a heavy humanitarian agenda. Breanna takes a hands-on leadership role in every cause she champions—whether it’s attending the Landmines Campaign conference, taking part in the 30-hour Famine, helping to raise $20,000 for Cancer Care Manitoba, organizing the largest Manitoba high school blood drive for Canadian Blood Services, delivering poinsettias for Hospice and Palliative Care Manitoba, fundraising for UNICEF, feeding the homeless at the Agape Soup Kitchen and preparing food and mopping the floors at Siloam Mission. At school, Breanna sits on her grad committee as well as the community services committee. Two years ago, Breanna went on a two-week mission trip to Mexico where she cooked and helped feed to the homeless, and painted and fixed up a church building. The day after she graduates this year, Breanna will be leaving for Mexico to help build a school. Her life’s goal is to travel as an optometrist and missionary to Uganda to help fill the “huge need” to treat people’s eye conditions there.

Last fall, the 23 students in Francesca Possia’s Grade 2/3 class at Lord Wolseley School embarked on a project to raise funds to help their classmate Jordan Rogodzinski, who has Cerebral Palsy. Someone asked a simple question: where in the community does Jordan go every Wednesday and what does he do there? After viewing videos and studying what happens at the Movement Centre of Manitoba they found the centre doesn’t receive government funds. They gave up many of their recesses, made posters, sold popcorn and candy and raised $1,000 to help keep the centre open. But that wasn’t enough. They personally visited 21 area businesses and dropped off rocks they had painted to represent the organizations they were pitching. Then they asked to leave donation boxes. After raising $2,000 from that effort, they presented a cheque for $3,000 to the Movement Centre at an open house at their school.

 

Three public school teachers win provincial awards for excellence

Three public school teachers have won the province's Celebration of Excellence in Teaching awards.

"Manitoba's schools are among the best in Canada and our government recognizes the role that teachers play in unlocking the potential of the students whose lives they touch," Education Minister Peter Bjornson said. "These awards recognize the achievements of the everyday heroes who have inspired their students with their words and deeds." 

A total of 29 nominations were received for the five award categories including three teacher excellence awards and an outstanding new teacher award.

Awards were presented in the teacher excellence category to Brian Borkowsky of Teulon Elementary School in the Interlake School Division who received the award for early years; Joan Duerksen of John Pritchard School in River East Transcona School Division who received the award for middle years; and the award for outstanding new teacher went to Danys Dorge of École Précieux-Sang in the Division scolaire franco-manitobaine.

Award recipients received a certificate of recognition and a $500 cash award at a luncheon held at the Legislative Building. Award recipients' schools will also receive $500 for school projects or equipment. Partners in the awards include the Manitoba Association of School Trustees, the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools and the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils.

Students celebrating human rights anniversary piece by piece

With a little help from Headlingley Correctional Centre’s Tailor Shop and COR Enterprises in Brandon, Manitoba students are embarking on a project in celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

The project, called Peace by Piece is part of the Manitoba Human Rights “Our World, Your World, My World” Youth Conference to be held on April 24 in Winnipeg and April 25 in Brandon. 

The “Peace by Piece” session, which challenges students to take on the values and goals of the Universal Declaration is one of the highlights of this year’s conference. The students will be given one hour to work on a piece of material and design a personal message.

Their message will be part of a larger banner.  When assembled, the banner will be approximately a 24 by 24 foot circle, and delivered to the Manitoba Legislature on International Human Rights Day December 10, 2008.  Students in the North, who attended a similar conference in The Pas during March, have completed their sections.

Inmates at the Headingley Correctional Centre Tailor Shop will be sewing the pieces together.  Trades Instructor Polly Cook says that this type of project is a gift for both the giver and receiver. “The inmates that work in the shop are learning a useful skill that they take with them when they leave.  Many have gone into their own business making star blankets,” she says.

Also helping with this project is COR Enterprises in Brandon, which is a vocational training center for developmentally challenged adults.  

 

New measures proposed by provincial government to fight cyber-bullying

Efforts by school boards to protect students from cyber-bullying would be strengthened and supported under proposed amendments to the Public Schools Act, Education, Citizenship and Youth Minister Peter Bjornson has announced.

The amendments would define cyber-bullying and require school divisions to take additional steps to develop plans and codes of conduct to prevent and respond to cyber-bullying.

"Under the Safe Schools initiative, school divisions have developed numerous resources for teachers, students and parents to help them deal with bullying," Bjornson said. "These proposed amendments respond to emerging concerns that cyber-bullying is becoming increasingly common across North America with the rapid development of electronic tools such as digital cameras, cell phones with cameras and text messaging."

Cyber-bullying involves using the Internet or other information and communications technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour by individuals or groups intending to harm others.

The Manitoba government recently partnered with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection on International Safe Internet Day to increase awareness about the types of threats that children may find online. Brochures that provide parents, caregivers and children the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe online were sent to schools across the province.

 

Student curlers can apply for provincial scholarships

Over the last few years, the Manitoba Curling Foundation and the Manitoba Curling Association have worked together for the betterment of the sport throughout Manitoba, in particular, the support of junior curlers.

The Junior Development Program is designed to assist Manitoba curling clubs and Manitoba schools in hosting curling clinics for juniors up to the age of nineteen. The foundation assists in this regard by subsidizing a portion of the cost.

The Foundation also awards up to four $1,000 post-secondary education scholarships to any junior curler actively involved in community/school involvement. The 2002-2003 season introduced the Manitoba Curling Foundation Sport Award to two junior curlers from each Provincial Sport Region, with an annual award of $250.

 

COLA for this year set at .71 per cent

The COLA increase for teachers' pensions will be set at .71 per cent by the Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund July 1, 2008.

The government has committed $130 million to implement the Sale report on teachers’ pensions, but implementation has been opposed by some retired teachers.

The COLA would double to 1.4% this year if the report was implemented.

Show your support for improved COLAs by emailing MTS President Pat Isaak at pisaak@mbteach.org

 

Proposed fee hike for MTS members of 3.2 per cent

The proposed 2008-2009 budget for The Manitoba Teachers’ Society continues a decade long trend to keep fee increases at or near the rate of salary increases that teachers have received.

The budget being presented to the MTS Annual General Meeting in May proposes a fee increase of 3.2 per cent. This is near the three per cent salary increases that were achieved by the first 13 associations with signed contracts for 2008-2009.

As can be seen by the graph on this page, over the past 10 years the average yearly increase in teachers’ salaries has been 2.9 per cent. Over the same period, the average yearly increase in MTS fees has been 1.7 per cent.

Last year marked the only time in the past decade that a fee increase was noticeably more than the salary increase. At the time, members were told this did not reflect the beginning of a trend.

The proposed budget this year remains generally unchanged with no major increases in any areas of revenues or expenditures. Delegates to the Annual General Meeting can still change the budget, adding or deleting expenditures.

On the revenues side, fees from substitute teachers continue to grow as more and more collective agreements recognize substitute teachers as part of their bargaining units. In the past couple of years, the amount collected in substitute fees has doubled to more than $225,000. At the same time, expenditures to ensure substitute teachers receive MTS services have also grown.

 

Vincent Massey students head to Sweden for international competition

A group of students from Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg learned last week that their environmental project, “The Alternative Energy Array, (AEA)” had been chosen as one of only fourteen projects from over 300 submitted world-wide to participate in the prestigious Volvo Adventure Competition to be held in Goteborg, Sweden May 9-14, 2008.

All expenses are paid for 5 students and 2 adults to travel to Sweden. They will prepare a 5 minute presentation for judging.  The top three projects will be awarded $10,000, $6,000 or $4,000, to be used towards the group's project.

The students have been working on an ambitious 4-stage Alternative Energy Array project for the past three years. The first stage of the AEA, known as, "Riding the Winds of Change," is a small-scale wind turbine to be assembled and installed on the school's roof by May 5, 2008. It will be integrated into the school's existing power grid system. 

The second stage, "Array of Sunshine," will involve the researching, purchasing, installation and integration of solar panels into the same system. 

The final two stages will be greening projects.  Students will install a green roof then a green house to be heated in the winter by the first two stages. Vegetables grown in the greenhouse will be sold in the school cafeteria providing nutritious meals according to the Manitoba Food Charter. Food will also be donated to a nearby mission for the homeless. Any excess will be used as compost to help replenish the soil in the greenhouse.

One of the group’s adult facilitators, Mr. Ken Corley, stated, “Our goal is to produce a sustainable closed-loop system where the inputs which begin the loop, wind and sun, are carbon-neutral and renewable and the outputs which conclude the loop, healthy, nutritious food, are consumed on-site. This becomes a marvelous on-site learning opportunity for students. After all, it will be up to them to create the next generation of institutions to provide a sustainable future.”

 

Operation Donation soars to new heights

This year’s school-based food drive, Operation Donation, shattered records for food collected and schools involved.

The ninth year of the campaign saw 95 schools collecting produce for Winnipeg Harvest.

Donations by students and teachers almost doubled to 55,000 pounds. One of the sponsors of the drive, Manitoba Public Insurance, raised another 2,900 and Peak of the Market matched both those totals for a final tally of 110,029 pounds.

Last year’s total was just under 72,000 pounds.

“Manitoba teachers and students have embraced Winnipeg Harvest to help Manitoba families,” said David Northcott, executive co-ordinator of Harvest. “The strength of caring for one another through Operation Donation is a testament of how this community is stronger together.”

Northcott said he was amazed at the effort by students and teachers and that it bodes well for the future that today’s students can be so caring.

Teacher Frank Restall, organizer of all but one Operation Donation, credited the surge in participation over the past two years to the involvement of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, which helped promote the campaign.

In 2005, just before the Society became involved, there were 18 schools collecting food. That jumped to 50, then 70 last year and up to 95 this year.

MTS President Pat Isaak praised the work of teachers and students and said the Society would continue to help the annual food drive. In fact, given that next year will be the 10th anniversary, she sees MTS playing an even greater role.

 

Fitness program offered for teachers, volunteers sought for teams

Hundreds of Manitoba teachers are spending four minutes for fitness thanks to a new initiative by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s Primary Prevention Team.

This year the PPT, made up of classroom teachers who volunteer their time, is offering training for teachers in a four-minute fitness program. At a wellness day in Brandon last month, the program attracted more than 300 participants.

The initial training session takes two hours to learn and understand the moves in the tai chi-based program. Once that is done, the routine takes only four minutes a day.

Eight of the 12 members of the Primary Prevention Team have been trained and are available to large and small groups.

The fitness program was initiated as a complement to the other services offered by the Primary Prevention Team.

The goal of the PPT is to promote health and wellness in the teaching workplace through presentations on such issues as stress, balanced lifestyles and time management. The team is made up of teachers who have donated five days of personal time a year to learn and make half-day or full-day presentations.

Currently, MTS is looking for more teachers interested in becoming members of the prevention team. The team would especially like to increase its number of francophones to help offer services to French and immersion schools.

Along with that, MTS is also looking for new members to join its Teacher Action Cohorts, trained facilitators who make presentations and conduct discussions on issues such as homophobia, racism and teachers’ roles in school planning.

The TAC also offers half and full-day sessions on issues that affect staff and students.

New members, who also donate five days of personal time a year, are trained in leadership and facilitation skills.

Teachers interested in becoming involved in either the Primary Prevention Team or Teacher Action Cohorts can fill out an application now available here.

 

Bullying video game condemned by MTS president

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is condemning a new videogame that encourages bullying, physical assaults and other violent behavior in schools.

"A ban on something this outrageous shouldn't be necessary,” said Society President Pat Isaak referring to Bully: Scholarship Edition, a new interactive videogame from Rockstar Games in Vancouver. “Frankly, any responsible adult in a child’s life wouldn't need a ban, they'd just boycott it."

Rockstar Games is the Vancouver company that developed the first version of Bully in 2006. Bully: Scholarship Edition is an update to the controversial original. In the new version, players can dunk pupils heads in the toilet, photograph other students naked and physically assault both students and teachers. The game also depicts young women as either cheerleaders or losers.

“Just how much “un-doing” are schools expected to do to counter violent, sexist messages coming at students from media and videogames like this one?” says Isaak. “These are the same people who gave us Grand Theft Auto. The new edition of Bully is loaded with abusive messages and it’s demeaning to women and girls.”

Bully: Scholarship Edition is available for XBOX 360 and the Wii. Because the Wii features highly interactive wireless controllers, game players will be able to physically act out some of the most objectionable moves in the game.

“There is no good that can come of this game,” says Isaak. “It doesn’t help students. It doesn’t help schools. And it certainly doesn’t help teachers and the work they do.”

 

Class delivers food as Operation Donation begins collections

Teacher Kyle McKinstry’s Grade 5 class from MacGregor Elementary School visited Winnipeg Harvest as part of the MTS-backed Operation Donation.

Twenty-two students, along with several parents, filed in the front door personally delivering 590 lbs of food in boxes, bags and even backpacks.

One of the students, Tamara McVannel, presented Harvest executive coordinator David Northcott with a cheque for $1,500.

The class had collected non-perishable items, sold pizza pockets, and canvassed MacGregor area businesses for funds—all as part of a class project sparked by a unit on becoming better global citizens.

The children worked in the Winnipeg Harvest warehouse sorting foodstuffs alongside Society president Pat Isaak. Isaak commended the students and their teacher for their generous contribution to feeding Manitoba’s hungry.

More on Operation Donation

 

Annual MTS Young Humanitarian Awards to be held April 28

The 11th Annual MTS Young Humanitarian Awards will honour public school students for their kind hearts, compassion, self-sacrifice, leadership and creativity. The event features live entertainment by student performers. Dress is casual, admission free. Cake and refreshments follow the awards ceremony.

The awards will be held at 7 pm at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, 2 Forks Market Road.

 

CTF calls for educational amendment to copyright legislation

The Canadian Teachers' Federation has called on the federal government to protect educational uses of public information on the Internet.

The CTF has added its voice to a growing chorus worried about copyright restrictions being contemplated by the government.

There are widespread worries that the federal Conservatives are planning to put severe copyright restrictions on all Internet material, even that which is designed to be publicly used.

CTF President Emily Noble says in a letter to Industry Minister Jim Prentice that an educational amendment is "critically important."

See the complete letter

Education ministers want copyright protection for education uses

Canada’s education ministers have stepped into the debate over the proposed new federal copyright law.

The Council of Ministers of Education says in a bulletin the new law must address the educational use of the Internet.

“Teachers, student and schools … need an amendment to the Copyright Act allowing them to use material on the Internet that is publicly available for anyone to use without being afraid they are breaking the law.”

While the new law has yet to be made public by the federal government, early reports have indicated the law as it was first written did not contain any such waiver. The federal government withheld release of the Act while it rewrote undisclosed portions of the proposed law.

Because copyright is automatic in Canada, amendments are needed to allow exceptions.

The CMEC points out that if there are no exemptions, even material posted on the Internet for the purpose of sharing would be copyright protected.

“It is publicly available for anyone who wants to use it, but the current copyright law may not protect schools, teachers, or students even when they are making normal educations uses of this ‘free stuff’.”

See the ministers' full statement

Best blog for copyright information

 

MTS pleased as province keeps public schools' funding stable
Today’s announcement of a 5.6 per cent funding increase for the next school year is welcome support for public schools, says Paul Olson, vice-president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “The funding schools receive for operating support has always been foremost in teachers’ minds. This year’s public schools funding announcement demonstrates it’s also a priority for the provincial government.”

“Teachers are pleased to see a $5.8 million dollar increase directed to Level II and III special needs students and a $5.1 million increase targeted to English as an Additional Language. Also welcome is $18 million more in equalization for divisions.”

The three-part funding increase—$36.4 million (a figure higher than the rate of economic growth), $16 million tagged as a tax incentive grant to school divisions and $1.1 million for capital support—signals a continuing commitment to keep public schools funding stable.

 “We are pleased the provincial government continues to keep its funding promise—and has gone beyond that this year,” says Olson.

School divisions across the province have until mid-March to finalize their budgets.

 

MTS president urges retired teachers to accept COLA report

MTS President Pat Isaak is calling on retired teachers to accept the recommendations of a provincial government report into the teachers' pension plan Cost of Living Adjustment.

In a letter to retired teachers, Isaak says retired teachers should read the recommendations carefully before making up their minds.

MTS has already voiced its support for the proposals.

Isaak's letter follows.

Dear retired teacher,

In December 2007, the provincial government released a report that contains a plan to provide retired teachers with an improved cost of living adjustment. The proposal could put more money in the pockets of retired teachers this year. MTS supports the recommendations contained in the report and is urging the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba to accept them, as well.

Please read the enclosed report, and make up your own mind. It contains eight recommendations:

“Implementation of these recommendations in 2008 would allow COLAs to immediately reach the proposed ceiling of 2/3rds of CPI in 2008, assuming that CPI remains below 3%.  At the same time they will begin the process of slowly rebuilding the PAA over a ten year time frame so that further improvements could be discussed at that time.” (Page 8)

Former cabinet minster Tim Sale was asked in March of 2007 to assist MTS, RTAM and the government to address the pension adjustment account (PAA) and COLA issue. The parties considered many options. In his report, Mr. Sale outlined the factors that led to the current difficulties. Beginning in 1984 the plan paid out 100 per cent or close to 100 per cent COLAs every year. This occurred despite the actuary’s warnings that the plan was designed to pay only a two-thirds COLA.

Mr. Sale also commented on RTAM’s stance on the COLA issue:

“RTAM officials, faced with the dilemma of a weak PAA have taken a militant stand that this problem must be resolved; and have sought 100% COLA guarantees. Retired teachers have adopted the position that “we have paid for COLA and we should get it”. Unfortunately, this is not completely accurate. The COLA plan provides for a Fund, the PAA, which was initially established by capital payments in the 1970s, and the earnings of which are used to pay past COLAs. If there are excess earnings above what is needed for past COLAs, these earnings can be combined with current 16.6% of current contributions to make each year’s new COLA award. Thus, retired members’ contributions have not actually built up funds for new COLAs. Rather, they have paid (actually, they have underpaid) for COLAs now in force.

“This may be somewhat understandable, given that full COLAs were paid until 1998, in spite of the former Actuary’s warnings that this payout level was not sustainable. Most retired teachers would not likely, have seen these warnings. While RTAM’s position may be recognized as a bargaining stance, it is simply not realistic given the weak state of the PAA. In fact, no teachers’ retirement plan in Canada provides unlimited 100% COLA guarantees. However, it is also clear that the current PAA COLA capacity places Manitoba far down in inter-provincial comparisons. I believe that all parties to the present discussions agree that it is desirable to improve this situation incrementally, and then to put in place policies that will ensure that past problems do not reoccur.”

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society made a significant concession during discussions. RTAM requested a change to how the PAA was calculated. Currently the Pension Adjustment Account that funds COLA earns only the fixed income rate of the pension plan fund, currently two per cent lower than the total return of the fund.  After much discussion, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society agreed To RTAM’s proposal that this policy should be changed and that the PAA should be granted the better of the equity or fixed income returns for the main fund for a period of time. This was a major compromise on the part of the Society and will put more money in the PAA to pay COLAs.

Implementing the Tim Sale report is a win-win-win for government, 15,000 active teachers and 11,000 retired Manitoba teachers. It balances the need to provide an improved COLA for retired teachers with the amount of money that active teachers and government are required to pay to support it.

For the sake of the 11,000 retired teachers and every teacher who will retire one day I am appealing to you to contact RTAM and ask their executive to support the Sale report’s proposal. It is the only way we will get an improved COLA quickly.

RTAM
#204 - 2281 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 0M1
Winnipeg Voice Mail/Office Phone: (204) 889-3660
MB Toll Free Voice Mail: 1-888-393-8082
RTAM Office email:  rtam@mts.net

Thank you,

Pat Isaak
President

 

New resources offered to help teachers counter bullying

Some new resources about bullying and cyberbullying have been developed for teachers and administrators in Canada.

The Canadian Teachers' Federation has created a brochure of tips for teachers to help combat cyberbullying. The brochure can be downloaded here.

The anti-bullying organization, bullying.org, has launched a website specifically aimed at teachers.

The site, www.bullyingcourse.com, offers affordable and easily-accessible online courses and webinars about bullying and cyberbullying for professional educators and parents.

"I have had the dream of creating this kind of educational resource for some time," said Bill Belsey, the Canadian educator who founded both bullying.org and National Bullying Awareness Week.

"I went to a great Canadian university, but during my entire four years of teacher-training, I never had a class, let alone a course, about bullying. Bullying is often seen as the number one non-academic issue that teachers face today, and yet educators feel that they need more information, help and support to address the issue more effectively."

Elections Manitoba offers program to get students involved in voting

Voter turnout in the May 2007 provincial election was 56.75 per cent, but the number of voters aged 18 to 24 was less than half that. In an effort to get more young people to the polls, Elections Manitoba has developed Your Power to Choose, a curriculum resource that introduces students to the values of citizenship, democracy and the power of choice.

“Our hopes and our desires in being involved in this are to engage students from the outset in the habit of participation and getting used to election terminology so that when it is time to vote, they hopefully will participate,” said Angela Chalmers, education coordinator for Your Power to Choose. “What goes beyond voting day is teaching young people how to make informed decisions and how to have their voice be heard. Making a constructive choice and the effect that choice has on their surroundings. It’s being able to make the choice, but also being able to justify it.”

While still an education student, Anita Pachikara was hired to develop the education component of the program. She is now in her second year teaching science at Miles Macdonell Collegiate in Winnipeg. “I thought this is interesting because I’d never voted before. As soon as I started working I started to see the importance of what I was doing. It was almost like the more information I got from here, the more I thought. ‘Oh, my gosh I haven’t voted yet and I’m 21.’ ”

In keeping with the provincial curriculum, Your Power to Choose is geared to Grades 6, 9 and 11, although it is adaptable to every level, particularly Grades 4 and 5.“Each lesson starts with an activating strategy so that they’re interested right from the top. All of these lessons are self-contained. That way it’s flexible for teachers. I designed it so every lesson is independent. All the materials that you need are contained after each lesson as well. Everything the teacher needs is here and we don’t have to find extra information and we don’t have to make up any worksheets, quizzes or answer keys,” said Pachikara.

The program is divided into four phases: the pre-election experience, the election experience begins, the political experience and the democratic experience. The goal is to make students more at ease with the voting process. According to Mary Skanderbeg, manager of elections operations and communications, they hope that “when it comes down to the actual marking of the X, it will be a natural feeling for them.”

For Grades 9 and 11, there is also a student council election kit. Elections Manitoba’s research showed that each school has its own way to run their elections, so the kit comes with a with a checklist on how to run an election in school and a CD that contains adaptable templates that allow schools to personalize posters, ballots and tally sheets.

For more information on the kit or the workshops contact Angela Chalmers: 945-7376 or
1-800-628-6837  or email achlamers@elections.mb.ca

 

CTF renews efforts to get tax break for teacher expenses

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation is once again lobbying the federal government to implement tax breaks for teachers who spend their own money for classroom purposes.

Surveys have shown that teachers spend hundreds of dollars a year on such items as educational materials yet are not allowed to claim such expenses on their taxes.

The CTF, at the urging of member organizations such as The Manitoba Teachers’ Association, has been pursuing such a tax change for more than 10 years.

Some provincial jurisdictions have had success. For example the Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation was successful in negotiating a provincial tax credit on allowable expenditures up to $500.

The CTF says it will soon renew efforts at the federal level.

“We will target a number of key individuals for meetings during the current sitting of Parliament in an effort to build support for the changes we are seeking as we move into budget consultations for 2008.”

Further information from CTF, including background on the issue

 

Student behaviour now No. 1 concern among Manitoba teachers

For the first time since 1999, student behaviour has surpassed class size as Manitoba teachers’ number one concern, according to a recent opinion poll sponsored by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

Each year, teachers are asked to name their single biggest concern as a teacher today. The responses are not prompted. Since 1999, class size or having too many students has been the concern cited most often by MTS members. In 2001, it reached an all time high when 23 per cent of teachers said it was their top concern. In 2006 and 2007 it was the top concern of 15 per cent.

In November of 2007, when teachers were asked to name their top concern, 17 per cent said student behaviour, discipline and violence was their biggest concern. That is up from 14 per cent in 2006. In third place is too many demands and job stress, selected by 14 per cent of teachers.

“It’s not surprising that student behaviour is a growing concern for our members,” said Pat Isaak, president of the society. “Class size and composition and student behaviour are closely related issues for most teachers. Whenever I talk to teachers in staff rooms across the province they tell me that it’s not only the number of students in their classroom, but the composition of their class that can make a huge difference in the learning environment. One disruptive student can make even a small class size seem huge.”

 

Operation Donation hopes to get at least 100 schools involved

After setting records last year for schools’ food donations, Operation Donation is aiming even higher this year.

Teacher Frank Restall, organizer of the program, says it hopes to get at least 100 schools across the province involved in the food drive in 2008.

Last year more than 70 Manitoba schools participated, collecting almost 34,000 pounds of food for Winnipeg Harvest. Totals raised by schools are then matched by Peak of the Market.

Most schools involved were from Winnipeg, but this year organizers are looking to get schools from all parts of the province interested. Donations from those schools would then go to food banks and other organizations in their areas.

“We’re making a concerted effort to make this province-wide,” Restall says.

Operation Donation has been running for eight years and has seen rapid growth in the past few years.

Since it began it has collected more than a quarter of a million pounds of food for the needy.

The drive runs for one week in March. This year it will be March 3-7. Participating schools can collect food on a single day or during the whole week. Some schools have targeted certain donations, others have organized events around the program.

Restall says it is up to the schools to determine how to go about collecting donations. The program has had the goal of having at least one donation per student.

“On its own, one donation doesn’t seem like much, but collectively it makes a world of difference to Harvest and people in need,” Restall says. “The key to success is working collectively.”

Restall says his dream is to one day see every student in Manitoba donate one item during the Operation Donation week.

Information will be sent to all schools in the coming weeks by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, one of the supporters of the project. Restall says the support of MTS has been key to the growth of Operation Donation. MTS became involved last year and the number of schools jumped from 50 to 70.

Other sponsors of the program are Peak of the Market and the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation.

Schools wanting to become involved can contact Bruce Michalski, Special Events Coordinator at 982-3663 or events@winnipegharvest.org.

Updated information on the project will also be published to The Manitoba Teachers’ Society website.

 

Eight recommendations in report to improve pension COLA

In December 2007, the provincial government released a report that recommends a plan to provide retired teachers with an improved cost of living adjustment. MTS is hopeful that the Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba will accept the proposals contained in the report.

Former cabinet minster Tim Sale was asked in March of 2007 to attempt to assist MTS, RTAM and the Labour Relations Division, Treasury Secretariat to address the pension adjustment account and COLA issue. The pension adjustment account (PAA) is a $145 million fund that provides the Teachers’ Retirement Allowances Fund with the ability to provide cost of living adjustment increases

The report contains eight recommendations that, if implemented in 2008, would allow the cost of living adjustment to reach the proposed ceiling of two-thirds CPI in 2008, assuming that CPI remains below 3 per cent.

The Society is awaiting RTAM’s official response to the Sale report. The complete report is available here.

 

Canadian Teachers' Federation adopts plan to combat cyber-bullying

The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) has adopted an action plan to address the many challenges presented by cyberbullying within the context of schools and the professional lives of teachers.

CTF President Emily Noble said the action plan is one piece of an overall strategy being mapped out by a National Work Group established last July at the CTF Annual General Meeting.

The work group -- representatives of CTF member organizations, researchers in education and education experts in communications technology -- looked at issues related to the creation of new technologies and their effect on teaching and learning environment.

“Bullying is bullying, whether it’s done online by the latest technology or whether it’s done in person and it is unacceptable,” said Noble. “We want our schools to be safe and secure places for learning.”

CTF will be collaborating with teacher, parent, law enforcement agencies, policy-makers and legislators to find solutions and support that will allow teachers to teach and students to learn, in an environment safe from any bullying, she said

 

Two schools recognized by human rights commission

Two schools have been awarded the Manitoba Human Rights Commission Certificate of Achievement for promoting equality and human rights in their schools and communities.

At Manitoba human rights youth conferences, MHRC Chairperson Jerry Woods encourages students to take back to their schools and communities what they learned during the workshops.
He believes that the key to a successful conference is the action that follows it, saying “we hope to give students some tools so they can take the message of respect, equality of opportunity and freedom from discrimination back with them and act on it.”

St. Laurent School in St. Laurent and Margaret Barbour Collegiate in The Pas accepted the commission’s “Making a Difference Challenge”.

The commission says the students at St. Laurent are proud of their Métis heritage and decided to invite another school from the Prairie Rose School Division, Elm Creek, to experience, for a day, Métis customs and traditions. Over 400 students participated.

In the Pas, a different project was emerging. After attending The Pas Youth Conference, students at Margaret Barbour Collegiate put together a presentation for younger students who were asked to respond to such questions as: “What are your rights and responsibilities?” and “If racial discrimination could be eliminated, how would the world be different?

The schools will receive a Human Rights Certificate of Achievement for their work, and $500 towards continuing projects.

 

Student Read-A-Thon for MS celebrates its 30th birthday

The MS Read-A-Thon is adding some special perks this year to celebrate its 30th year promoting literacy and teaching students about multiple sclerosis.

“We’re delighted to have some Manitoba children’s authors join us in our school presentations,” said Alice Ramsay, coordinator of the program run by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, Manitoba Division. “Joe McLellan, Bonnie Murray and Larry Verstraete are on board and will read to students at select schools.” This is possible in part to a grant from the Manitoba Arts Council administered by the Manitoba Writers’ Guild.

The MS Read-A-Thon is run by staff and volunteers of the MS Society who visit Manitoba schools. They give a short interactive presentation, explaining the symptoms of MS and how they affect people as they go about their day-to-day tasks.

The presenter also emphasizes the importance of reading and speaks about the enjoyment and learning that comes from what is unfortunately becoming a lost pastime. Last year, Manitoba Read-A-Thon participants read for a total of 432,202 minutes and raised over $34,000.

“We have many new resources on our MS Read-A-Thon website,” said Ramsay. “There are fun sections for kids where they can tell us about their favourite books and even do puzzles. There are tips for teachers about motivating their students and we just added a parents’ section as well.”

For more information or to register your school, call Alice Ramsay at 943-9595 ext. 240 or email: msreadathon.mb@mssociety.ca
You may also visit the website: www.mssociety.ca/manitoba and click on MS Read-A-Thon.

 

National Media Awareness Week Nov. 5–9

Media Awareness Network (MNet) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) are pleased to announce that CTVglobemedia is continuing its longstanding commitment to media literacy in Canada by becoming the presenting sponsor of National Media Education Week, November 5-9, 2007.

Media Awareness Network and the Canadian Teachers' Federation are the lead partners in National Media Education Week, created in 2006 to promote media education and encourage media literacy activities throughout Canada.

“Canada is ahead of much of the world when it comes to integrating media education into our schools and communities, but we have a long way to go before it becomes a part of every child’s education,” says Cathy Wing, Acting Executive Director of Media Awareness Network. “This pivotal sponsorship from CTVglobemedia enables us to spread the word about the importance of media education as a forward- thinking strategy for creating thoughtful, engaged and informed young people.” Her comments support the observation by CTF President Emily Noble of “the importance of a major media network recognizing the need for media awareness on the part of Canadian youth.”

“CTVglobemedia is pleased to support Canada's second annual National Media Education Week,” says Vice-President of Public Affairs Sarah Crawford. “We applaud the Canadian Teachers' Federation and Media Awareness Network, who have created this week to promote media literacy as a key component in the education of young people, and to encourage the integration of media education into Canadian schools, homes and communities.”

For more information on National Media Education Week 2007, visit www.mediaeducationweek.ca or contact Media Awareness Network info@media-awareness.ca

 

Unions hailed as champions of United Way
A.P. (Ben) Benton
United Way Winnipeg

United Way is celebrating a proud heritage in the labour movement as we get all fired-up for Campaign 2007.

An enthusiastic Heather Grant-Jury, director of the UFCW Local 832 Training Centre, heads up the efforts as this year’s Campaign Chair.  “Over the years, I’ve been a proud supporter of United Way,” said Grant-Jury. “And as you know, so has the labour movement.”

United Way of Winnipeg was conceived in 1965 as a partnership between the Winnipeg Labour Council and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce who shared a vision of a stronger community.

United Way Winnipeg website

Workers in Winnipeg continue to play a significant role in workplace campaigns consistently raising more than 50 per cent of the total campaign annually.  Teachers and students in Winnipeg raised nearly $390,000 for last year’s campaign.  Thousands more dollars flowed to United Ways across the province thanks to teachers and students.

No lone organization can address the social, political or economic factors that may cause barriers in our efforts to reduce poverty, encourage youth and build neighbourhoods. But by working together we can create positive, sustainable change. That’s why we’re so excited to have this opportunity to renew our partnership with the labour community.

Unions share not only a historical relationship with United Way, but a philosophical one too.  Unions have always promoted a strong message of community and take an active role supporting United Way’s mission—to improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action.  United Way targets three key areas:

Teachers are active participants in all three aspects.  As educators involved in the academic and extra-curricular activities of young people, teachers help to ensure that our future leaders have the best opportunities to realize a bright future.  By being active community participants on so many levels, teachers ensure that neighbourhood schools are vibrant.

United Way depends on this kind of supportive, participatory action. There is so much that we can accomplish when we work together.  Campaign 2007 is your call to action.  Invest in your community by giving to United Way’s campaign, become a union counsellor, volunteer, and join with us as we work towards better lives, improved conditions and stronger, safer and more vibrant communities for everyone who lives here.

 

Nominations open for youth human rights award

Nominations for the Manitoba Human Rights Youth Award are now being accepted.

The award is one of two given out each year by the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. The other is the human rights commitment award.

“Every year, on International Human Rights Day, we acknowledge work done in various communities that has had an impact on the advancement of human rights,” says Dianna Scarth, Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

“We are asking Manitobans to consider submitting a nomination for either the Commitment or Youth Award,” she says, adding, “the work and effort of many often goes unnoticed by those outside their community. This event is a celebration and gives individuals or groups the recognition they deserve.”

This year the Commitment Award will recognize work, which has advanced human rights by overcoming discrimination based on mental disability.  The youth award will recognize a youth group or young person who has promoted respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms within Manitoba. 

Past human rights award recipients include teacher Chuck Duboff, Winnipeg Harvest, and Phil Fontaine.  The Dr. Sybil Shack Youth Award, which began in 2005, has been awarded to the Maples Collegiate Unity Group and Tasha Spillett. 

The deadline for nominations is November 9, 2007.  For more information on the award criteria, you can contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, The Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties or the Canadian Human Rights Commission.  Criteria information can also be found on the Manitoba Human Rights Commission website www.gov.mb.ca/hrc

Retired teachers again rally in support of improved pension COLA

About 400 retired teachers rallied at the Legislature Oct. 10 to again call on the provincial government to fund a full cost of living adjustment for their pensions.

The COLA for this year was .63 per cent. The rally was organized by the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba. The retired teachers’ concerns and the provincial response were the same as in previous years.

Education Minister Peter Bjornson told the teachers that the government continues to work on the pension plan, including ways in which to improve the COLA.

“Over the past year, government representatives have been working with the members of the Teacher Pension Task Force and RTAM with the goal of finding a COLA solution that all parties at the table could accept,” he said. “It is important that any step taken to provide a better COLA to retired teachers be endorsed by all parties currently at the table.”

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society declined an invitation to address this year’s rally.

            See the minister’s full remarks
            See the MTS letter declining an invitation to speak at the rally

 

Environmental lesson plans now available for EAL students

EcoKids, the Canadian environmental education program, has now developed special lesson plans to address the needs of English as an Additional Language students.

The materials focus on environmental education themes and topics.

The lesson plans are available on the ecokids.ca website.

EcoKids, operated by Earth Day Canada, has been promoting environmental awareness for young Canadians for 10 years.

It says its new initiative “addresses the increasing number of new immigrants in Canada’s classrooms who arrive speaking neither English nor French.”

 

Turtle River teachers get guaranteed prep time

Turtle River is a tiny school division that employs fewer than 60 teachers.

But for three years those teachers stood behind their collective bargaining team, finally winning a significant arbitration to get guaranteed prep time.

In 2004, when the teachers entered negotiations, prep time was non-existent for most and minimal for other teachers in Turtle River. Local association members decided that their No. 1 priority was to get a guaranteed amount of prep time written into their collective agreement.

The school division adamantly opposed the move throughout negotiations and through a first round of arbitration that began in 2006.

Even when an initial arbitration award was handed down last March, the division had another chance to negotiate a settlement on the prep time issue. While ruling on all other issues, the arbitrator sent the parties back to further negotiate prep time.

No agreement was reached so the two sides found themselves before the arbitrator again, with teachers arguing the need for prep time and the school division arguing that it could not afford to provide it.

The arbitration board was not persuaded by the division’s argument that it could not afford to enshrine prep time in the collective agreement.

Apparently to ease the impact on the division, the arbitrator ordered that the clause, ensuring 150 minutes of prep time per week, not come into effect until the next school year.

 

Francophone teachers win precedent-setting arbitration

Teachers in Manitoba’s francophone teachers’ association, l’Association des éducatices et éducateurs franco-manitobains (AÉFM), are now covered by the most comprehensive public school harassment policy in the province. The precedent-setting policy includes protection from discrimination, harassment as defined in the human rights code, sexual harassment, and for the first time, mental or psychological harassment.

“This represents more than five years of work for our association and we are extremely happy it has ended this way,” says Richard Alarie, president of the AÉFM. “It gives so much more protection to our members than they’ve had in the past, and the policy cannot be changed without the association’s consent.”

The Division scolaire franco-manitobaine (DSFM) policy is the result of an arbitration ruling directing the policy be applied as of August 13, 2007. Implemented just last week, the policy defines mental or psychological harassment as:

“Any unwelcome or unwanted conduct that constitutes moral or psychological harassment, including abuse of power, use of excessive control, and any conduct that threatens, intimidates, coerces, humiliates, belittles or embarrasses a staff member, either verbally or physically, on a single occasion or repeatedly…”

The new policy also directs that a harassment and discrimination officer—agreed upon by both the AÉFM and the DSFM—be retained by the division, and that a delegated manager at the division spread awareness about workplace discrimination and harassment to all division staff.

"The AÉFM deserves all the credit for their commitment to this issue," says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “This raises the bar in terms of protection for teachers.” The Society has fully supported the AÉFM on this issue, says Isaak, and “would like to see this for all teachers.”

Read more about the case in the October/November issue of The Manitoba Teacher.

See full harassment, discrimination policy here

 

New MTS handbook sent to schools, copies available for substitutes

The 2007 MTS Handbook and Calendar for Society members was being delivered to schools in the first to weeks of September.

This year's theme is humour in the classroom.

Substitute teachers who are Society members can also obtain a copy of the handbook by contacting MTS. They can request copies by email or phone, but in either case must provide:

The contact options are as follows:

            Handbooks will be provided as supplies last.

Anti-landmines group reports another successful year

Another successful fundraising campaign to help those injured by landmines came to and end on June 30 and a total of $10,635.15 was raised, including nearly $9,000 raised by 41 Manitoba schools, says the co-ordinator of the Manitoba Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Teacher Darryl Toews says the schools and Teaching War Affected Children Class at the U o W participated in the 2006-2007 "100 Schools Challenge."

The entire amount was wired to the One Love Project, which assists people in Rwanda who have been siabled by landmines, on Aug. 14.

"Meredith Daun (the other coordinator of the MBCBL) and I had some discussions this summer about our funding support of the One Love Project. We decided that we would continue to support that organization and its work and would again invite schools and the public to engage in fundraising activities over the next year. I've sent a letter to all of the schools participating in last year's challenge which includes our flier for this year's "100 Schools Challenge". It will also be available in English and French very shortly on our website," Toews says.

"We decided that it was important to offer the One Love Project continued support because that gives them a stable funding source. We also feel a close connection to that organization and its staff after our two visits to Rwanda."

For more information about the "100 Schools Challenge" and the One Love Project, please visit www.mbcbl.org or email info@mbcbl.org.

Group looks to have classrooms become greener

Being “green” in the classroom is directly connected with environmentally responsible citizenship, and Waste Reduction Week, October 15-21, is an exciting way to make environmental education come to life, says the project co-ordinator.

Coral Maloney says Resource Conservation Manitoba wants to encourage more students and teachers to get involved.

“We want to support the positive actions people are taking towards sustainability,” she says.  “Manitoba students and teachers are composting, walking to school, and reducing their waste in all kinds of creative ways, all year round.  We want to celebrate that, and encourage more to join in!”

The event highlights some of the creative, educational and interesting ways to integrate “green” learning into the classroom.  Waste Reduction Week is celebrated in all Canadian provinces and territories, and is in its seventh year in Manitoba.  The event is an opportunity to celebrate the waste reduction and resource conservation efforts that already exist, and it’s also a chance to highlight new initiatives and programs – from educational projects or experiments to an environmental awareness event. Schools, communities and businesses can register to participate and join the nation-wide community of people committing to waste reduction efforts.

The project is coordinated by Resource Conservation Manitoba, a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to providing practical, sustainable solutions for everyday living. Waste Reduction Week is supported by Manitoba Conservation, the Manitoba Product Stewardship Corporation, Manitoba Hydro, and the City of Winnipeg. 

Maloney says it’s difficult to promote recycling in schools when there is no institutionalized program to deal with recyclables in place already. It’s a deep concern that children are being taught about recycling in the classroom but the modeling they receive doesn’t match up.  Nonetheless, promoting Waste Reduction Week needs to be about more than recycling, she says.
 
“Remember those 3Rs?  At RCM, we make them four: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Just examining these four together, in the order that they are, helps us think a little differently about waste.”

Classroom activities related to Waste Reduction Week fit easily into the curriculum with activities such as poster designs, science experiments, media and advertising studies, and composting projects, she says.

For more information and to get involved, contact Coral Maloney, Waste Reduction Week Coordinator at (204) 925-3775, email: wrw@resourceconservation.mb.ca or browse the WRW wesbite at www.resourceconservation.mb.ca. 

Four Manitoba schools make magazine's list of top 25

Four Manitoba schools made the grade in Today’s Parent magazine’s fourth annual Top Schools Survey. The magazine called for nominations from its readers in nine different categories, based on research with experts, parents and educators. The Manitoba schools that made the list are: Lakewood Elementary School and Ecole Seven Oaks Middle School in Winnipeg, Hazel M. Kellington School in Neepawa, and Inglis School in Inglis, Manitoba. Twenty-five elementary and middle schools from across Canada were recognized in the survey, including three stand-out schools for special recognition.

Lakewood Elementary in Winnipeg was one of these stand-outs in the “best extra-curicculars” category.  Besides traditional activities such as volleyball, basketball and choir, the school also offers its students juggling, a morning fitness program and a boys’ writing club, among others. The school was a stand-out because of “its commitment and fun approach to keeping students’ minds and bodies active”. 

“It makes us feel really good to be nominated,” says Principal Linda Daniels. “There’s a feeling about this school—it’s a very friendly and accepting place.”

Hazel M. Kellington School in Neepawa received the “terrific teacher” award. Phys.ed teacher Heather Douglas’ innovative approaches to fitness earned her a Manitoba Physical Education Teachers Association award last year.  The school features “Movement Spectacular”—a performance show set to music which can include hockey sticks, ribbons, scarves and dance.  Fitness activities are designed to make every child feel included and recognized—awards are given for personal bests, earning most kids a ribbon on track and field day.

“It was nice to have a parent feel so strongly about our school to nominate it,” says Douglas.  “I think the magazine liked our whole process of looking at individual needs of each child and how it comes through in so many ways.”

Principal Allen Hanke says the staff is the strength of the school. “We like to offer different opportunities for the kids to have fun,” he says.

As one of the smallest public schools in Canada, Inglis School in Inglis, Manitoba was included in the “one of a kind” category for its cultural diversity and resourcefulness.  Heather Davidson serves as principal and teacher in Inglis School and says what makes her school special is that “Because we’re a small school we are able to do a lot of activities that involve the whole student body - every child is included. We also try to give back to the community such as going out and doing garbage clean up,” she says.      

Rounding out the list is Ecole Seven Oaks Middle School in Winnipeg. The “all round cool schools” category that Seven Oaks was included in is fitting, says Principal Gwen Birse. “That’s what middle school is all about,” she says. “Kids thinking of school as ‘cool’. 

The school’s 600 students can explore a wide variety of activities including robotics, curling, nutrition and multimedia.  Two out of three students play on school teams, while school’s theatrical productions—such as last year’s Anne of Green Gables” sells out seats in Winnipeg’s Pantages Playhouse Theatre. 

You can locate the Today’s Parent Top 25 schools article online at www.todaysparent.com/education/general/article.jsp?content=20070807­144712_4676 to read about more special schools across Canada.

Society continues to press for improvements to pension COLA

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society continues to urge the provincial government to allow an increase in pension contributions to improve the plan’s cost of living adjustment.

This year the Teacher’s Retirement Allowances Fund has advised retired teachers that the COLA for this year will be .63 per cent.

The Society realizes that this news will be disappointing for retired teachers. In the past four years, the Society has spent a great deal of time talking with government about the COLA issue and is working closely with the government and the Retired Teachers’ Association at the Pension Task Force to try and find a satisfactory solution for both active and retired teachers.

There are three main reasons the COLA is so low:

  1. For two decades active teachers were making the same contributions to their pension plan while at the same time pension benefits were improving.
  1. Full COLAs continued to be paid despite warnings from the pension plan’s actuary that by paying out a full COLA every year, the plan was using money that would be needed to pay for future COLAs.
  1. At the same time, the number of active teachers paying contributions into the fund decreased in relation to the number of retired teachers collecting benefits. 

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