Allison McCaffrey
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April 2022 Message
Hello Colleagues, As we approach Holy Week I am hopeful you will find the opportunity to take some time for your spiritual renewal and use your Easter Break to strengthen connections with family and friends. It has been a busy month, and we have seen the Government of Alberta table Bill 15 which lays out the Ministry of Education’s roadmap to break up our Association by removing the discipline function. Their rationale for this bill is based upon an assortment of mistruths and misrepresentations that are easily disproved but are continued to be repeated by the Minister. Our determined advocacy (meeting with MLAs, voicing our displeasure on social media) is critical to stop this reckless bill from moving forward. To find out more, access the facts here: www.teachers.ab.ca The attacks on our profession continue with the government’s determined refusal to halt the draft curriculum. Thank you to all who came out to the Rally for Education on Saturday, April 2nd to voice your dismay. We saw well over 400 concerned teachers, parents and advocates for public education at McDougall Centre and there were protests held throughout the province engaging 1000s of Albertans. Our battle is not finished, and we will continue to stand up for our students who deserve a curriculum that is written and supported by Alberta teachers, has the diverse voices of all Albertans (Indigenous, francophone, etc)., has been fully piloted and has well written resources - none of which we have seen with this unsupported curriculum. In fact, the final curriculum document is still being written, and still the Minister expects full implementation of 3 curriculums (LA, Math and Phys Ed) beginning September 2022. Friends, we must stand up for our students, we must stand up for ourselves we must stand up for fully funded public Catholic education. Keep voicing your concerns to this government – we cannot be silent now. Please see below some of the highlights from the last CSR as well as the ways you can help to vocally advocate for our profession and our Association.
What can you do?
In closing, please accept my sincerest thanks for the kindness you show to each other every day. Your incredible professionalism, dedication, and compassion make a difference to the students you teach and the colleagues with whom you work beside. Enjoy your well-deserved Spring break. We are always available at the Local should you wish to reach out. Peace and blessings, Allison McCaffrey
President Calgary Catholic Teachers’ ATA Local 55 |
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