Monday 26 June 2023

School year wraps up with bitterness and uncertainty among teachers

 
 

NB - The Panel with Terry Seguin - French Immersion - October 26, 2022 | Rogers tv

Terry welcomes NB Liberal Leader Susan Holt and Green Party MLA Megan Mitton to discuss French Immersion 

2 Comments

"Data my ass" Too Too Funny Methinks we get the governments we deserve N'esy Pas?
 
 
Interesting subject Terry. I wish Minister Hogan has been present. Always good to hear both sides of an argument before forming a judement. Naturally the members from the oppostion parties are never fully supportive of government policy or proposals and always claim they can do better. That is the nature of the political game. However they made some interesting claims tonight so I had to check those claims out. Both guests made a big deal over the NBTA announcing they do not agree with the direction the government wants to go with French language instruction and this would lead the listener and the readers to think that the teachers in NB also oppose the direction the government may take. So I called a couple of teachers to get their perspective on the NBTA announcement only to learn the teachers in NB were not consulted at all. The decision to oppose these changes to how French is taught in our schools seems to be a decsion made by the NBTA executive with little to no consultation with the teachers in the classrooms. False claims seem to surface quite often in such debates. It was good of Mr. Sequin to point out that the recommended changes stem from a report done by Yvette Finn and John McLaughlin, two esteemed NBers who said that we should adopt some changes.. The two oppostion members then stated that a review of the official languages act was done and that the Premier has not responded to it yet. May I ask who did the review and was the review all inclusive, meaning was the review conducted by a panel that included input from both sides of the langauge issues or was it done only by those who support the status quo? I think to be relative, NBers would want to know who took part in the review of the Official Languages Act for starters. Then they take the political opportunity to tell the listeners that this is all Higgs idea and that he has opposed bilingualism etc since his early days with COR. The next statement suggests that conversational French is mediocre French however there seems to be a difference of opinion on what conversational French actually means and it depends on who you are speaking to. So the question remains, what is conversational French. as it can mean so much to so many people as Mr. Sequin points out. They then claim there is no plan yet, it has not been developed. This suggests that the Finn McLaughlin recommendations are incorrect or wrong. So they are then dismissing the expertise and opinions of Finn and McLaughlin maybe because they do not fit their personal preferance or narrative? The next claim is that the trust has been broken with the Teachers Association and that people are walking away. Again the teachers have not been consulted on the pros or cons of this new plan by the Higgs government, they were not consulted on the pros and cons of the Finn-McLauglin proposals and they were not consulted on the proposals made by the review of the Official Languages Act and how that review might affect the teaching of French etc in our schools. It is thus very misleading to make such statements as representative of NB teachers or the public when neither have been consulted. Next there is a claim that all of this is adding stress to our teachers because they may not be sure about their contracts and what might happen in September. That may be true however I ask where were you when Premeir Gallant got rid of a good number of English speaking teachers to make room for early Immersion and room for additional French speaking teachers. A good number of those teachers had little choice but leave the province. Would like to hear the opinions of those teachers who are now teaching in other provinces and not here at home? Mr. Sequin then stated that he was unable to get an answer from the NBTA on whether or not their oppostion was to the time table to impliment the changes or for some other reason. Cannot give an answer, interesting. It was noted more than once that there has been change after change, as many as 35 changes in 37 years. Does this possibly suggest that maybe the results were embarrasing or something. Why so many changes? Then the discussion switched to the facts that teachers wear to many hats, they have to see students are fed and try and ensure that those with disabilities have the help they need. Big issues beyond French Immersion. Then there was a suggestion that we may need bilingual EAs so that children with disabilities can also learn French. There is a big need for more resources to achieve this goal. No doubt it would take additional resources but of course no one spoke on the extra costs and where that money would come from. We need bilingual EAs and certified specialists, what is the price tag? Next Mr. Sequin brings up a very interesting reality, children who hear anti bilingual talk at home are not receptive to second language instruction so how do we address that. So do we get rid of segregation and separate busing? Not mentioned. The oppostion members seem to be upset that the Finn- McLaughlin report was not part of the Official Languages review process so why does it exist. The flip side of that is why was it not part of the Official Languages review? Then the Green memebr claims Kris Austin at sometime stated in the past that he was thrilled that French Immersion was going to be eliminated. I do not recall such a statement, could someone provide that. Then the Liberal member stated I think we have to get back to what do NBers want? Bingo, but how do we find out what NBers want? She assumes that because enrollment in French Immersion is increasing then this more or less means the people of NB want more bilingualism. There is a way to find out if her assumption is true, it;s called a referendum. Maybe she will push for one?
 
 

School year wraps up with bitterness and uncertainty among teachers

Teachers still don't have collective agreement, feel pitted against parents in gender-identity debate

Gender-identity policy changes come into effect on July 1 and teachers still don't know if they'll be forced to say no to a child's request to informally use a different name and pronoun without parental consent.

They also don't know whether they'll face consequences if they do use a child's chosen pronoun, and they still don't have a collective agreement.

On top of that, some district education councils have adopted differing policies. Anglophone South and East passed policy amendments mandating school staff respect all students' informal chosen names and pronouns, regardless of parental consent or age. Official name and pronoun changes for kids under 16 have always required parental signoff, even before the review.

Man in suit, reflected in camera viewfinder in foreground New Brunswick's Minister of Education Bill Hogan introduced controversial changes to Policy 713 earlier this month. (Radio-Canada)

Connie Keating, the president of the New Brunswick Teachers Association, said the union's relationship with this government has been "bitter."

"It's unsettling. We don't know where we're going to be come fall," she told Information Morning Fredericton.

"Over the summer, will we be able to get a collective agreement? Will we find ourselves on the picket line? Those are not the questions we want to be asking. We really want to be focused on student learning."

Keating declined to explain the sticking points in contract negotiations because they're now in the middle of a conciliation process with mediators. She said the union and the employer submitted briefs to a conciliation board, which is expected to deliver a report in mid-July.

2 education council policies differ from province's

Earlier this month, Education Minister Bill Hogan announced changes to Policy 713, which outlines basic protections for LGBTQ students. 

Hogan said one of the changes effectively bans teachers and staff from using a child under 16's chosen name and pronoun informally, unless the child gets parental consent first. And if the child doesn't want to address this with parents, they're to be "directed" to a school psychologist or social worker to come up with a plan to speak to their parents. 

The union representing those mental health professionals has filed a  grievance over these policy changes, saying the policy is not clear and it makes them complicit in harming children.

The New Brunswick Association of School Psychologists said denying a child's right to identity is against the New Brunswick Human Rights Act, and it also causes psychological harm.

Minister Hogan previously said the changes were made to maintain the parents' right to know. He said if a child requests an informal pronoun change from their teacher, and declines to include their parents, using that pronoun is tantamount to "keeping secrets." He said teachers shouldn't be keeping parents in the dark.

Keating said the narrative around these policy changes has harmed the relationship between parents and teachers. 

"We feel that it's tried to paint teachers and parents on opposite sides of the issue. And not only has it done that, there seems to have been a conscious effort to undermine the trust that teachers hold with their students," she said.

"Parents and teachers, we are partners and children's education and their well-being, and this is not where we should be."

A man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt Rob Fowler, for chair of the Anglophone South District Education Council, says the DEC policies are stronger, better protect children. (Hadeel Ibrahim/CBC)

The people involved in creating this policy, including district education councils and and mental health experts, say the intention of the policy is to provide a safe space for students to be themselves without fear. Not all parents are supportive, and children should be able to trust that they won't be reported to parents if they confide in a teacher.

Rob Fowler, who was the chair of Anglophone South education council for years, said the goal is to protect children above all else. He said he knew of a student who was engaged with school work but started to change, became sullen and his marks went down.

"He said, 'Well I came out to my parents, they threw me out of the house, so I'm living in a park.' That's the child we're trying to protect," Fowler told Shift N.B.

"We shouldn't be outing kids who by very nature are not feeling comfortable enough to tell their parents but they have found a safe place in the school."

​As the school year draws to a close, teachers are feeling a lot of uncertainty heading into the summer vacation.​ Jeanne Armstrong spoke to NBTA ​p​resident Connie Keating​.​

Fowler said the local policies passed by the district education councils are stronger, and typically, district staff follow the stronger policy. 

"I hope that teachers and staff will follow that," he said. 

The Anglophone West council is expected to meet in a few weeks to decide whether to follow suit. Francophone Nord-Ouest said it has no plans to change Policy 713. The remaining education councils did not respond to CBC's request for information.

An opposition motion passed in legislature mandating that child and youth advocate Kelly Lamrock review the changes to Policy 713. He's expected to make recommendations on Aug. 15, but nothing he recommends will be binding.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hadeel Ibrahim is a reporter with CBC New Brunswick based in Saint John. She reports in English and Arabic. Email: hadeel.ibrahim@cbc.ca.

 
 
 
 
219 Comments

 

David Amos
Methinks the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association can cry quite a river N'esy Pas?
 
 
 
 
William Murdoch
Can TAs draw EI in the summer?  
 
 
David Amos

Reply to William Murdoch  
Who cares? 
 
 
Gregory Pittaway
Reply to William Murdoch 
Different jobs and different unions I believe. 
 
 
  
 
 
Bill Green
Polling has been showing that Higgs, Hogan, et al. will not be very happy this fall after the snap election.

The time for Higgs and his mistreatment of educators and other essential workers is coming to an end. Bye, bye, Blaine!

 
David Amos
Reply to Bill Green 
The Fat Lady ain't sung yet  
 
 
G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to David Amos
We could crowdfund an aria. 
 
 
 
 
 
Lorelei Stott 
focus on math, reading and writing .... and don't get involved in the rest.... enjoy your summer , if we ever find some sunshine  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Lorelei Stott  
I concur 
 
 
 
 
Kristina Maguire 
I get so frustrated reading anything regarding public opinion on teachers. Having done this job for 25+ years, the lack of support from government and the public around what we do is such a sign of the times. Yes, many colleagues are deciding to change professions or opting for early retirement. This is the sad reality. No, it is not just based on one policy being altered, but a lack of overall trust and respect that not only are the children's needs being met, but parents' role is being respected and those parent/teacher relationships are seen as a necessity to fully support the child. What the public does not understand is the dire situations some of these children experience every day, with home lives that are abusive or neglectful. The amount of children coming to school malnourished or with other obvious signs of abuse is nothing short of a crisis. It is the teachers, administration and support staff that deal with these situations, (from what I have experienced) with empathy and care. The role of the teacher has changed. We can't deny this. With this, the burn out levels are also undeniable. And to continue to belittle the profession publicly might make some people who hate their jobs, or hate that they have to work in the summers feel better about themselves. I guess if the government doesn't recognize the worth or have respect for the profession, it only makes sense that the public will follow suit. 
 

Kevin MacDonald 
Reply to Kristina Maguire  
Decertify from the union and you will be better liked. You can't have it both ways with the public. sorry.  
 
 
Dennis Atchison 
Reply to Kevin MacDonald 
Then you do not understand the work and role of the union, and you do not understand how the media "report" on unions.  
 
 
Art McCarthy 
Reply to Kristina Maguire    
I don't see any "both ways" in this discussion. Parents see teachers as a homogenous group; union affiliation has nothing to do with it.

And why would any teacher consider severing from a mechanism with some ability to assist, when the gov't has hinted at punitive measures against any teacher who fails to strictly follow the updated policy?

It boggles the mind...

 
Michael Cain 
Reply to Kevin MacDonald 
The union gets Joe public better deals in the private sector. 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Dennis Atchison  
Please enlighten us 
 
 
Akimbo Alogo
Reply to Kristina Maguire 
Teaching used to be a respectable profession. Unions ruined that and protected the do-nothings. There are good and bad in every profession. Unions make sure the bad ones remain employed. Just teach...dont parent. No one in interested in your philosophy....just do the job. 
 
 
Andrew Martin 
Reply to Art McCarthy
What punitive measures have been hinted against teachers who dont follow this updated policy? Please cite your source.  
 
 
Art McCarthy 
Reply to Andrew Martin 
???

They hinted there would be punitive measures.

"A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed late Thursday that according to the policy, teachers and staff are only forbidden from using a child's chosen name, without parental consent, "in an official capacity." " 
 
 
Kevin MacDonald  
Reply to Dennis Atchison  
 Dennis, I am not programed and don't understand like you do, correct.
 
 
Kevin MacDonald
Reply to Michael Cain 
Joe public doesn't hide inside the heard, he has to produce and be reviewed for raises.  
 
 
Michael Cain 
Reply to Kevin MacDonald
Joe Public has their performance reviewed every year and it can mean demotion or promotion, based upon merit; Joe private kisses up to the boss. 


Michael Cain 
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
Exactly. Teachers are to teach; the SOGI of the child is in the parent's domain. 
 

Kevin MacDonald
Reply to Michael Cain 
Michael, Joe public generates real GDP and feeds your belly if you are a civil servant sir. And to use the term "Joe public" is really offensive, considering they are they upper twenty-five percent of the class by far. 
 
 
Michael Cain 
Reply to Kevin MacDonald 
Kevin, the public service spends all their money on private industry, keeping them in business, and feeding the family, putting a roof over their head. We have to differentiate between private and public service. What is really offensive is thinking class is more than it is.  
 
 
 
 
 
Don Corey  
I wonder just how much Keating herself is actually responsible for the “bitter” (her word) relationship. 
 
 
William Murdoch 
Reply to Don Corey
Ouch  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Don Corey 
Ditto
 
 
Akimbo Alogo  
Reply to Don Corey  
Exactly. Again, nothing speaks to friendship and cooperation like a big yellow fist, eh? (Nurses, Teachers, et cetera) Unions are the real root of the problems. Taken over education, healthcare and are now reeling in the social work world. Just this morning they're doing damage control, covering up for those whose subpar performance has allowed horrible things to transpire in NB. Thanks unions. 
 
 
G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
Yes, yes, it's all the employees' fault. Unions never exist for any reason other than making things worse for the public. Is there anything else ahistorical you can impart? 



 
 
Sindi Roma  
Jobs come with challenges. If that's news to the teachers, then they need a reality check. Sheesh!  
 
 
William Murdoch
Reply to Sindi Roma 
Pushing hard to displace Nurses? 
 
 
David Amos
Reply to William Murdoch 
No need to
 
 
 
 
 
Matt Steele  
It is really all a moot point anyways . Premier Higgs is doing a Cabinet shuffle as I type this ; and there will probably be an election this fall which will be a deciding factor on policy 713 ; as all N.B.ers will get a chance to cast their opinion at the ballot box .  
 
 
Kyle Woodman 
Reply to Matt Steele
You are wrong.  
 
 
Pete Parent 
Reply to Matt Steele 
You dont know that. You throw thing out there like they were facts.Being opinionated is not the same as being informed.  
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Pete Parent 
I agree
 
 
Akimbo Alogo  
Reply to Matt Steele 
And Higgs will be right back in as premier and the rest will be whinging. Blaming all problems on the govt. 
 

stewie griffen 
Reply to Matt Steele
Can't wait to vote him back in.

 
 
 
 
  
Rhys Philbin  
This topic has run its course.

Enough already.

 
Colin Seeley 
Reply to Rhys Philbin  
Enough will happen when he resigns and apologizes to Don Darling.
 
 
Inger Nielsen  
Reply to Rhys Philbin  
why enough already so higgs can think all is well fine and dandy, this is far from over 
 
 
Don Corey 
Reply to Rhys Philbin  
The agenda to keep the attack on Higgs going full blast is blatantly obvious.
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Rhys Philbin  
I already told ya they are far from done  
 
 
Colin Seeley 
Reply to Colin Seeley   
Enough will happen when he resigns and apologizes
 

stewie griffen 
Reply to Rhys Philbin
Nope, he needs to call an election not apologize.  
 
 
stewie griffen 
Reply to Colin Seeley 
Why should he do ether from what i see most people outside of this board thinks he is right and he knows it.
 
 
Andrew Martin 
Reply to stewie griffen   
Agreed.. the silent majority are tired of dealing with fantasy land and would like to get back to dealing with reality where we can no longer afford to put food on our tables or pay our mortgages. There's bigger problems at hand that we should be dealing with.  
 
 
G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to Don Corey 
He's a stronger target than children. He should be able to take what the media dishes out. 

 
Don Corey 
Reply to G. Timothy Walton
I made no reference to children, one way or another. Yes, he’s more than capable of absorbing whatever the media throws at him.

You don’t “get” my point obviously.

 
G. Timothy Walton 
Reply to Don Corey 
And that point would be what, that he didn't bring this on himself with this particular issue?

Nobody would get a free pass on this.

 
  
 
 
Les Cooper  
Call them by their legal name. End of story 
 
 
Rhys Philbin
Reply to Les Cooper 
Amen
 
 
John Montgomery 
Reply to Les Cooper  
Even if they are traumatized by it? 
 
 
Ben Haroldson 
Reply to Les Cooper  
Give em a number, like the rest of us..... 
 
 
Rachel Woods  
Reply to Les Cooper 
Not respecting a person’s chosen name and pronoun is a human rights violation
 
 
Gregory Pittaway  
Reply to Les Cooper 
Lester, where ya at?
 
 
David Amos
Reply to Ben Haroldson  
They canceled my number  
 
 
stewie griffen  
Reply to John Montgomery
They wont be singled out than so what the problem if everyone has a number. 
 
 
 

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