The ATA is responding with advice to teachers on what to do in the face of a Bill 44 complaint against them.
I love the excerpt from the Alberta "Guide to Education" they posted in this notice. It says:
"Studying controversial issues is important in preparing students to participate responsibly in a democratic society. Such study provides opportunities to develop the ability to think clearly, to reason logically, to open-mindedness and respectfully examine different points of view and to make sound judgements ....Controversial issues that have been anticipated by the teacher, and those that may arise incidentally during instruction,should be used by the teacher to promote critical inquiry and/or to teach thinking skills."
Isn't that a better world view of the kind of province we want Alberta to be? Doesn't this offer a more mature and inclusive society than the narrow-minded, institutionalized ignorance model of public education being promoted and defended by the Stelmach government in Bill 44 and now being entrenched in our so-called "Human Rights Act?"
Maybe provincial MLAs should consider reading the Alberta Guide to Education. Maybe they'd learn something? I know, I'm being hopeful.
ReplyDeleteI think that paragraph captures the whole argument against Bill 44 very well. Critical thinking and open mindedness are two qualities I'm not confident Alberta government MLAs possess, or at least not in any measurable quantity.
Did you think gay rights would be granted in Alberta without strings attached? As sickening as it is that the government took so long to recognize gay rights (which they should!), this "string attached" called the opt-out could destroy the quality of education in Alberta for all students. It goes far beyond little Joey not learning that sometimes a man loves a man or a woman loves a woman, but our MLAs are blinded by such "unspeakable" things and the "silent majority" certainly agrees. Or so goes the bullsh*t.
ReplyDeleteOur MLAs just want "someone else" to deal with it. That someone else is the teachers, whom they assume will take on this burden.
Teachers need to say, "Go f%^& yourselves! You created this mess and if you want us to teach, repeal Bill 44 and let us do our job."
More like teachers need to do their job and stop listening to the unions. Bill 44 is the only piece of legislation passed by this government that is worth supporting.
ReplyDeleteAnon@9:50
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong