Political parties answer education survey as election looms
N.B. Teachers' Association posed same questions to each party
Voters now have more insight on how New Brunswick's political parties feel about education issues.
Last month, the New Brunswick Teachers' Association sent out the same eight questions to all political parties. The Green, Liberal, Progressive Conservative and New Democratic parties all provided answers, while the People's Alliance did not. The NDP has not had an MLA in New Brunswick since 2003.
The questions mostly involved spending on public education, recruiting and retaining teachers, and involving teachers in policy making.
Association president Peter Lagacy said the group would not endorse any party but wanted to get clear answers for teachers and the public to be better informed when voting.
"I think what the questions do, for us and for the public, it allows us to hold parties to account," Lagacy said Monday after the survey results were released.
"If they said they were going to do it prior to the election, then as the next two or three years unfold, it's something we can go back to and say, 'This is what you had talked about prior to the election, and why aren't you,' or 'Thank you for following through on your promises.'"
Lagacy said the latest data shows the province heading into a new school year short 174 teachers, which puts teachers "behind the eight ball right away."
"You wonder, where has all the effort gone, and have we made any improvements?"
The Progressive Conservatives, under Premier Blaine Higgs, attracted controversy in recent years — with rewriting part of Policy 713 on gender identity, for example, and trying to change French immersion. In June, Higgs had to clarify his comments after saying he would be worried if his daughters attended public schools now.
Premier
Blaine Higgs has drawn controversy over his comments about public
schools in New Brunswick as well as his government's positions over
Policy 713 and French immersion. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
In its answers to the teachers' survey, the Liberal Party said it is dedicated to stability in education, citing worsening literacy and numeracy rates since the pandemic. The party would also implement universal free breakfast and pay-what-you-can lunches for students, and implement an education staffing plan.
"While underfunding is an issue, we must also examine how funds are allocated through the system," the party said.
The Liberals also highlighted what their leader, Susan Holt, learned from speaking with teachers around the province.
"Nearly every educator she spoke with identified that the system as a whole is underfunded and in urgent need of support."
The Liberal Party, under leader Susan Holt, said education is underfunded. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
The Green Party, under leader David Coon, said it recognizes the need to spend more on public education. It would increase child-care spaces, ensure equitable funding for francophone centres, improve wages and benefits for early childhood educators, and support neurodivergent children.
The party also mentioned giving schools budgetary autonomy, providing universal meal programs, and working with staff and unions on recruitment and retention strategies.
"The Green Party acknowledges the critical need to address the underfunding of public schools and is dedicated to tackling this issue urgently," the party said.
The Green Party, under leader David Coon, said it wants to spend more on education. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Defending its spending on education, the Progressive Conservative Party said the education budget has grown from $1.2 billion in 2018 to $2 billion this year. The government would look for how to spend money efficiently, and not just at how much is spent.
The NDP, under leader Alex White, said the urgent need for more school funding can't be overstated, and student numbers have increased without a suitable match in funding.
On the question of using public funds for private education, all parties said they were against it.
On the question of how parties would restore and enhance a mentorship program for new teachers, the Greens said it supports making it more accessible to new teachers. The Liberals said it would spend more on recruitment and retention. The PCs said all teachers need to be supported and new teachers would have the opportunity for mentorship. The NDP said it would follow the lead of teacher recommendations.
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As for recruitment and retention, the Greens said they would offer competitive salaries, foster a supportive work environment, reduce administrative burdens, and ensure manageable class sizes.
The Liberals said they would focus on removing roadblocks for new teachers. They want to find out why fewer people are becoming teachers and why people leave the province to teach elsewhere.
The PCs said the role of educational assistants should be reviewed and laid out a timeline for doing so.
The teachers' survey also asked about policies promoting a positive work and learning environment in schools that "restores respect, prevents harassment in school communities and online."
"Over the past six years, we have witnessed how a government focused on its own agenda within the education system can negatively impact students, teachers, and the goal of ensuring all New Brunswick students have what they need to succeed," said the Liberals.
The NDP, under leader Alex White, said student numbers have increased without a sufficient match in funding. (Gilles Landry/Radio-Canada)
The PCs pointed to the existing policy on a positive working and learning environment as already having clear guidelines.
A question at the end of the survey asked, "How will your party ensure decisions impacting education are not swayed by destabilizing political agendas?"
The Greens said that both the Liberals and PCs have interfered in education in the past with changes to French immersion and Policy 713 that have "harmed student performance."
"The education system desperately needs stability after being used to create wedge issues for political gain by the Higgs government," the Liberal Party said.
The NDP said district education councils should have more control over policy, and provincial education policies should be more long term.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Who do you believe?
Survey Says?
Wilbur Ross
Half a decade in power and not a single school yet built in Saint John. Higgs couldn't care less about your child's education. He only cares about introducing conservative curriculum in the class. It all about identity politics with Higgs. He's obsessed.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
And you are not
Max Ruby
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Lets just concentrate on education not ideology, teach critical thinking, reading, writing, math, they don't even teach cursive writing anymore. If technology goes down we are left with a bunch of dim wits.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
The dim wits are already running the show
Higgs won't stop until the Ten Commandments are up in every classroom. He is no different than MAGA Mike Johnson or Ted Cruz or any other GOP Republican. Higgs is not PC.
Bobby Richards
Reply to Wilbur Ross
He’ll have every student reading from the 2nd chapter of Ronald in the book of Miller.
Max Ruby
Reply to Wilbur Ross
5-10 could be up on the wall: Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
Amen
Reply to Gregory Wulf
Reply to Gregory Wulf
Wilbur Ross
Higgs' MAGA agenda is destroying New Brunswick. Do we really want to continue down the road to becoming a lame Canadian version of Alabama or West Virginia???
David Amos
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Surely you jest
Reply to David Amos
No, he’s deadly serious and also completely accurate.
Election time is a good time to change the government because like diapers, it needs to be changed often and for the same reason.
David Amos
Reply to Hugh MacDonald
Yup
Bobby Richards
PCNB Aug 2020: "We will provide private assessments for children whose learning plans are delayed by a lack of professionals."
Another broken promise
David Amos
Reply to Bobby Richards
Par for the course
Jack Bell
"In June, Higgs had to clarify his comments after saying he would be worried if his daughters attended public schools now."
Everyone should be worried our Reading and Math scores are abysmal.
Phil Trecc
Reply to Jack Bell
Idocracy was not a comedy it was a documentary.
David Amos
Reply to Phil Trecc
Its a circus
Frank Blacklock
Get rid of the bureaucrats, and pay teachers and assistants better.
David Amos
Reply to Frank Blacklock
I agree with the first part of your opinion but not the second
Steph Roche
when the politicians submit their answers, I hope that the teachers grade their submissions.
David Amos
Reply to Steph Roche
Me too
Max Ruby
I am pending approval here is the link while under NB Liberals: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/property-tax-assessment-errors-1.4055589
...invented renovation amounts for homeowners with large assessment increases allowing it to evade a legal 10 per cent cap on increases on the homes' property tax bills.
Properties hit with big tax increases have been so large it raises questions about new aerial technology.
MR Cain
Reply to Max Ruby
Old news which was corrected; now find out what Higgs has done, the issue of your most recent concerns.
Jack Bell
Reply to MR Cain
Old Higgy really does live rent free in your head, doesn't he?
Max Ruby
Reply to MR Cain
Higgs added to the already skyrocketing property taxes. Liberal Tory same old Story. I have said this over and over. 2 sides of the same coin these parties, provincial and Federal. Coin really has 3 sides, the edge. I wait.
Ronald Miller
Reply to MR Cain
The issue was fixed under the Higgs' gov't, one of many screwups by the Libs fixed by the PCs.
Bobby Richards
Reply to Ronald Miller
I agree Ron. Everyone has seen a decrease in their property taxes since Higgs took office.
David Amos
Reply to Max Ruby
I live on the edge
Max Ruby
Reply to David Amos
Lorelei Stott
Reply to ralph jacobs
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