Letters
Private highway revisited
Editor's note: The following letter is in response to a letter by Terrance Riley, ATA district representative for South East, that appeared in The ATA News ("Government should build me a private highway" in "Speak Out," October 28, 1997). In his letter, Riley argued that if private schools are entitled to more public money than he is entitled to a private highway at taxpayer's expense.
I am a retired teacher who has taught in public and independent schools in Alberta and British Columbia. Let me say at the outset that by far most private schools are not private at all, but are independent and operated by non-profit societies.
Doesn't Mr. Riley know that we are living in a pluralistic society where people have different philosophies of life and where these same philosophies that are taught at home should, by right, be continued in a formal setting in the school? Doesn't Mr. Riley know that Canada subscribes to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that states "parents have a prior right" to decide what type of education their children should have? Doesn't Mr. Riley know that independent schools save the taxpayers millions of dollars annually because parents don't get a penny to buy land for schools nor for the buildings? They only get partial support from the government, which is collecting taxes for all education. Many parents sacrifice $5,000 or more annually because they are vitally interested in the values of their particular independent school. This double taxation is also an injustice.
If Mr. Riley equates the modern, non-profit, independent school with the snobbish, elitist, British private schools, then he is far "off the highway." As a teacher, I'll give him an "F" for research and a "D" for his comparison.
Most public schools are trying and doing an excellent job, but to ridicule and smear independent schools and to try to eliminate them in our pluralistic society is of no benefit for our nation. Please don't see the independent school as a threat to public education but as a significant contribution to the rich Canadian mosaic.
George Yntema
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Behavior of some is unprofessional
I wish to call to the attention of your members the disgraceful way in which some members of this profession treat others.
I have been in this profession for 20 years, yet each year I see a new crop of ill-informed classroom teachers (not only the ones fresh from university but others who choose to remain ignorant) who see it as their prerogative to discount and discourage the use of private tutors by their students. It appears that this practice is rooted in the quaint philosophy, "If I can't teach them, no one can."
This practice will come to an end as Learning Assistants Instructional Services has adopted a policy of pursuing a charge of non-professional conduct against any teachers we find who criticize any of our tutors—all of whom are Alberta certificated teachers.
Learning Assistants Instructional Services refuses to tolerate this abuse from our professional colleagues. I have never seen a lawyer criticizing his or her colleagues, but I have seen supposedly professional teachers criticizing their colleagues—with abandon—without even knowing the name of the person they criticize, only that the person is a tutor who is tutoring a student in their class.
The criticism is unfair, as the criticizing teacher invariably is uninformed about the tutor's role in helping that student. Such ignorance of tutoring breeds a fear that the tutor will, in one way or another, show the teacher as being incompetent. This may be so, but from the classroom teacher's point of view, I would rather have a student who keeps up with the class and performs well on evaluations regardless of the source of his or her knowledge or the blow to my professional pride. A teacher cannot be all things to all students, and the addition of a private tutor to the student's educational arsenal should be welcomed rather than viewed with distrust.
The hiring of a qualified tutor by concerned parents shows that they are taking the educational business seriously and that they are prepared to look at alternatives to the classroom teacher's methods, which are evidently not working for this particular individual. This is nobody's fault (if fingers need to be pointed) and should be viewed in the same context as a second medical opinion on a problem or the application of additional specialized expertise to a problem.
In reality, some teachers view parents' hiring of tutors as a scurrilous attempt to undermine their authority, pride and competence. Consequently, the supposedly offended party strikes back with whatever weapons are available—one of which is to attempt to discredit the tutor (a fellow professional), another of which is to make the offending student's life a living hell. Both these strategies will end when a professional attitude is adopted, but until then, Learning Assistants will be pleased to play the watchdog for clients.
James Black
Director, Learning Assistants Instructional Services
Co-operation of ATA News greatly appreciated
Thank you for your co-operation with respect to the "Random Acts of Kindness" supplement in The ATA News (January 13, 1998). The province-wide response has reflected the enthusiasm of students and their teachers in creating projects and activities to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 9–15, 1998.
Edmonton's fourth annual celebration saw a multitude of new activities as Edmonton and surrounding area celebrated the value of kindness. This phenomenal growth is heart-warming as it reflects the vibrancy and strength for which our community is noted. You may be interested to know that Edmonton has the distinction of being the first Canadian city to organize an official celebration such as the one held at city hall February 9.
Canada will again be represented at the World Kindness Movement gathering this year in Japan. We'll proudly show our counterparts the photos and videotape of the civic ceremonies, as well as our promotional resources (such as our poster, postcard, bookmark and ATA News supplement) which helped facilitate the Edmonton success story. We'll also have many kindness stories to share, thanks to the generosity of so many citizens.
Your support was greatly appreciated, and we hope you will continue your involvement in the spirit of kindness.
Debbie Riopel
Committee Chair, Random Acts of Kindness Week
Edmonton Community Foundation
Letters to the editor are welcome. The editor reserves the right to condense letters. Letters, including those sent electronically, must include the name, mailing address and daytime telephone number of the writer. Send your letters to Editor, The ATA News, 11010-142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1. Fax: (403) 455-6481.