Teacher says cuts are too deep
Published Saturday May 30th, 2009
Low morale | Teachers' recommendations on ways to save shot down
Teacher morale is lower now than a woman with more than two decades of experience has seen it.
Heather Palmer said she's discouraged by what's happening in the education system.
"Teachers are expected to do more with less and are finding the workload extremely heavy," Palmer said. "It's very difficult to meet the needs of children. I'm seeing young teachers, early in their careers, frustrated and struggling. They are burning out, and I don't see how it's going to be any better with the new school year."
A recent cut to the education budget has reduced support staff in schools, including library assistants, behaviour mentors and teacher assistants.
The Liberal government is expecting to run a $741-million deficit this year - even with the cuts to many departments and programs.
But Brent Shaw, president of the New Brunswick Teachers' Association, said students shouldn't have to suffer because of the recession.
"I understand the government has to make some cuts, but those cuts do not have to be as significant as they are," Shaw said. "If the Education Department were willing to look internally to save funds, they could avoid taking away so many resources that are critical to kids."
Shaw said the association has suggested ways the government could save money, including cutting back on the number of student assessments and getting rid of the Innovative Learning Fund.
But many of the suggestions have been shot down.
Education Minister Kelly Lamrock said there are always going to be times when unions and management don't agree. And this is one of those times, he said.
"I believe strongly that if you want to improve literacy scores you have to give teachers more freedom to teach; evaluate how everyone is doing; put out report cards to show what's working and what isn't; and reward those innovative ideas that are really changing how we teach," Lamrock said.
"Teachers' unions, as a matter of policy, have said we shouldn't measure how we are doing with assessments, and we should pay everyone the same regardless of results. Just because I disagree with that doesn't mean it's a personal attack."
Shaw said the future for New Brunswick teachers will be bleak if the minister goes ahead with the announced cuts.
And none of it is going to help their morale, he said.
"I don't believe the minister has respect for teachers, and I don't believe the dedication is there to reduce teacher workload," Shaw said. "Educators have a difficult road ahead of them, with fewer resources and support staff and not enough support from the department."
Lamrock said his track record tells a different story.
He said the past three years have marked the largest funding increase to the education budget in more than 30 years, and the teachers' collective agreement recently increased salaries by more than $30 million.
"We've seen the addition of over 700 teachers, including more than 100 physical education, music and art teachers," Lamrock said.
"These things would all show a fair bit of respect to teachers."
Palmer, who will go back to work in September as the methods and resource teacher at Devon Middle School, agreed there have been many advances in the education system over the years, but she said that doesn't change the current situation for teachers.
Even so, she said she's holding out hope that educators will find a way to make everything work in the best interests of the students.
"In the end, we all want children to succeed, and that is what we'll continue to work toward even if we are doing it with less resources," Palmer said.
"I do expect this is just a bad blip and that everything will eventually improve. For now, there are difficult times ahead, and teachers will just have to continue to wear all different kinds of hats as parents, educators, psychologists, doctors, mentors, social workers, colleagues and friends."
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Lamrock needs to go.
Try telling a boss in the private sector you should get paid the same regardless of how hard you work or how well you do...ain't gonna happen.
Of course teachers should be rewareded differently for success in the classroom.
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If there is any truth to an election in August, this will surely be one of the biggest nails in the Liberals coffin.
The lack of knowledge, foresight, and creative problem solving that Graham, Boudreau, and Lamrock have shown is quite astounding from men who are supposed to be Provincial leaders.
Every group in the province is calling for the elimination of the ILF, but Lamrock and Graham refuse to listen. Why???
School will be nothing more than a glorious day care in September as teachers attention is drawn away from curriculum and kids that thirst for education. Principals, teachers, and parents have all spoke out against these cuts. However, the government, through deceit, intimidation, and general stubborness have refused to listen to the people actually doing the work.
Isn't that always the way though?
2010!!!!!
Oh wait! I know! It's because teachers wouldn't want to take these things away from the kids they care so much about educating, coaching, inspiring, and encouraging. They will drive themselves to never before seen levels of burn-out to give everything they possibly can to the students. All of this with an employer working against them. Wow.
I've never once mentioned 2010, but it may be August 2009, according to some papers.
As for ILF, you are right, I think it should be eliminated as it is nothing more than a pet project that does very little in the way of overall education. However, I am not alone in that view. The NBTA, District offices, teachers, principals, etc all think it is a waste when there are more important services that could be maintained with the money.
I really don't care which part is in power as long as they listen to the people who elected them. French Immersion was a huge blunder on their part and so is this.
BTW, anyone can make polls and statistics say what they want. Maybe the liberals would get elected again. But I highly doubt Kelly Lamrock will.
If we are going to stress out our teachers, we can expect some devastating consequences to their families and to the quality of education they are able to give our young people. Some other solution has to be found. These are people's lives we are talking about.