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Often when we think about what things might be like in the next ten years, we do so in the manner of waiting for a surprise—“I wonder what the future will bring for our classrooms?”
However, there is a far more important question that needs our attention: What actions do we need to take in order to ensure that in the next ten years public education is strengthened and teachers are better able to meet the needs of all of their students?
Looking back from the vantage point of 2018, it is clear that in the past decade, for far too many Alberta teachers, classroom situations have not only failed to improve, but have actually become worse. Class sizes are generally larger and classroom complexity has increased substantially, while much-needed classroom supports too often have declined rather than improved.
There was hope that things would improve when the new NDP government ended 44 years of Progressive Conservative rule in 2015, but the new government seems more focused on curriculum review and assessment rather than on changes that will make a meaningful difference in the unacceptable classroom conditions facing too many students and teachers in our province.
Unfortunately the curriculum review appears mired in an overburdened agenda focused on ramping up ill-defined “21st century competencies,” while the government seems unable or unwilling to revamp its decades-old provincial testing and accountability regime that does little to inspire trust in the profession or build public confidence.
The big decisions about education (funding, class size and support for inclusion) are all political in nature, and over the next ten years we need to get much better at influencing political decisions through sustained engagement and mobilization of members in effective advocacy to advance positive change for all students.
In addition, we need to work with other public sector associations and unions to bring about major revenue reform so that our provincial government has the funds to revitalize public education and other public services.
Over the next decade, we need to put far more effort into shaping the future rather than merely trying to predict it or to accommodate whatever changes occur. The profession needs to help the government find the means and courage to lead positive change. If we fail to do so, teachers will face another decade of mounting problems and frustrations, and the full promise of public education for many students will continue to be unfulfilled.
Larry Booi is a former president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association and currently chair of Public Interest Alberta Board.
