Gymnasiums, child care; priorities in new public schools capital budget

April 4, 2011
Premier Greg Selinger has announced a $94.2-million budget for public school capital projects for priorities such as planning new schools, and building gymnasiums and child-care facilities.

The budget is $19.2 million more than the guaranteed funding announced in a multi-year capital plan in 2009.

"We are investing in schools to ensure our kids get the quality education they need to succeed," Selinger said.  "Strengthening our commitment to physical infrastructure is part of our long-term plan to support early-learning and student success."

Responding to enrolment growth in northwest Winnipeg, the province will build a new early-learning to Grade 8 elementary school in Amber Trails in the Seven Oaks School Division.

The new school, to open September, 2013, will be the first of a series of elementary schools with daycares planned for Winnipeg in the coming years.

A new elementary school is also being planned in Sage Creek with pre-design planning to begin in 2011-12, Selinger said. This development will begin with a stand-alone child-care facility as part of a new initiative to build more child-care facilities on school division property, he added.  Early acquisition of a school site will allow for future integration of the child-care facility into an elementary school.

"We want to build an education system that is as seamless as possible, from early learning all the way to post-secondary education and careers," said Selinger.  "We've proposed amendments to our Preparing Students for Success Act which would require early-learning or child-care facilities to be included in all new schools and in major renovations."

The premier also announced the beginning of the Active Schools Fund, a new, multi-year gymnasium construction and renewal program. Beginning in 2011-12, there will be a five-year, $50-million program for Manitoba public schools, which will ensure high-quality gymnasium facilities are available to provide the required instructional facilities for healthy living and high-school graduation.

"Our aim is to make Manitoba a leader in education. We want healthy, active and successful children," said Selinger.  "This program builds on the very successful implementation of mandatory physical education in Manitoba high schools introduced in 2008 as a result of recommendations from the Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force."

Since 1999, the school capital construction program has seen the construction of 27 new gyms and five gym additions. 

"We've invested more than $737 million in public school capital projects," the premier said.  "Together, we have built 18 new schools and 13 replacement schools and completed extensive renovations and additions to existing schools."

Click here for more information on the capital budget.

 

New website on human rights for teachers, students

March 29, 2011
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission has launched a new, unique website designed for students and teachers.

The site, Manitoba Class Action, is based on a book by Human Rights Consultant Stephen Hammond called Steps in the Rights Direction. The book chronicles past Canadian and international human rights events, one for every day of the year.

“Many students have been involved in putting this site together,” says Pam Roberts, a human rights investigator and one of the Commission’s youth conference co-ordinators. “When you are on the site you will watch a student read about a specific event that happened on that day in the past.”

There are also questions, background information, links to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission’s website, other sites of interest and specific social networking sites for those interested in discussing the human rights issue with others.

For example, one student explains the event that took place on Feb. 26, 1942. That was the date when the Canadian Minister of Justice ordered the removal of all people of “the Japanese race” from the “protected area” of the Pacific coastline.

It is but one of the many human rights stories on the website that deals with the issue of racism.  A lesser known, but very similar story is the mistreatment of Italian Canadians and the apology they received on November 4, 1990.  Another Canadian human rights event is the Royal Assent of the Chinese Immigration Act on June 30, 1942 which allowed the Government to bar immigrants of Chinese descent from entering Canada.  In total the Manitoba Class Action Website has 52 events, one for every week of the year.

The website can be found at www.manitobaclassaction.com

 

More than 40,000 pounds of food brought in by Operation Donation

March 25, 2011
Over 70 Manitoba schools collected over 43,000 pounds of food for Winnipeg Harvest’s 12th Annual Operation Donation thanks to hard working teachers and students.

Schools from K-12 collected non-perishable food items including baby food, tuna, soup, canned vegetables, fruit and pasta, and much more. The week-long food drive took place from February 28-March 4 was supported by the Manitoba Teacher’s Society, Manitoba Public Insurance and matched by Peak of the Market and Canada Safeway.

Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Pat Isaak said the results of this year’s Operation Donation were “absolutely inspiring.” “What every teacher knows is that it’s the hope and compassion of students and teachers that change the world,” said Isaak.

The Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s annual Curling Bonspiel also raised $900 for Winnipeg Harvest.

 

Group fundraises for Japan relief, wants other teacher groups to join in

March 16, 2011
The Manitoba School Library Association has committed funds for Japan disaster relief and hope other Special Area Groups join in.

The MSLA is making a donation of $2 per member and wants to see all other SAGs make similar commitments. The money will go to Red Cross relief programs.

It says if all members of groups donated just $2, the overall donation could be substantial.

The decision is the first of what is likely to be many fundraising efforts among Manitoba schools and teachers in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and radiation crisis that hit Japan.

Education International has sent a message of support to its affiliate in Japan and is awaiting word from the Japan Teachers’ Un ion to see what help it needs.
More than 1,700 teachers and students are still missing in the area of the quake and tsunami.

“We wait to be guided by the JTU as to how best to channel our solidarity in order that those in the affected zones can be supported in rebuilding their lives, schools and communities,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.

“The massive scale of destruction across Miyagi, Iwate and Fukushima prefectures must be a huge blow, affecting as it does entire communities. Saddened by the casualties and devastation, we are also uplifted by the resolve of the Japanese people in the face of such crisis and their determination to move forward together.
“We wait to be guided by the JTU as to how best to channel our solidarity in order that those in the affected zones can be supported in rebuilding their lives, schools and communities.”

 

Teacher, MTS win four-year fight over wrongful dismissal

March 08, 2011
By George Stephenson
When Rolling River School Division teacher Brenda Nicholson was fired in May, 2006, she was determined to show the action of the school division was unfair and unjustified.

It took almost four years of hearings, court cases and appeals involving the division and The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, but she finally got her wish.

Last spring the Manitoba Court of Appeal ruled in her favour and the school division had to pay Nicholson her back salary since the case began.  It took months after that just to work out the exact settlement and payment.

However, Nicholson didn’t carry on the case through so many years and so much agony for a job and salary.

“I believed what the school division was doing was wrong and a form of bullying,” she says.  “I needed to do this not only for me, but also for those teachers starting out in their careers or going through a similar experience.  It was because of principle.“

MTS staff officers say the case is at least extremely rare, if not unique, in the length of time it continued and the number of legal hurdles it had to clear along the way.

Nicholson had been a teacher for six years, first in a classroom position, then as a resource teacher and then as a remedial language teacher when faced with the possibility of being fired. It was the beginning of a series of highs and lows over the next several years.

The first blow came when the superintendent went to the school board and recommended Nicholson’s dismissal. He included a 130-page report, with attachments, that supposedly justified the recommendation.

The school board accepted the recommendation, MTS challenged the firing and the case went before an arbitration board which under law determines whether reasons given by the school board for termination constitute “cause” for terminating the employment agreement.

It ruled more than a year after the termination that “the division’s decision to terminate her employment agreement was premature and cannot be sustained.”

“The division has not proven that Nicholson is an incompetent teacher,” said the majority opinion.

The board said that while there were flaws in Nicholson’s performance, which she acknowledged, she had been improving. As well, it questioned the objectivity of some evaluations because of a deteriorating relationship between Nicholson and the person in charge of the evaluation.

The school division then appealed that decision to the Court of Queen’s Bench, contending that the board didn’t answer the proper question in this case. It argued that Nicholson was fired for inadequate performance and it wasn’t up to the arbitration board to decide that meant incompetency.

The judge agreed with the school division, putting Nicholson back to where she was when fired, without a job or back pay.

MTS appealed this decision to the Manitoba Court of Appeal, pointing out that the issue of incompetence was actually raised by the superintendent, who had written that Nicholson “has not demonstrated the skills necessary for competency in teaching.”

The appeals court agreed, noting that “whether the phrase used to describe the reason for termination is incompetence or inadequate performance is really a question of semantics in this case.”

The court reinstated the original determination of the arbitration board, pointing out that the board had “reviewed in detail the allegations of the division.”

The school division decided against attempting another appeal and the case was over.

The decision by the arbitration board, that Nicholson’s employment agreement was still in effect, meant that she could have had her job back, but she decided against it.

“The courts have proven it was a wrongful dismissal but in the end who really won or lost?” she asks.  “The Division?  They ended up getting what they wanted (Nicholson deciding to not continue teaching in the division) but at what cost?  Myself?  I won the case but lost my career. 

“In a rural community, it would have been very difficult to go back to the same Division.  I chose not to return and do not regret this. I could not go back and work for a division that treats employees in this way.   Even before the decision was awarded, I held my head high and always knew in my heart it was all so wrong, yet all so very sad.  Now I can hold my head even higher but in the end I forfeited my career.
“How much time and money has been spent over the course of the past five to six years to determine the outcome?  This time, energy, money, all should have been spent on the education of students. Proving a principle comes at a very high cost.”

Nicholson and MTS staff say one thing the case does underscore is the need for teachers in a similar situation to immediately contact the Society.

“Without the Society standing behind me, the Division would have had its way.  For this I am eternally thankful.  There are so many people within The Manitoba Teachers' Society that I will forever be grateful to.

“Not only did they all help prove the school division was wrong, but more importantly they believed in me and they believed what the division was doing was wrong.”

Nicholson still feels bad for the students she was teaching during the early part of the case.
“What really upsets me was the amount of time the students lost.  So much time was spent documenting and the stress this caused me, of course affected my teaching. 

“I know that my best interest was for my students and I know that I made a difference in those children that I taught. I sincerely hope that what I have been through prevents another teacher from having to go through the same thing.”

 

Teachers should be clear on liability before transporting students

March 8, 2011
Manitoba public school teachers should be aware of possible liability issues and consequences of using their own vehicles to transport students to school-sponsored activities.

That’s the bottom line of a legal opinion that had been sought by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society after concerns were raised about the legal issues around such transportation.

Basically, teachers are covered two ways when transporting students, through a division’s liability insurance and through personal, regular insurance from MPIC.

In the event of an accident, MPIC comes into play. As a “no-fault” province, no one, including a teacher can be sued for bodily injury arising from a motor vehicle accident. The opinion points out, however, that accidents can occur that do not involve a vehicle, in which case the division coverage kicks in.

As well, in travel outside Manitoba teachers are open to liability in jurisdictions that do not have “no-fault” insurance.

“The teacher may be sued in accordance with the law in the jurisdiction where the accident occurred,” the report says. “MPI would be required to defend the case on behalf of the teacher up to the limits of liability under the MPI policy. Any amounts of liability, in excess of the policy limit, would (subject to coverage available under the division policy) be the personal responsibility of the teacher.”

It’s for those reasons that MTS recommends teachers ensure their coverage, through MPI and the division policy, is adequate and that they ensure they have approval to transport students from their administration.

MTS lawyers recommend that teachers obtain permission from their principals for routine excursions and from the board for trips outside the province.

They also say teachers should be aware of other employment issues associated with transportation of students in personal vehicles because having a vehicle is not a condition of employment.

• As is the case with any motor vehicle accident, the teacher, if at fault, would have to assume the financial penalty to their MPI rates as well as the surcharge on their licence.
• Teachers put their welfare at risk when transporting students as the opportunity is greater for allegations of misconduct to be made.
• Depending on circumstances, it is possible for the employer to impose discipline, possibly up to termination, if, for example, serious injury was a direct result of negligence on the part of the teacher.
• A principal who authorizes a teacher to drive students without verifying the validity of a teacher’s driver’s licence and/or registration may be disciplined for a resulting accident if in fact the licence or registration were not valid.

 

Former YHA winner nets two major awards at Latin American music festival

Feb. 28, 2011
Sierra Noble, a 2001 MTS Young Humanitarian Awards recipient won two major awards on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Festival de Viña 2011.

The 21-year-old Winnipegger took home two Silver Seagulls, one for best international song, another for best performer of the festival. It’s the first time a Canadian has ever won the awards. She also won a monetary prize of $30,000 U.S.

Sierra’s Twitter followers were alerted to the win by a tweet early Sunday in which she said, “te amo viña! te amo chile! muchas gracias chilevision!!! soooooo happy!! unbelievable!! wow!! Xoxoxo :) “

The Festival de Viiña is Latin-America’s largest music festival.

See a profile of Sierra Noble in the March issue of The Manitoba Teacher.

Click here to see the single she performed.

Click here for the official music video for the single.

Paul Olson to be next president of teachers' society, 2011-2013

Feb. 18, 2011
MTS Vice-President Paul Olson has been acclaimed as the next president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

Olson was unchallenged in his run to replace President Pat Isaak, whose term ends this year. Nominations for president closed Feb. 18.

Olson has a long history with MTS and the Winnipeg Teachers’ Association. He has been a French Immersion elementary teacher in Winnipeg for most of his career.

He has been vice-president of MTS for the past four years.

 

Shaftesbury High School produces lip dub involving entire school

Feb. 11, 2011
“We welcome you with open arms...we're opening' up all the doors This school's called Shaftesbury--So what are you waiting for?”

The students and staff of Shaftesbury High School have created a lip dub video project to show off their school spirit and generate excitement for those who plan on attending in the future.

The entire school of 650 students and 72 staff joined in the lip dub to a song called Find, written by Shaftesbury teacher Scott Place.

The Shaftesbury effort follows an earlier lip dub production by Garden City Collegiate that featured 600 students (see story below).

“The lyrics are original to Shaftesbury,” says Rachelle LeRoux, Teacher and Program Leader of Applied Arts and Technology. “We choreographed the video using our first floor building plan and showcased all that our school has to offer – all the different sport and arts groups.”

Organized by a team of teachers, a graphics class and a film class, the lip dub video took four takes and the song was sung by four students from the school.

“We were amazed by how it worked out,” says LeRoux. “It was highly pre-planned and the choreography was really well done. We really wanted to bring everyone together and show everyone what teens can do and how they can collaborate and work together.”

Check out their video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr54GsnodwQ

 

Dragons' Den looking for student entrepreneurs; auditions in Winnipeg

Feb. 11, 2011
The CBC TV show Dragons’ Den is conducting a cross-country search for students with inventions and ideas to pitch on the show.

Dragons’ Den features entrepreneurs pitching ideas to a panel of investors.

The producers will be in Winnipeg March 12 holding auditions for students under the age of 20 for the upcoming season.

“If (students) can convince our producers with a concise, dynamic presentation that you’re ready for the limelight, they could be invited to face the Dragons when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto,” said a CBC spokesperson.

For a full audition schedule and other information about the show, see www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/audition.

 

Teachers shocked after federal agency pulls funding for overseas program

Teachers across Canada and around the world are asking the Conservative government to override the bureaucratic decision rejecting the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) international development proposal.

After a 50-year partnership, The Canadian International Development Agency has axed a program of teacher training, curriculum assistance in developing nations. Since 1963 The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has helped fund more than 75 spots for teacher volunteers to help during summers in other countries.

 “The global education community is reeling from the shock after being informed of the CIDA decision,” says CTF President Mary-Lou Donnelly. “We have received an overwhelming number of letters and emails from a cross-section of Canadian and overseas teachers, ministers of education, partner organizations and global education networks.

“The five-year proposal builds on 50 years of partnership with the government of Canada and overseas partners. Not only are Canadian teachers dedicated as international volunteers, they have the valuable training and essential skills to work with their teacher colleagues and help improve teaching and learning in developing countries.

Canadian teachers have been praised worldwide for their work as pioneers and promoters of quality education. CTF’s International Programs have one focus: helping local teachers deliver quality education. Here’s how Canadian teachers help:

• Provide professional development for over 13,000 under trained teachers and nearly 2,300 teacher trainers who will be sharing their skills with 23,000 additional teachers in marginalized areas of developing countries;
• Lead projects designed to meet the national goals of quality “Education For All” in Ghana, Guinea, Mongolia, Uganda, India, Mozambique, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Togo;
• Train teachers to help achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including gender equality, health disease prevention, eradication of extreme poverty and global partnership for development, just to name a few.

“Teachers here and around the world urge the Minister to intervene today for the sake of the 40,000 overseas teachers and their over two million students who would benefit from the CTF program.  Canada’s image as a champion for quality public education depends on it,” says Donnelly.

Letters of support:

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA	Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers
BAHAMAS	President, The Bahamas Union of Teachers Executive Director, The Bahamas Union of Teachers
BURKINA FASO	Syndicat National des Enseignants du Secondaire et du Supérieur Syndicat National des Enseignants Africains du Burkina
DOMINICA	Dominica Association of Teachers
GUINEA	Fédération Syndicale Professionnelle de l'Éducation Syndicat Libre des Enseignants et Chercheurs de Guinée
INDIA	General Secretary, All India Association for Christian Higher Education Associate General Secretary, All India Association for Christian Higher Education
KENYA	Support Activities in Poverty Eradication and Health (SAIPEH)
MONGOLIA	Federation of Mongolian Education and Science Unions (FMESU)
MOZAMBIQUE	Organizaçao Nacional dos Professores (ONP)
NEPAL	Nepal National Teachers' Association (NNTA)
SIERRA LEONE	Sierra Leone Teachers' Union (SLTU)
TOGO	Pan African Teachers' Centre (PATC) Fédération des Syndicats de l'Éducation National (FESEN)
UGANDA	Uganda Ministry of Education and Sports Uganda National Teachers' Union (UNATU) Uganda National Teachers' Union Trustees' Board

 

Seven Oaks school wins national award for innovation in education

Feb. 3, 2011
The Seven Oaks School Division's Met School has won a national award for innovation in teaching and learning.

The Canadian Education Association has named the Met School as the first place winner of its Ken Spencer Award.

The Met School, featured twice in the MTS newsmagazine, The Manitoba Teacher, takes a non-traditional approach to learning in a variety of ways.

In recognizing the school, now in its second year, the CEA said it provides meaningful learning that is linked to student passions and interests.

“Class sizes are limited to 15 students with a curriculum tailored to their individual needs and interests. Students are placed in community-based internships two days a week, which contribute to their personal growth and are centered on goals that are relevant and are connected to the real world.

“Teachers are called ‘advisors’ and work with the same group of students from Grade 9 through graduation.

 “This “One student at a Time” philosophy creates purposeful relationships with teachers, families, and the community where essential skills and academic challenges lead to success.”

More about the Met School can be found in past issues of The Teacher here and here.

More about the Ken Spencer Award can be found here.

 

Leaders kick off I Love to Read Month with modern twist

Feb 2, 2011
Education leaders launched I Love to Read Month today at Earl Grey School in Winnipeg, but it was no ordinary guest reading. Education Minister Nancy Allan, The Manitoba Teachers’ Society President Pat Isaak and Winnipeg School Division Board Chair Suzanne Hrynyk read to students from a book loaded onto the classroom’s SmartBoard.

When they were done, it was the students’ turn.  The entire class split into three groups and the Grades 1, 2 and 3 students read to their guests.

“Teaching young children to read gives parents the opportunity to spend quality time with their children.  Reading opens the door to a pastime filled with learning and fun.  It allows children to let their imagination grow and gives them the tools they need for their future,” said Minister of Education Nancy Allan.

“Reading is about engaging children’s minds and imaginations,” says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.  “Teachers work very hard at instilling a love for reading in students when they’re young.  And we know that parents across the province want their children to enjoy the life-long benefits that come with the love of reading.”

“How do today’s students read?” asks Suzanne Hrynyk, chair of the Winnipeg School Board.  “In addition to paper books, they use devices never dreamed of by previous generations:  SmartBoards, e-book readers and other technologies.  Regardless of the tools they use, our schools strive to help students develop strong literacy skills and the joy of reading.”

Click here for more information on how to engage young readers.

 

More than 600 students get in on Garden City lip dub

Feb. 2, 2011
Over 600 students at Garden City Collegiate threw their hands in the air while filming a lip dub video to the popular song Dynamite by Taio Cruz. Led by the Grade 10 Multimedia class and teacher Rick Stocki, the students only did one rehearsal before filming the music video during a regular school day.

“My students have seen other schools do this type of thing on YouTube and they thought it looked fun so they wanted to organize a lip dub too,” said Stocki. “It’s part of their credit for the class – they organized, filmed and worked with all the volunteers, it was a great accomplishment.”

The class got the support of the hockey, dance and music teams who starred in the video, and voted on an upbeat song that would be appropriate for the lip dub. The volunteers all signed a waiver to participate in the video and everyone had their role during the song.

There were some technical hitches as they lost the song halfway through, but still continued, improvising the lip synching.

“They had a lot of fun,” said Stocki. “They’re already planning what they’re going to do next year and what they can do differently. We’re definitely doing it again.”

See the video here

 

Formula guarantees every division a minimum 2.2 per cent increase

Today’s announcement of an additional $30 million for the 2011 - 2012 school year is welcome support for public schools, says Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “We appreciate that this is the 12th year the provincial government has kept its commitment to fund public schools at or above the rate of economic growth.”

The provincial announcement of a 2.7 per cent increase is only one part of the funding schools receive. It comes with a guarantee that no division will receive less than a 2.2 per cent increase.

“We expect that with this provision, divisions will do their utmost to get resources into Manitoba classrooms so students can get the excellent programs they need,” says Isaak. “Money that gets into classrooms is always paramount for us.”

Isaak acknowledged the focus on early childhood development through a new $8 per-pupil supplement to help divisions increase school readiness for pre-schoolers.

“Teachers know better than anyone how important it is to invest in programs and supports for young children. We will certainly work with government and school divisions to develop the programs that will meet children’s needs. Every dollar spent in these formative years pays off throughout a young child’s life.”

Increases in funding for Level 2 and 3 special education students are also part of this year’s school funding. In addition to the funding announcement, the provincial government unveiled a series of grants for stay-in-school initiatives.

 

MTS president to take on Waiting for Superman documentary

MTS President Pat Isaak will take on the controversial documentary Waiting for Superman when it debuts in Winnipeg Jan. 28.

Isaak will be part of a panel discussion following the 7 pm Friday night screening at Cinematheque.

The documentary purports to examine who is to blame for the failures of the U.S. educational system and how it can be improved.

The film has roundly been denounced by teachers and teachers’ organizations because they say it singles out teachers in general and unions in particular for much of the problems in education. The documentary was directed by Davis Guggenheim, who also did the climate change film An Inconvenient Truth.

On reviewer said that in Waiting for Superman, teachers are cast in the role of greenhouse gases.

One of the groups enraged by the documentary has been the magazine Rethinking Schools.

“This film does not contain a single positive image of a non-charter public school or a teacher,” the magazine said. “Despite a lot of empty rhetoric about the importance of ‘great teachers,’ the
disrespect the film displays to real teachers working on the ground in public schools today is stunning.”

Rethinking Schools created a website designed to counter the movie’s conclusions. It can be found here  http://www.notwaitingforsuperman.org/

Some other websites about the documentary are:

http://www.peopleforeducation.com/news/waitingforsuperman
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/861772--education-movie-points-the-wrong-way-for-change
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-29/education-crisis-why-testing-and-firing-teachers-doesnt-work/full/

Showtimes for Waiting for Superman are:

Fri., Jan. 28 & Sat. 29 – 7  pm
Sun, Jan. 30 – 7:30  pm
Wed, Feb. 2 – 5 – 7  pm
Sun, Feb. 6 – 7:30 pm
Wed Feb 9 & Thur, Feb. 10 – 7  pm

The WFG Cinematheque
100 Arthur St.
Arthur and Bannatyne in Artspace

 

Education minister defends plans to increase school-leaving age

January 18, 2011
Education Minister Nancy Allan has defended the government’s decision to increase to 18 the age at which students can leave school.

In a speech to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, Allan said she knows “some may object – saying that keeping kids in school when they don’t want to be there will just accomplish nothing and won’t be fair to other kids in the class.”

 “We want to be fair to all students and their families,” she told the gathering, sponsored by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “The expectations for appropriate classroom behaviour have not changed.

“Teachers and principals will still have the authority to maintain proper discipline and academic expectations in the classroom and school.”

Allan made it clear her department is not proposing students just stay in schools or programs that aren’t working for them. The key is to find ways to get students into courses that will help them train for a job or further education.

She also defended the idea of fines for parents and students to keep them in school.

“Fines are there to encourage parents and students to comply with the legislation,” she said. “I fully recognize that fines alone won’t do the job. I believe the challenge before us is to engage students better so that they want to show up for class.”

In the speech, Allan touched on a number of other measures implemented and proposed by the province over the past year.

The full text of the minister’s address can be found here

MTS President Pat Isaak’s introduction of the minister can be found here

 

Diabetes program now available for schools in Manitoba

A program designed to combat diabetes, being used in six provinces, is now available to Manitoba schools.

Everyone Jump is an interactive music CD and teachers’ guide for Grades 1 to 6, designed to teach students about Type 2 diabetes.

The awareness and prevention plan teaches students about the importance of regular physical activity and healthy eating to prevent Type 2 diabetes. It includes a free teacher resource with cross-curricular lesson plans linked to the Manitoba curriculum for health and physical education, language, science and dance.

There is also the opportunity for student to enter a contest, the Everyone Jump Educational Challenge, based on what they have learned.  Winning entries are awarded prizes to celebrate classroom success and encourage physical activity.

Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem in Manitoba.

nation-wide study earlier this year showed that rates in Manitoba are 10 times higher than the rest of the country. More than 200 Manitoba children were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to obesity and other health risks, and until recently, was almost unheard of in children. 

Before 1985 there were no cases here.

Nearly all of the children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes were obese and had a family history of the disease. About 44 per cent were Aboriginal.

Information on the Everyone Jump program can be found at www.everyonejump.ca.

 

Province to increase age at which students can drop out of school

Nov. 18, 2010
The Manitoba government plans to introduce legislation to prohibit anyone from dropping out of school until they are 18.

“Success in the modern economy will be dependent on students having every opportunity to pursue post-secondary education, training and apprenticeships,” said Education Minister Nancy Allan.  “Those opportunities are lost when a young person does not have a high-school diploma or equivalent.
“Raising the compulsory education age to 18 will help ensure kids stay in school and are well prepared for life beyond the classroom.”

Students in Manitoba are currently required to be in school until the age of 16.  Under the proposed legislation, young people would be required to stay in school or in a recognized workforce training program until they are 18 or graduate.  Penalties which currently exist related to children under the age of 16 who are not in school would also be strengthened.

Students in Manitoba are currently required to be in school until the age of 16.  Under the proposed legislation, young people would be required to stay in school or in a recognized workforce training program until they are 18 or graduate.  Penalties which currently exist related to children under the age of 16 who are not in school would also be strengthened.

 Allan said she would consult with education stakeholders on how best to implement the new rule.
Both Ontario and New Brunswick recently increased the mandatory education age to 18.
New Brunswick drafted a new Education Act in 1997 to expand compulsory education to encompass kindergarten to age 18. At the time, attendance was compulsory from ages seven to 16.

The intent was to foster a new societal mindset that graduating is the norm, with an eye to ensuring students were prepared to meet the demands of the modern workplace.
The new law didn’t go into effect until July 1999 to give educators time to consider how best to deal with higher enrollment and the needs of students who would follow a vocational, rather than academic path.

Educators also had to consider the potential for reluctant older students to become a disruptive force in schools and enforcement was a concern. So far, no parent has been prosecuted for letting a child drop out early, but New Brunswick does prohibit employers from hiring school age kids to work during school hours. Dropout rates have declined. According to Statistics Canada, New Brunswick’s dropout rate averaged over three years (2002- 2005) was 9.2 per cent, compared to 13 per cent in Manitoba.

Allan said she hopes the age increase will bring about further increases in graduation rates in Manitoba. The rate here has climbed substantially  to 80.9 per cent in 2009 from 72.4 per cent in 2001,

 

Province answers teachers' concerns on no-fail and late assignments

Nov. 17, 2010
The government has updated its assessment and late assignment policies in a new document, Provincial Assessment Policy Kindergarten to Grade 12 Academic Responsibility, Honesty, and Promotion/Retention.

The government responded to concerns raised last year by The Manitoba Teachers’ Society that teachers’ professional judgment was not being considered in the promotion and retention of students and that some school divisions had a no fail policy.

The new policy on passing students makes it clear that school divisions cannot have a no-fail policy and decisions on passing students rests with school principals in consultation with the teacher and the parents.

“When it comes to retaining a student, the focus must be on how we can best help that student succeed and what supports are in place to help that student. This new policy now gives teachers a voice in decisions on passing or failing students. After parents, it’s the classroom teacher who spends the most time with that child and knows that child best when it comes to that student’s performance in school,” said MTS president Pat Isaak.

Teachers were also frustrated that they could not deduct marks for late assignments. This 13-year-old prohibition is changed by the new policy.

“The new policy on late assignments gives the decision back to the teacher. For some students there may be a valid reason why an assignment is late, but in the past some students took advantage because they knew marks couldn’t be deducted. Meeting deadlines and time management are part of the skills that teachers teach and there should be consequences if assignments are late for no reason,” said Isaak.

For more information read the government’s news release and the new policy, Provincial Assessment Policy Kindergarten to Grade 12 Academic Responsibility, Honesty, and Promotion/Retention.

 

Nunavut teachers asked to take four-year wage freeze

The Nunavut Teachers’ Association have been asked to accept a new contract that would freeze wages for four years.

It would also reduce the allowance paid to teachers who speak Inuktitut.
The union says government negotiators have claimed “an alleged  to pay.”

NTA President Robin Langill said the offer is insulting.

“I think the government of Nunavut  ... should feel ashamed of the way they are demonstrating how much they value teachers.”

In reporting on the issue, Nunavut Online has a web survey asking visitors about the contract offer. The NTA is asking teachers across Canada to take time to submit a vote.

UPDATE: That poll is no longer active

 

Thousands participate in first Drop Everything and Read day

Nov. 5, 2010
Almost 45,000 students and staff participated in the recent Drop Everything and Read project initiated by the Manitoba School Library Association.
The association challenged students and staff in schools across the province to read for 20 minutes on Oct. 25.

Sherry Faller, past president of the association, said 44,982 people in 145 schools, education resource centres and division offices participated.

“Students, teachers and parents were afforded the opportunity to acknowledge the important role school libraries play in the academic and cultural lives of our students.”

She said the association hopes to make the reading day an annual event.

Students challenge media, advertisers over gender stereotyping

Nov. 4, 2010
Students from Brooklands School, George Waters Middle School and St. James Collegiate issued a challenge to media and advertisers today to stop promoting gender stereotypes and unhealthy “ideal” body images today.

“Shows like Extreme Makeover and coverage of celebrities that are in and out of plastic surgery like it’s a grocery store, speak to women, and remind them that they’re not pretty enough,” said Jessica Dawes a Grade 10 student at St. James Collegiate. “Because we are so young, we are still looking for ourselves and trying to find the confidence we lack. Media is the added weight that keeps young women down.”
 
“They want young men like me to think that happiness is having a well-built body,” said Brenden Gali, who is in his final year at St. James Collegiate.  “We all have to be the alpha male, and when everyone tries to be, nobody is. I don’t believe I will ever find myself riding a horse while washing myself with Old Spice body wash.”

Pat Isaak, President of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, complimented the three groups of students for their courage in sharing their feelings and speaking about gender and media issues. She said that pressure on youth to conform has always been around. “But we didn’t face the relentless pressure of a 24/7, 500-channel, wired world.”

Isaak also thanked teachers. “Part of our everyday work is to be vigilant about these messages and images and get students to question and analyze what they see and hear and why it’s being directed at them.”

The student presenters also issued a challenge to students across the province to create videos, podcasts, posters and other media projects to show how they feel about “Gender and Media,” the theme of this year’s Media Literacy Week. “We want everyone express exactly what they feel, in whatever creative way they want,” said Gali.

Gender and Media Manitoba is a project of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, the Learning Support Technology Unit of Manitoba Education, the Manitoba Association of Computing Educators (ManACE), and the Bureau de l'éducation française.

Go to http://blurredimages.wikispaces.com for details on how to submit student work.

 

Food group launches Iron Chef cook-off for high school students

Oct. 21, 2010
Food Matters Manitoba is organizing the first-ever Iron Chef cooking competition for local high school students.

Kalynn Spain says the Localvore Iron Chef Cook-off! will encourage teams (Grades 9-12) to create original recipes with local ingredients.

The deadline for recipe entries is Nov. 24. After that, finalists will be chosen to participate in the cook-off Feb. 5. Finalists will be matched up with a professional chef for guidance on perfecting and presenting their recipe. 

For full details, visit   http://www.foodmattersmanitoba.ca/content/localvore-iron-chef-cook

 

MTS gives school board candidates an up-close look at education

Oct. 6, 2010
Teachers in Manitoba celebrated World Teachers’ Day along with 50 million of their colleagues around the world.

Here at home, they brought a group of school trustee candidates in Manitoba’s municipal election along for the ride.

Ten trustee candidates in the Seven Oaks School Division – along with 10 reporters and cameramen – hopped on a big orange school bus to visit eight classrooms at West Kildonan Collegiate Institute, École Leila North Community School and École Constable Edward Finney.

 “We wanted to show trustee candidates, and Manitobans in general, the hard work teachers are doing in the classroom,” said Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “Because teaching has always been an intensely human experience. It requires intelligence, emotional strength and flexibility.”
Paul Olson, Society vice-president, joined the candidates on the trip. He said it’s important for trustees to understand “the vital work that teachers do with kids and that the ultimate impact of their decisions as trustees at the classroom level must be their first concern.”

What the candidates saw and commented on was a huge range of activities including a senior-years sculpting exercise called “heroes and villains”, a middle-years volleyball game, Grade 6 and 8 math lessons with smartboards, early years math with manipulatives, and a multi-age French immersion class.

At École Leila North, a physically intense “kinaesthetic bingo” exercise led by teachers Kerry Waldbauer and Suzi Prazeres drew high praise from Derek Dabee, candidate for Seven Oaks Ward II. “This has got to be one of the most innovative things I have ever seen in school,” he said.

Seven Oaks superintendent Brian O’Leary smoothed the way for the candidates and media to tour the classrooms. Reporters from CBC-TV (English and French), the Winnipeg Free Press, CJOB, the Winnipeg Sun and City-TV covered the event.

Fab Five conference a major success

Oct. 4, 2010
The MTS Fab Five conference was the most the Society’s successful event ever for teachers in their first five years.

The conference, Oct. 7 – 9, attracted almost 100 new teachers who attended sessions from dealing with bullies to controversial issues in the classroom to special needs students.

This year’s conference was more extensive than previous years, including numerous workshops and seminars for teachers.

“Newer teachers have told us that they require more information to be properly prepared for the demands of teaching,” says MTS President Pat Isaak said before the conference. “They also want to share their experiences with other beginning teachers.”

The success of the Fab Five means it will probably be offered again next year with the possibility of it becoming an annual event.

 

Action plan on workload task force report adopted by provincial executive

Sept. 28, 2010
The MTS Provincial Executive has approved an action plan for implementation of the task force report on teacher workload.

The action plan involves work to be done by most of the MTS standing committees, all Society departments and discussions with the provincial government on a number of issues.

The plan comes after approval at the MTS Annual General Meeting last May of the task force report on workload. The task force was established in June, 2008.

It made eight major recommendations, all addressed in the action plan with specific directions and timetables.

They include a wide-ranging series of approaches to address Appropriate Educational Programming regulations.

The action plan calls for MTS to ensure members are clear on their rights and responsibilities in this area as well as the appropriate role of educational assistants and be aware of the resources available to support the learning of special needs students.

Other recommendations addressed by the action plan are:

• Develop a formula for an appropriate class size taking into account student composition.
• Negotiate into all collective agreements a clause that guarantees a minimum of 300 minutes of preparation time per week per teacher.
• Lobby the government and school divisions to reduce the rate at which new initiatives/curriculum are put in place and when new programs are implemented ensure that adequate, ongoing professional development is made available.  
• Negotiate into all collective agreements a clause that stipulates that all extra-curricular activity is voluntary.
• Continue expanding the image of public school teachers with the population.
• Ensure that there is equitable access to professional development opportunities across the province.

Most of the recommendations have a number of related issues on which action will also be taken.

Extended Health Plan offer for retired teachers

Sept. 28, 2010
MTS is offering an enrolment period for individual RTAM members who presently have Extended Health Coverage through Johnson Insurance.

This will allow enrolment into the MTS retiree Extended Health Plan.  The period extends from October 1st to December 1st of 2010 and is available to RTAM members who have coverage through Johnson Insurance but who did not leave the MTS Retiree plan to go to Johnson Insurance.

For further information on the MTS Retiree Extended Health plan or enrolment forms for that plan, contact Glen Anderson at 831- 3052 or toll free at 1-866-494-5747 ext 279 or by e-mail to, ganderson@mbteach.org

 

Teachers welcome consultations on changes to report cards

Sept. 10, 2010
“We’re pleased the provincial government is consulting on moving towards a province-wide report card,” says Isaak. “Parents want a report card to be meaningful and to tell them clearly how their child is doing. The report card is only one part of the ongoing communication between teachers and parents.

“We also know that teachers are spending 60 – 80 hours three to four times a year preparing report cards and progress reports.”

This morning’s announcement (see below) also said teachers’ in-service days will be set on a uniform basis so all schools within a division will be closed for the same 10 days though the school year.

Isaak says the upcoming talks will be useful in helping teachers preserve the right to choose their professional development.

“In-service days help students,” she says. “Teachers need to be able to choose their professional development according to the needs of their students. We will be raising these
and other concerns at the upcoming consultations.”

Government announces standardization of report cards, in-service days

Clarifications coming for 'no-fail' and late assignment policies

Minister of Education Nancy Allan has announced that she will be clarifying and strengthening rules around ‘no-fail’ and late assignment policies.

"I want to reassure parents that we are fundamentally committed to preserving and protecting the integrity of the education system," Allan said.  "Decisions about passing and failing are and will continue to be made by educators in consultation with parents.  Further, teachers need to be able to make sure there are consequences for inappropriate behaviour like handing in assignments late.  To that end, we will be strengthening these rules during the coming school year."

In January of 2010 the Manitoba Teacher published the results of MTS telephone surveys that found that fifty two percent of Manitobans said they strongly opposed to the no-fail policy and 24 per cent said they moderately opposed it. Only 20 per cent of Manitobans said they supported it. Twenty-four per cent of teachers have been asked to promote a student against their professional judgment.

Late assignment policies were also raised with Minister Allan this spring. “What we have now is a one-size-fits-all system,” says MTS President Pat Isaak. “Teachers have to do the same thing in every situation with every student. What every teacher knows is that every student is different and every situation is different. Teachers should have the discretion to decide how to handle late assignments according to the particular situation and the individual student.”

Commenting on the issue of late assignments on CJOB, Premier Greg Selinger said, “We have to have clear rules on that. People that get their work done on time aren’t disadvantaged by someone having a whole bunch of extra time. We want a fair system. Of course there has to be compassionate grounds that are considered. Some students get into difficult situations not of their own choosing where they need the discretion of the teacher to be applied.”

Consultations will be held this school year with educational partners on proposed changes to the ‘no-fail’ and late assignment policies.

 

Media get a look at back-to-school preparations

Thousands of Manitoba teachers are already back in their classrooms – many for weeks now - gearing up for the post-Labour Day start of school.

“There is a tremendous amount of preparation that happens before school officially starts and before the first bell rings at 9:00 a.m., next Tuesday,” said MTS President Pat Isaak at a news event at École James Nisbet Community School in the Seven Oaks School Division.

Isaak was visiting with colleague Diane Cameron, a kindergarten teacher at James Nisbet, helping to set up the kindergarten classroom and talking to TV reporters about the many days teachers spending prepping themselves and their classrooms to get ready for that first day.

Cameron, who will teach two kindergarten classes - each with 25 students - said the first week of school can be a stressful time for young children. She encouraged parents to help ease the transition by getting their kids back into regular bedtime hours.

As part of the intensive preparations for next week, Isaak said, “teachers are reviewing the profiles of the children they’re getting, setting up timetables, preparing for parent-teacher interviews and making sure that when school begins, they’re ready.”

Cheryl Gaudet, principal at James Nisbet, pointed out that the school’s staff parking lot was full. “Many teachers have come in to begin their classroom set up at the beginning of August.”

News teams from the CBC, City TV, Global Television and CTV were on hand to capture some of the back to school preparations.

Back-to-school radio panel includes MTS president, tackles education issues

Assessment, standardized testing and merit pay for teachers were among a number of issues debated and discussed on a recent back-to-school panel that included MTS President Pat Isaak on CJOB radio.

Joining Isaak were Seven Oaks Superintendent Brian O’Leary and Michael Zwaagstra, a teacher and co-suthor of the book What's Wrong With Our Schools. The panel was moderated by CJOB’s Richard Cloutier.

In one of the more contentious exchanges, Zwaagstra said “we’d like to see excellent teachers rewarded with merit pay, if we accept there are some teachers better than others.”

Isaak took exception to that notion.

“Merit pay is an insult to teachers,” she said. “It suggests that somehow we’re holding back our best teaching until we get an extra cheque.

“I believe that all teachers are good. I’ve been a best and worst teacher, sometimes in the same class. It is an intensely human endeavour. I guarantee you have students who think you are the best and worst teacher.

“Does that make you a good or bad teacher?”

O’Leary said pay isn’t a prime motivator for teachers.

“The best get into teaching because they love the work.  I’d suggest that teachers advocating for merit pay -- I’d be suspicious about their motives.  Teachers absolutely do need to be paid decently.”

The  panel also disagreed on the need for standardized testing with Isaak saying that she thinks it would work only when there are “standardized kids.”

She said teachers are the best people to judge the progress and achievement of students, through the use of classroom work and tests.

“There’s this mythology among those who support standardized tests that teachers don’t test our students.  I’ve been a teacher for 20 years, and there no student I taught that I didn’t test.”

Zwaagstra said one of the best ways of achieving “accountability” would be to conduct standardized testing at regular intervals.

You can hear the complete two-hour discussion at the CJOB website in its audio vault. The discussion was Monday, August 30, 2010 at 9 a.m. It begins 11 minutes after the hour.

 

Canadians give top marks to their schools, says CTF poll

July 14, 2010
The majority of Canadians continue to grade the nation’s schools with either an A or B, according to polling results released this week by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF).

“Six out of ten adult Canadians surveyed this past spring rated schools in their own communities with an A or B, and 53 per cent awarded schools in their province or territory similar grades,” CTF President Mary-Lou Donnelly said at the beginning of the organization's Annual General Meeting in Edmonton.

“Not only do Canadians rate schools in their own communities more highly than those in the remainder of their province or territory, notes Donnelly, but parents of children attending public school tend to rate the job their schools are doing more highly than non-parents.”

The findings are contained in the National Issues in Education Poll conducted by Vector Research for CTF between Feb. 18 and March 5, 2010. Some 2,591 Canadian adults took part in the online poll.

The survey also asked respondents to rate the job schools in their communities are doing in relation to six issues.

• Some 78 per cent of those polled rated as “good” or “excellent” the job their schools are doing with respect to giving girls and boys an equal chance to succeed.
• Seven in ten believed their schools are making sure all students feel respected, welcome and included.
• Two-thirds of respondents believed their schools were ensuring Aboriginal and other ethnic minority groups the same chance to succeed in school as white children.
• Close to six in ten participants rated their schools in the top two categories on questions of respect for sexual orientation, equal opportunities for rich and poor children, and inclusion of students with physical, emotional and learning disabilities.

The National Issues in Education Poll examined a wide range of issues, including Canadians’ priorities for education spending as well as attitudes towards measuring student achievement, emerging problems such as cyberbullying and programs and activities that foster citizenship.

The Canadian Teachers' Federation represents nearly 200,000 teachers in Canada as their national voice on education and related social issues. It is a member of Education International.

 

Manitoba schools receive 26 per cent of green school grants from WWF

Seven Manitoba schools have been awarded grants for environmental projects by the World Wildlife Fund Canada and Loblaw Companies Ltd.

Only Ontario had more schools chosen for grants, the first given out under a new program.
The seven Manitoba schools were chosen from more than 330 applications from across the country.
The WWF-Canada says the 26 selected “represented everything the Green CommUnity Program was looking for: reduced impact on the environment, positive solutions, leadership and inspiration for students and communities to take action.

“From outdoor classrooms to energy projects to rain gardens and bike projects, these grants demonstrate how we can all have a positive impact on our environment when we work together.”

Schools will receive up to $5,000 each to complete their projects by June 2011. WWF-Canada is investing over $100,000 in these projects to engage students and communities and lead to real long term change.

The next round of granting will occur in Fall 2011. Check back in September for details or email schools@wwfcanada.org to join our schools email list and be notified.
The seven Manitoba schools receiving grants are:

• École Lansdowne, which will use its grant to fund the first phase of a new land-use plan for the school, building a prairie garden accessible to both the school and the community
• Voyageur, which will further green initiatives by building the Voyageur School Community Bike Cage Project, designed to encourage bike use and reduce traffic and gas emissions around the school
• Elmwood High, which received funding to install solar panels on the school as part of the Green Energy program that already includes a wind turbine on school grounds that powers two computers in the school library
• Shaughnessy Park School, which will use the grant to create the Shaughnessy Park Monarch Butterfly Habitat, providing a hands-on learning experience for students and important support for the Monarch Butterflies
• Vincent Massey Collegiate, which will use the funds to support its Riding the Winds of Change initiative that includes wind and solar power, as well as a vegetable garden to supply the school’s cafeteria and a compost system
• Chapman School, which received funding to establish an 80-foot-long rain garden to collect and filter rain water and return it to the Red River watershed
• Oak Lake Community School, which will initiate a project to develop a curriculum for character education and service learning using topics relevant within a 100-km radius of the school.

Click here for more information on the projects

MTS supports provincial move to alter balanced budge legislation

June 7, 2010
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society has voiced its support for the provincial legislation that allows the government to run deficits while recovering from the recession.

“This government has always viewed funding for education as an investment in the future of this province,” MTS President Pat Isaak said in a brief to the legislative committee studying Bill 31, The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act. “During difficult economic times, perhaps more than ever, it is crucial that we continue to adequately fund quality public education programs.
“The implementation of this Bill will help ensure that our public schools continue to receive the resources they need to do an increasingly challenging job.”

The Bill amends the province’s balanced budget legislation to allow deficits for four years or until the province again runs a surplus.

“Teachers view this government’s public school funding increases despite uncertain economic times, as a signal that it considers the long-term benefits of education,” Isaak said. “This government is focusing on the future, while clearly being mindful of the present.

“What we’ve learned from the cuts of the 1990s is that fewer teachers, larger class sizes and fewer resources can have a lasting impact on the success of our students, and as a result our province.”

Pat Isaak's complete address

 

Brandon teachers win arbitration over top-up benefits during parental leave

June 1, 1010
Seven Brandon teachers and The Manitoba Teachers’ Society scored a victory at the end of March when an arbitration board ruled that these biological mothers from the Brandon Teachers’ Association were entitled to top-up during their time of parental leave.

The Society has been fighting on behalf of parents for top-up benefits for the past seven years. More than 125 grievances were filed by teachers throughout the province, with the first of the cases heard in the Louis Riel Teachers’ Association in 2005. Brandon was the last collective agreement that didn’t have top-up for biological mothers.

Trudy Zelmer was the first female teacher to file a grievance on parental top-up in Brandon, “I was stunned when I learned the school division didn’t have to pay top-up. It seemed so wrong. So I thought I’d phone MTS because I felt I wasn’t treated fairly,” said Zelmer, a resource teacher at Vincent Massey School in Brandon.

In the arbitration, Brandon School Division made two arguments against top-up for biological mothers. They said that the 10 weeks of parental leave top-up was already included within the 17 weeks of maternity leave top-up. The seven new moms testified at the arbitration on the significant effects of pregnancy, labour and post-childbirth issues. The Association alleged, supported by case law, that because of the physical effects of pregnancy, maternity top-up is to recuperate from pregnancy and giving birth, and did not relate to parenting.

During the arbitration hearing Zelmer gave details of her labour and caesarean section and the difficulties she faced recovering from childbirth. “We gave testimony in a closed room. I’m in my forties so I was comfortable telling these three elderly gentlemen the truth about having kids, but I’m not sure everyone did.”

The arbitration decision found that because parental top-up was being paid to adoptive parents and biological fathers, it disadvantaged and prejudiced these seven biological mothers and as a result contravened The Human Rights Code.

Brandon School Division’s second argument was that it would create undue hardship for the division to pay parental-top up to these mothers and in the future, to all biological mothers. The arbitrator stated that, “The courts have been relatively clear that an added financial expenditure representing a small part of the overall budget would not amount to an undue hardship.”

Zelmer was elated when she heard that her grievance had been successful. “I felt gratified that the wrong had been righted. My son is almost three now. It feels good that no one else is going have to face what I did.”

It is because of these seven teachers, Mandi Becking DeKelver, Coralie Bower Church, Janelle Henwood, Kim Schutte, Becky Simard, Lori Simard and Trudy Zelmer that from March 25, 2010 every teacher in Brandon will be entitled to 10 weeks (50 days) of parental leave top-up benefits.

Biological mothers in Manitoba enjoy the best top-up benefits of anyone in the country, up to 27 weeks of leave at 90 per cent of salary. This happened because 125 teachers stood up for their rights.

Colony educators from around the world to meet in Winnipeg

May 28, 2010
The Colony Educators of Manitoba will play host this summer to the International Conference for Hutterite Educators.

The largest gathering of Hutterite educators in the world, the conference will run from August 11 to 13. Keynote speakers include authors Barbara Coloroso and Sigmund Brouwer and motivational speaker Alvin Law.

Coloroso has written a number of books on parenting and school discipline. Her latest book is Just Because It's Not Wrong Doesn't Make It Right.

Brouwer is an award-winning author of scores of books, from youth fiction to adult thrillers. He co-founded The Young Writer's Institute and now meets more than 10,000 children a year travelling to writing camps and seminars.

Law was one of Canada’s first thalidomide babies. Born without hands, he learned to use his feet instead, becoming a successful musician, broadcaster and fundraiser. His life has been the subject of a number of television features and he is a former recipient of the George Vanier Award for outstanding young Canadian.

Education ministers pleased with education aspects of new copyright law

June 3, 2010
Ministers of education across Canada have responded positively to the tabling of new federal copyright legislation.

The Copyright Consortium of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), supports the copyright legislation because it allows students and educators in elementary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities to have fair and reasonable access to publicly available Internet materials in their educational pursuits.

“The educational use of the Internet has been a priority issue for the education community for several years,” said Nova Scotia Minister of Education Marilyn More, chair of the CMEC Copyright Consortium, “therefore, we are pleased to see the inclusion of an education amendment in this new copyright bill.”

“This legislation provides the clarity we have been looking for with respect to the educational use of the Internet. It is excellent that the bill allows students and educators to use Internet materials in their learning and teaching activities without fear of copyright infringement.”

More stressed how important it was for Canada’s Copyright Act to establish the necessary legal framework to allow educators and students to use and copy digital materials with the array of available technologies.

The CMEC Copyright Consortium will review the other sections of the new legislation and provide feedback to the federal Ministers of Industry and of Canadian Heritage over the summer months.

Some copyright specialists have pointed out that the new bill does not guarantee education use of material. If digital locks are placed on material, that trumps all other rights in the bill.

More said CMEC wants to review the bill thoroughly and ensure that the federal government has a clear understanding of how this legislation will impact Canada’s education community.

 

New money promised to help jailed young people graduate

The province is hoping to see more young people in correctional faciliites graduate, after annnouncing more resources to support academic programming.

Education Minister Nancy Allan and Attorney General Andrew Swan announced that $133,000 will go toward staff requirements.

"By supporting youth in correctional centres, we hope to continue improving the graduation rate, which increased by 8.5 per cent between 2001 and 2009,” Allan said.  “This program will help some youth earn their diplomas while in custody, while preparing others to continue pursuing an education after they return to the community.  This programming will also complement community and school-based partnerships such as peer support and mentoring.”

Manitoba Education’s total contribution for educational programs in youth correctional facilities for the 2010-11 school year is $389,000.  The additional funds will be used to increase staffing including an additional intake teacher and educational assistants to help students going back into the public school system.  Specialist teachers will assist in developing individual learning plans, programs and supports for youth with learning difficulties.

The funding from Manitoba Education adds to the approximately $2 million invested annually by Manitoba Justice to support educational programs in youth correctional facilities.  Youth facilities provide a year-round academic experience to their residents. Educational programs range from basic literacy and upgrading through to high-school credits and follow provincial curriculum.  Vocational programs such as carpentry are also offered.

“Access to education for incarcerated youth can really help them turn their lives around,” said Swan.  “Providing these youth with the educational tools they need to succeed academically will help them reintegrate into the community and hopefully set them on a new path in life.”

Documentary on Wabowden school gardening project at Cinematheque

A new documentary from Winnipeg on the Mel Johnson School Gardening Project in Wabowden, Manitoba will be featured at Cinematheque May 21-23.

The film  was recently selected by the United Nations as an important example of sustainable development.  Entitled And This Is My Garden, the documentary is a superb example of encouraging kids towards healthier eating habits of organic food.

Filmed in Wabowden,  a small quiet town in Northern Manitoba, Katharina  Stieffenhoffer’s  new film was recently presented to representatives from the United Nations in New York at their Commission on Sustainable Development.  It was only one out of three projects selected from 60 examples from over 30 countries.

“This documentary is not just about one school’s gardening project,” says filmmaker Stieffenhofer. “There are much larger issues at play here. It’s about breaking new ground in education, and it has the potential to change the way we live.”

 In the film,  retired teacher Eleanor Woitoiwcz  instructs students how to grow their own organic gardens. The Mel Johnson School Gardening Project began in 2006 as a part of the Frontier School Division's science curriculum Veggie Adventures.

Seeds sprout in a greenhouse and are transplanted into gardens around the school. In a place where produce must be flown in from hundreds of miles away, the project allows children and their families to grow their own food and add fresh vegetables to their diets.

The film will be introduced by Stieffenhoffer on Friday, May 21. The Friday and Saturday showings are at 7pm with the Sunday screening at 2 pm. Cinematheque is located at 100 Arthur Street in Winnipeg.

 

Winnipeg high school principal named YW Woman of Distinction

April 29, 2010
Linda Bulka, principal of St. John's High School, has been named one of the province's YWCA-YMCA Women of Distinction.

Bulka received the award in the education and training category at the organization's 34 annual gala Wednesday, April 28.

As principal of St. John's High School, Bulka established the Gowns for Grads program, Empowering Young Women's Support Group for sexually abused girls and introduced $80,000 worth of scholarships to help students obtain post-secondary education.

Nominated by a student at the school, Bulka has been recognized in the past by the Governor General's awards for excellence in teaching history and by the Manitoba government for service in education.

Also nominated in the education and training category were Angeline Ramkissoon and Sandra Herbst.

Ramkissoon is principal of Wellington Elementary School in Winnipeg. She is also president of the Winnipeg Women Administrators' Group and has been honoured by the Manitoba Reading Council and the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba for promoting literacy in schools.

Sandra Herbst is an assistant superintendent with the River East Transcona School Division and president of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents.

 

Canadian Teachers' Federation calls for action on child poverty

April 20, 2010
Teacher leaders from across the country are adding their voices to the national call for action to end child poverty when they meet with Parliamentarians today as part of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation’s (CTF) annual Hill Day.

“Our task is to remind federal politicians that social issues are just as important as economic ones,” explains CTF President Mary-Lou Donnelly. “It is shameful that child poverty is a tragic fact of life in a nation as wealthy as ours. Among the most vulnerable groups affected by child poverty are Aboriginal children, children of new immigrants and children with disabilities.

“Teachers see the effects of poverty get played out in schools and classrooms in many ways. Low-income children experience reduced motivation to learn, delayed cognitive development, lower achievements, less participation in extra-curricular activities, lower career aspirations, interrupted school attendance, lower university attendance, an increased risk of illiteracy and higher drop-out rates.

“Despite the unanimous pledge made in 1989 by the House of Commons to eliminate child poverty by the year 2000, the after-tax child poverty rate has remained close to 11.7 per cent. Food Banks Canada reports that of the 794,738 people who were assisted by a food bank in March 2009, 294,053 were children. This represents an increase of 18 per cent over March 2008. In addition, nearly 60 per cent of Canadian teachers who responded to a CTF poll have said their schools have free breakfast and lunch programs which are being accessed by nearly 30 per cent of their students.

 

Teaching awards announced; province sees big increase in graduation rates

April 16, 2010
The annual Celebration of Excellence in Teaching awards were announced today by Education Minister Nancy Allan as part of Education Week 2010.

“Education Week is a fitting time to recognize Manitoba educators who inspire students to stretch their imaginations and keep trying when new skills or concepts are difficult to learn,” Allan said.  “This year’s award recipients deserve to be recognized for their exceptional contributions and for inspiring in their students a love of learning and the confidence to follow their dreams.”

At the same time Allan announced that Manitoba's graduation rate increased to 80.9 per cent in 2009, from 72,4 per cent in 2001.

She said teachers and administrators in partnership with the provincial government have worked hard to help improve graduation rates and develop new, innovative ways to increase student success.

“This increase can be attributed in part to innovative programs and mentoring supports already set up in schools and communities to encourage students to stay in school,” Allan said.  “I congratulate students, teachers and administrators in schools and school divisions, along with trustees and parents, on achieving this success.” 

Awards were handed out in six categories:  three teaching excellence awards, one for outstanding new teacher, one for outstanding school leader and one for team collaboration.

The teaching excellence awards category was divided into early, middle and senior years.  Dawn Gunter from Centennial School in the Lord Selkirk School Division received the award for early years; Scott Stephenson of Onanole Elementary in the Rolling River School Division received the award for middle years; and Roberta Mitchell of St. John’s-Ravenscourt School received the award for senior years.

The award for outstanding new teacher went to Jason Hofer, of Hofer School, Greenwald Hutterite Colony, in the Sunrise School Division.  Hofer is the first recipient from a colony school to receive a minister’s award for excellence in teaching.
                                                                                       
Three educators from Rosser Elementary School in the Interlake School Division – principal Wendy Fielder and teachers Dayna Quinn-LaFleche and Margaret Wonko – received the team collaboration award.  The award for outstanding school leader went to Barbara Miller of Alexander School in the Brandon School Division.

“Many of us recall that one special teacher who made a difference in our lives, the teacher who pointed us in the right direction when we floundered and taught us to trust ourselves,” said Allan.  “I applaud each individual nominated for an award.  Thank you for working daily to ensure our young people have the skills and capabilities to make good decisions about their futures and the world around them.”

Each recipient received a minister’s award certificate of recognition and a $500 cash award at a luncheon held at the Legislative Building today.  The recipients’ schools also received $500 each for projects or equipment.  Partners in this endeavour included the Manitoba School Boards Association, the Manitoba Federation of Independent Schools and the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils.

 

Students create iPhone, iPod covers to raise money for museum

A group of Fort Richmond Collegiate students have come up with a unique way to raise money for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

They’ve designed, created and are selling iPod and iPhone covers. The project was a result of Junior Achievement’s In-School Company program. Led by business technology teacher Chad Halstead, the Fort Richmond Young Entrepreneurs Inc., developed the covers that bear the design of a fingerprint, using the words human rights in different languages.

FRYE started out as an extra-curricular club, Visions and Ventures, in which students explored owning and operating their own businesses, says Halstead. As interest levels grew, so did the number of students joining the club. Halstead then integrated the Junior Achievement In-School Company Program.

As part of the program, students design, organize, and operate a real business, experiencing how a small enterprise functions. This meant that FRYE had to negotiate prices, find a company to produce their product, and deal with the reality of frustrations that come along when things don’t always go according to plan.

“We had a few frustrations and friendly debates, but it was worth it”, said one of the students.

They learned how to designate and take ownership of different responsibilities, and how to deal with all the details involved in creating a product, from design to development.

The limited edition covers sell for $10 each, through Chad Halstead at Richmond Collegiate, 275-7520 ext. 3037.

 

More than 90,000 pounds of food raised in 2010 Operation Donation

This year’s Operation Donation brought in more than 90,000 pounds of food for Winnipeg Harvest food banks.

The amount of food collected through the week of March 1 to 5 was down from the record of last year, but was well over other years.

Students collected 38,756 pounds during the food drive’s eleventh year and that amount was added to by a collection from Manitoba Public Insurance staff and matching donations from Peak of the Market.

“Future strength in our community has been built through Manitoba teachers, students and schools that teach justice and caring and take actions that help others,” said David Northcott, executive co-ordinator of Winnipeg Harvest.

Pat Isaak, president of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, a sponsor of the event, said the effort by schools, teachers and students again shows “represents the best that compassionate human beings have to offer, and it is so gratifying for me as a teacher and as a human being to see these qualities in children.

“With these contributions you are offering not just acknowledgement, support and kindness to people who need it, but you are offering the most important thing you can give them and that’s hope.

“As teachers we only know too well that there are people who want schools to be only about tests – if you can’t measure it, it isn’t important. But that way of thinking ignores some of the most important things in school and the most important work we do. There is no exam to measure compassion, no test to measure kindness, or empathy or decency.”

Students from seven schools attended the unveiling of the final figures at The MTS building. In total, 75 schools participated, down from about 110 last year. Total poundage raised last year was 120,648. Total poundage raised this year was 91,642.

 

MTC celebrates educators with peformance for drama teachers

The Manitoba Theatre Centre is inviting drama teachers (or equivalents) in Winnipeg and select teachers in rural areas to an event celebrating educators on April 8.

The centre is putting on a wine and cheese reception followed by a performance of Educating Rita.

Steven Schipper, MTC’s Artistic Director, and Keri Ekberg, outreach co-ordinator, will conduct a brief introduction to MTC’s programs for high school students and discuss next year’s theatre season.

Ekberg says the centre has only a limited number of tickets available, so it asks that only one representative per school attend.

Teachers are asked to respond by April 6.

Manitoba’s young humanitarians to be honoured Monday, March 22

March 17, 2010
Spencer Hassin from Winnipeg, Destiny Guimond from Stonewall, Miriam Stobbe Reimer from Steinbach and a group of four students from Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes will be recognized for their humanitarian work on Monday, March 22, at 7:00 pm, at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People at The Forks.  Everyone is invited to attend to celebrate these compassionate students.

“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.”

Spencer Hassin, a Grade 5 student from École R. H. G. Bonnycastle School in Winnipeg is only 11, but he’s a true humanitarian. Spencer has raised money for Siloam Mission, Winnipeg Harvest and the Christmas Cheer Board. He has great compassion for kids with special needs. His leadership on the environment has led him to pursue environmental concerns inside and outside school. Spencer also worked to establish a composting program at his school and encouraged Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Rona to become central collection sites for old paint allowing it to be recycled safely.

Destiny Guimond, in Grade 6 at Stonewall Centennial School, is motivated by compassion for her sister Stephanie who lives with Global Developmental Delay. Destiny has developed many ways to help her sister succeed. One recent project was to write a story about Stephanie (who illustrated it) and sell the book as a fundraiser. Destiny donated all the funds to the resource department at Centennial School to buy a puppet theatre and puppets for the special needs students there.

Miriam Stobbe Reimer, a Grade 11 student at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, has a truly international perspective. Her modest goal was to raise money to build a sand dam to provide clean water for people of Kola, Kenya. But the funds reached $15,000, so she travelled to Kenya with others from “Excellent Development” to build not one, but two dams. Villagers dubbed her “Mwembe” or “loved one” and her name is engraved on one of the dams. On her return, Miriam traveled to Quito, Equador, to work in a school for very poor, physically and mentally challenged children. She is passionate about, and compassionate for, others in the global community – socially, politically and environmentally.

Four students from Collège régional Notre-Dame’s programme alternatif planned and conducted a Remembrance Day candle ceremony that included creating a photo frame display with portraits of soldiers killed in Afghanistan. They also volunteered to help build and install community gardens designed to allow all citizens, including the handicapped, to access and work comfortably in the gardens. For years, they’ve also managed a hot meal program at the school – from planning the menu, to taking orders to preparing the food. They have actively served at Siloam Mission and with other many community organizations. The four students are Mélanie Dufault, Chad Cowper, Robert Clark, and Patrick Dequier.

 

MTS donates $14,000 to Haitian relief on behalf of Manitoba teachers

The Manitoba Teachers' Society is contributing $14,000 to help teachers and rebuild the education system in Haiti.

The MTS provincial executive decided to contribute roughly one dollar on behalf of each Society member to the Education International Haiti Relief Fund.

Education International launched an effort after the Jan. 12 earthquake 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.

Up to March 16, EI had collected more than 150,000 Euros ($209,000 CDN) in the effort.

EI says two main areas of help have been identified:

• to rehabilitate the organisational structure of the CNEH at all levels;


• to reinforce the CNEH's participation in the reconstruction of Haiti's education system.

It said member organisations in and outside the region are actively involved in the recovery work co-ordinated by EI.

From Canada, the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF), from the United States, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the National Education Association (NEA), and from France, the Syndicat national des enseignements de second degré (SNES), the UNSA-Education are developing various rehabilitation programmes with the CNEH, with the participation of member organisations under the umbrella of the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT)

 

Five win iPod touches for updating information

Teachers from five different local associations were the winners in the MTS draw for iPod touches.

The five iPods were drawn from the names of members who updated their membership information with the society over the past few months.

The winners were:

Joyce	Waters	Louis Riel Teachers' Association
Michelle	Young	Beautiful Plains Teachers' Association
Kenneth	Joyal	Southwest Horizon Teachers' Association
Jennifer	Nicholson	Winnipeg Teachers' Association
Denise	Strange	Western Teachers' Association

Draw included everyone that logged into the system from its release in September up to and including February 28th.  Number of members that accessed the site during that time: 1,046.

Kidsfest offers discount rates for students

March 15, 2010
Manitoba schools, preschools and daycares are being offered a discount on tickets for Kidsfest 2010 at The Forks on June 10-13.

Until April 14, 2010, school groups and daycares will be able to purchase tickets for $8 (regular gate admission is $14). And:

• Preschools and daycares will receive 2 free tickets for every 8 tickets purchased
• Schools will receive 1 free ticket for every 10 tickets purchased
• Children under two years of age get in for free!

To request a school order form, contact kidsfest@kidsfest.ca or call 204.958.4733. You may also download the order form at www.kidsfest.ca

The Festival also offers a busing subsidy. The subsidy is based on the number of students only and does not include teachers, supervisors or parents.

Inside Winnipeg Busing Subsidy       50 cents per student
Outside Winnipeg Busing Subsidy     $1 per student

For more information, visit www.kidsfest.ca

Operation Donation begins 2010 campaign

Feb. 15, 2010
About 30 students from Samuel Burland School in the Louis Riel School Division pack hampers at Winnipeg Harvest. The students and teacher Candice Sundell were helped by MTS President Pat Isaak and Harvest’s David Northcott in launching an appeal to schools across Manitoba to join Operation Donation. The week-long food collection drive runs March 1 - 5.

Last year, 114 schools participated in Operation Donation, collecting over 60,000 lbs. of food. Some of the food goes to meal and snack programs in 26 Manitoba schools. Twenty-two other schools are on the waiting list.

See previous story

Groups join together to produce DVD on the value of public schools

Feb. 25, 2010
Public schools are the only institution where children from every background and with diverse needs come to learn. And while schools have changed over the last several decades, the value of public education has not. A quality public education system gives every student an opportunity to meet their full potential.

That is why the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents invited other educational partners to join with them in producing a 12-minute DVD on the value of public education. The DVD, which was launched at the MASS membership meeting Feb. 26, contains interviews with teachers, students and Manitobans who talk about Manitoba schools and the what public education means to them.

MASS obtained a grant of $15,000 from the Winnipeg Foundation towards the project and received contributions from the Manitoba School Board Association, Manitoba Education, Manitoba Association of School Business Officials, the Manitoba Council on Leadership Education and MTS. The Society is providing $5,000 towards the project.

“Schools have been under fire for not doing enough to ensure a strong citizenry – literacy development, skills for the workforce, social and moral development, whatever governments, the corporate world or the media see in short supply at the moment,” said Coralie Bryant, Executive Director of MASS. “It is time, we feel, to encourage a thoughtful discussion of just why it is important to maintain a strong education system, to celebrate the fine education students in Manitoba are receiving, to inspire people to think creatively about how it might be made even better, and to assist school personnel, school boards and the members of the public to become more clear and articulate about the purposes of public education.”

The DVD will be available through schools and school divisions throughout the province. The educational partners involved in its development are hopeful that it will be used at the school, school board and community level to generate discussion about the importance of public schools.

The film was being produced by Bottle Rocket World Entertainment Corp the Winnipeg production company of Writer/Director Andrew Wall.

 

Worldwide attacks on educators and students increasing, says UNESCO

Feb. 10, 2010
The number of politically and ideologically motivated attacks on teachers, students and school buildings is rising, says the report “Education Under Attack 2010”, launched by UNESCO on Feb. 10. These attacks are perpetrated by non-state armed groups and state actors alike.

“Education under Attack 2010” is the second report on the subject; the first was published in 2007.

This report is launched together with a second UNESCO publication entitled “Protecting Education from Attack: A State-of-the-Art Review”, in which several experts take critical stock of knowledge on prevention and response, with respect to both international law and interventions on the ground. The review also shares the recommendations generated by a seminar on the subject held in Paris in 2009.

 The two texts comprise both an assessment of the current situation and a call to action, in the face of violence that appears to be rising dramatically, following a more general pattern of increased attacks on civilians and aid workers in recent years.

Three years ago, when UNESCO commissioned the first “Education under Attack” study, the problem was little known. “Education under Attack 2010” notes growing awareness within United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and public opinion of the recurring nature of these attacks, which  are not exceptional or isolated incidents. Above all, the report demonstrates that the destruction of schools and the murder of students and teachers are not limited to acts by the Taliban in Afghanistan or Pakistan in opposition to the education of girls and women.

The 2010 report reveals that the problem is much more extensive. Education was attacked in at least 32 countries between January 2007 and July 2009. Often, an attack on the educational system represents an attack on the State. Conversely, certain States or paramilitary organizations may target academics in order to neutralize real or imagined opponents.

The report also covers the issue of child soldiers – the number of which is currently estimated at 250,000 worldwide. Abductions are frequently carried out for the purpose of forced recruitment or sexual violence against girls. The report expresses particular concern about the systematic nature of crimes committed and sinister tactics used in several countries against teachers, pupils and unionized education workers.

Irina Bokova, the Director-General of UNESCO, has underlined that UNESCO is concerned by these attacks for three reasons: they “constitute a threat to the right to life, and a threat to the right to education, which is itself the key to other freedoms and basic rights; lastly, these attacks jeopardize the achievement of the Education for All goals.” The Education for All (EFA) campaign is a global commitment to provide quality universal education by 2015.

 The report also examines the reasons why attacks on education often attract little attention and it points to the role that the International Criminal Court (ICC) could play in strengthening accountability and ending impunity for such attacks.

In his recommendations, author Brendan O’Malley (U.K), advocates the creation of a global observatory on the subject. The United Nations currently lacks reliable data for an accurate assessment of the problem. More in-depth research is needed, he says, to enable better analysis and understanding of the causes, means and impacts of attacks on education.

So far, he notes, very little research has been carried out into why particular armed groups regard schools or even schoolchildren as legitimate targets or why so many governments persecute academics in their own universities.

O’Malley lists possible solutions: providing armed guards at schools or for transport to or from school, encouraging community defence of schools, providing distance learning where it is too dangerous to attend classes, relocating schools within community homes to make them less visible targets, and providing rapid repair and resupply of educational materials.

The report is accessible at:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001868/186809e.pdf
-
Protecting Education from Attack: A State-of-the-Art Review:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001867/186732e.pdf

 

Teacher / Staff Appreciation Week - February 8 - 12

Teachers and staff in our public schools make vital contributions—both personally and professionally—to the lives and education of Manitoba’s students. That’s the message Manitoba Teachers’ Society president Pat Isaak and Manitoba Association of Parent Councils (MAPC) president Judith Cameron will be delivering this week during National Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week.

“Everyone benefits from the work teachers do,” says Isaak. “Our schools are producing the doctors and nurses who will take care of tomorrow’s seniors, the engineers who’ll be designing our roads and bridges, the workers who will build our cities and homes—and the leaders in every field who’ll contribute to our future quality of life.”

MAPC president Judith Cameron says Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week gives parents a chance to acknowledge and appreciate the many ways that teachers and staff interact and support their children within public schools.

“Our teachers put a tremendous amount of effort into the learning experience for our children and they’ve become so much more than just educators,” she says. “They have become true partners with parents and other school community groups. They are part of a school-wide dynamic that sees children thrive when proper supports are put in place. Teachers and parents are working together to support classroom learning, and work closely as a team on initiatives that enhance the whole school community. It’s important that we let them know that their efforts are appreciated.”

Cameron encourages parents to take a moment “to say thanks to those people who help make their child’s school day a positive experience.”

Representatives of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society and the Manitoba Association of Parent Councils are available for comment. To watch 30-second TV spots on how teachers provide
a quality education for Manitoba students go to http://bit.ly/9uSCCi.

 

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.

• Generally, comments made by Manitoba teachers were positive, such as:
• Our division has had a pandemic plan for awhile.
• They have a plan for communication that I believe will be effective.
• I created the plan with staff and parents.
• For the information available, I feel OK with it.

 

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:

• The prioritizing of funding for health care, education and training, despite significant fiscal challenges facing all jurisdictions including Manitoba.
• The provincial economy is forecast to contract by 0.2 percent in 2009, compared to the average 2.7 percent growth recorded over the past five years. Economists see signs of a recovery beginning in the next twelve months, but the fragile state of the global economy adds a note of caution to future projections.
• As funding has increased in recent years, school divisions have been asked to work with the province to keep education taxes from rising. The government will ask the cooperation of divisions again this year, to ensure that expenditures are managed carefully and property taxes remain affordable.
• A $41 million investment for structural upgrades to 82 schools. These upgrades include funding for barrier-free upgrades to 15 Manitoba schools – so that they can fully accommodate students with disabilities.
• Improving education outcomes and graduation rates for First Nations students.
• Earlier this Fall, the Government of Canada, the Government of Manitoba, and representatives of First Nations in Manitoba signed a Letter of Understanding. Components of the plan include school readiness programming, expanding course offerings available to First Nations students, professional development for teachers of First Nations students, and transition arrangements for students who move from First Nations schools to provincial schools.
• 2010 Economic Summit bringing together business, labour, Aboriginal and local government leaders to deal with issues such as innovation, trade, skills development and investment.
• Adult fitness tax credit will assist teachers with wellness.
• Draw on Manitoba’s rainy day savings account, which has nearly quadrupled over the past decade to $864 million, to support the national stimulus program and added costs in health care, justice and child protection.
• Target spending on essential services that Manitoba families depend on like front-line health care, training opportunities, public safety and child protection.
• Increasing stimulus spending by more than 50 per cent over the previous year, supporting 1,500 projects and creating more than 12,000 direct and 10,000 indirect jobs.
• Reduce spending in other areas, with most government departments on pace to be below budgeted amounts.

 

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:

• Christopher Koop, Steinbach Regional Secondary School, “looks beyond academics to help students become well-rounded infividuals and cheers on their every success – sometimes in a superhero costume.” Among achievements cited were enhancing the school website with special features, such as pop-ups that promote school events, producing a full-length orientation video for incoming Grade 9 students and their families and work on a web-based video that takes viewers on a virtual tour of the school.

• James Kostuchuk, a teacher at Portage Collegiate who the awards release said “under teacher’s expert guidance, history students don’t just learn about history, they do it – recording, analyzing and archiving the past.” Achievements cited were creating an archive program for credit at Portage Collegiate, the first program of its type in Canada and tying art and history together through the ArtsSmarts program run by the Manitoba Arts Council, which not only brought funding into the school but also gave students unique learning opportunities.  

            Certificate of Achievement winners were:

• Michelle Lee, a Grade 6 teacher at Angus McKay School in Winnipeg, described as “connecting with parents businesses and the community and focusing on professional development.”
• Joan MacKenzie, a Grade 2 teacher at Parc La Salle School in Winnipeg, “encourages young learners to try harder, dream bigger and live beyond themselves as responsible global citizens.’
• Peter Slobodzian, Ste. Anne Collegiate, described as an educator who “takes students outside the school and traditional school structure to provide opportunities to learn and grow.”

 

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.

 

News 2011-2012

Archive