| Year |
Development |
| 1928 |
The first Alberta School Week (Education Week) was held December 2 to 8, 1928. It was initiated by the Alberta Teachers’ Alliance (later to become the Alberta Teachers’ Association) “for the purposes of interesting parents and others in the many problems which confront educationalists. [It was] the first definite attempt on the part of teachers to explain the problems, the difficulties and the triumphs of the school,” reported the ATA Magazine in January 1929.
A number of enthusiastic editorials appeared in newspapers throughout Alberta, including this excerpt from the Calgary paper: “It is a praiseworthy characteristic of the profession of education that the school teacher evinces no desire to keep the workings of his craft a secret. He not only invites the public, particularly parents, to inspect the factory but to learn the whole trade. It was such a spirit that motivated the institution of Alberta School Week which commences tomorrow and in which have been asked to cooperate the church, parent-teachers’ associations, women’s organizations, school boards, local and provincial departments of education, political organizations both party and non-party, the service clubs, boards of trade, chambers of commerce—Could the appeal have been more broadcast?” (Calgary Albertan,December 1, 1928)
|
| 1934 |
The concept of a special week for celebrating the work of schools and of teachers was brought to the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) at its Annual Meeting in August 1934. Teacher representatives decided to adopt the idea in all the provinces and CTF assumed responsibility for coordinating the week. “It was decided that the (CTF) should take School Week under its wing, every provincial organization conforming to the general plan laid down by the CTF Executive, but free to adapt it to meet provincial conditions.” The slogan, “The old order changeth, yielding place to new,” was selected as the organizing theme. (The ATA magazine, January 1935) |
| 1935 |
The first Canada-wide Education Week was held February 3 to 9, 1935. The editorial in the Halifax Herald had this to say: “The idea of an Education Week is new in Canada. Most of the provinces are well-organized, and there is close cooperation among the profession in the best interests of what is after all the biggest thing in the country—the education of its youth. Through the press, the pulpit, service clubs and radio broadcasts the subject of education in its various aspects had a thorough discussion last week; and here in Nova Scotia the result we trust, will be to inspire teachers afresh with the importance and dignity of their high calling, and parents and school officials with a sense of the responsibility which the problems of the day place upon proper standards of education.” (The Halifax Herald, February 13, 1935) |
| 1937 |
A daily program of topics on the theme “Equal Opportunities for All Canadian Children” for Education Week, February 21 to 27, 1937, was published by The ATA Magazine in apparent frustration with national efforts at coordination. The topics promoted discussion that went beyond issues specific to education. “As there have been no supporting statements from the Executive (CTF), I am taking the liberty of presenting the following schedule of topics for the week. I hope that it will be a swing away from our traditional Education Week themes in order that we may interest those not directly concerned with school affairs.” (The ATA Magazine,January 1937) |
| 1946 |
Responsibility for Education Week was transferred to the Alberta Education Council, a new council of 21 organizations formed largely through the efforts of the ATA. Among other purposes, the Council was intended “to arouse public interest in and to cooperate for the promotion and improvement in legislation relating to all phases of elementary and secondary education. [The council] took over sponsorship of Education Week, a baby that had been handed back and forth between the ATA and the CTF, and mounted some promotional campaigns designed to persuade the public that education was a good thing. However, in 1953, ATA President Marian Gimby charged that ‘Our handling of Education Week has been spotty. We have let the Alberta Education Council fall by the wayside.’” (Chalmers, John. Teachers of the Foothills Province, 1968, p. 242) |
| 1980 |
In an entry in its 1979/80 Annual Report, Alberta Education stated that it had provided general supervision over provincial Education Week activities. “This year’s Education Week theme, ‘75 Years of Knowing and Growing’, commemorated not only the province’s anniversary, but also the 75th year that the Department has provided Albertans with quality education.” (Alberta Education Annual Report,1979/80, p.12) |
| 1983 |
The entry in the 1982/83 Annual Report suggests that Alberta Education had encouraged greater involvement of the education partners through a provincial education week committee. “The Communications Director coordinates the province-wide activities of Education Week and chairs the Provincial Education Week committee.” (Alberta Education Annual Report, 1982/83) |
| 1992 |
Alberta Education’s budget for communications activities was reduced, but the department continued to support a province-wide campaign. The ATA offered to produce Education Week kits for use in schools use because Alberta Education’s Communication Branch no longer had the money to prepare them. |
| 1993 |
Alberta Education, after consultation with partners, moved the date for Education Week from the spring to November. Some schools had complained that Education Week had been occurring too close to the end of the school year; others had said that education should be celebrated year round, or whenever the time was optimal for a school. The department focussed its Education Week campaign on the value of education to the taxpayers and the promotion of high standards of achievement for students. The department’s goal was to increase taxpayer confidence in the system during a time of budget cuts. The department partnered with Canadian Regional Air to give passengers a pop quiz using difficult questions typically found on diploma exams. Education partners questioned the purpose of an Education Week committee. Alberta Education developed a terms of reference, but the committee was disbanded after 1993. |
| 1994 |
The ATA partnered with the Alberta Home and School Councils’ Association, the Association of School Business Officials of Alberta, the Alberta School Boards Association, the College of Alberta School Superintendents, and the Faulty of Education at the University of Alberta in developing an Education Week campaign. The group chose the slogan “Celebrating Success” for the event. Education Week no longer appeared as a separate entry in Alberta Education’s budget or as an item in its annual report. |
| 1995 - 2006 |
The ATA helped schools and locals plan activities that sent a consistent and topical message to parents and the community through the media. |
2007-
2010 |
The Alberta Teachers’ Association worked with Alberta Education to develop a theme and supporting communications for Education Week. |
| 2011 |
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association and Alberta Education worked together to coordinate communications for Education Week. |
