So if DS has known class size and complexity are major issues for 18 months, and this UCP government has known this since May 2019, Why TF is this "task force" only about to study the issue?
Smith's suggestion that they need to gather the data is pure and utter bullshit. Her Education Department can pull data on a daily basis by number and complexity, as the complex students are all "coded" within classrooms, in short order. Once again she shows herself to be a liar, and if she really doesn't know this, especially as a former school board trustee, she is incompetent.
Any task force is just going to add to the bloated, incompetent and inexperienced middle management of Alberta Education and will deliver a "nothing we didn't already know" report in 18 months so she can wave it around as "progress" in the next scheduled provincial election!
“Her Education Department can pull data on a daily basis by number and complexity, as the complex students are all "coded" within classrooms, in short order”
Unfortunately this is not the case, as the complex students are not all “coded.” It fact it’s not even close. This was one of the central items of the imposed settlement, more funding for testing of students to ascertain complexity and needs. As it stands now (and before), coded students do receive more funding. Unfortunately the ability to test (and of course “parental choice” is an additional limiting factor here as well) has been severely limited. And so - extra funding has also been hard to come by.
So no, Danielle Smith is not a “Lair” on this front. This is a massive issue in public education, with the added aggregating factor of “inclusive” classrooms which stipulates “complex” students cannot be segregated out from a standard classroom. So, in literal practice, the non-verbal kid, 3 ESL students AND the one student trying to light a fire in the back of the classroom - cannot be taken out of said classroom by school administrators.
In reality, policy makers and the teachers union has blood on their hands for this situation. A situation that if you are posting on this message board, you did not grow up within. “Inclusive” classrooms and “parental choice” are fairly recent educational policies. They of course sound euphemistic and lovely, and no progressive minded individual would ever speak out publicly against them. But, they are at root of the concerns and issues being raised. The government has proposed a task force on this issue. It is needed. The ATA president has promised robust participation from teachers. We can only hope both sides put their politics aside now and do what is best to solve the problem. Good faith required now, even in the face of a bad faith negotiation (from both sides). Let’s encourage it.
So if DS has known class size and complexity are major issues for 18 months, and this UCP government has known this since May 2019, Why TF is this "task force" only about to study the issue?
Smith's suggestion that they need to gather the data is pure and utter bullshit. Her Education Department can pull data on a daily basis by number and complexity, as the complex students are all "coded" within classrooms, in short order. Once again she shows herself to be a liar, and if she really doesn't know this, especially as a former school board trustee, she is incompetent.
Any task force is just going to add to the bloated, incompetent and inexperienced middle management of Alberta Education and will deliver a "nothing we didn't already know" report in 18 months so she can wave it around as "progress" in the next scheduled provincial election!
“Her Education Department can pull data on a daily basis by number and complexity, as the complex students are all "coded" within classrooms, in short order”
Unfortunately this is not the case, as the complex students are not all “coded.” It fact it’s not even close. This was one of the central items of the imposed settlement, more funding for testing of students to ascertain complexity and needs. As it stands now (and before), coded students do receive more funding. Unfortunately the ability to test (and of course “parental choice” is an additional limiting factor here as well) has been severely limited. And so - extra funding has also been hard to come by.
So no, Danielle Smith is not a “Lair” on this front. This is a massive issue in public education, with the added aggregating factor of “inclusive” classrooms which stipulates “complex” students cannot be segregated out from a standard classroom. So, in literal practice, the non-verbal kid, 3 ESL students AND the one student trying to light a fire in the back of the classroom - cannot be taken out of said classroom by school administrators.
In reality, policy makers and the teachers union has blood on their hands for this situation. A situation that if you are posting on this message board, you did not grow up within. “Inclusive” classrooms and “parental choice” are fairly recent educational policies. They of course sound euphemistic and lovely, and no progressive minded individual would ever speak out publicly against them. But, they are at root of the concerns and issues being raised. The government has proposed a task force on this issue. It is needed. The ATA president has promised robust participation from teachers. We can only hope both sides put their politics aside now and do what is best to solve the problem. Good faith required now, even in the face of a bad faith negotiation (from both sides). Let’s encourage it.