Westwind teachers share their concerns

Morale in Cardston-area schools has declined in recent years, teachers report.

In a pre-election “open letter” to parents and other voters, the teachers’ union says 89 per cent of the Westwind division’s professional staff believe it’s deteriorated over the last five years.

In reply, school trustees — up for reelection today — say “it’s very clear that the ATA Local 12 is attempting to influence the outcome of the pending election.”

Nineteen candidates are vying for seats on the Westwind board, representing seven parts of the rural school division.

In their open letter, released by the Westwind local of the Alberta Teachers Association earlier this month, president Stephen Gibbings and his executive also called for teachers to spend more hours in the classroom with fewer taken up with professional development (PD) days and other interruptions.

“This time is putting pressure on the other tasks that teachers take on such as more appearances with students, coaching, tutoring, bus driving, compiling yearbooks, supervising after-school events” and the like.

The letter also urges school trustees to place more value on “the significant inthe-trenches experience and research that our capable teachers have acquired through their years of practical classroom experience” rather than spending so much on guest speakers, retreats and other “teacher development” events.

No trustee candidates were mentioned in the public letter.

In its “open letter” response, the board maintains “helping teachers to get better at doing their jobs should increase morale, because they will have a greater capacity to teach, assess and motivate their students.”

“In Westwind, we strive to provide teachers with timely, relevant and meaningful professional development in an environment where it can have the greatest impact,” it adds.

Referring to teachers’ participation in after-school events, the board agreed “many teachers devote many, many hours to coaching and supervising special interest clubs (and) activities.”

Just the same, the trustees said, “There are teachers who do not.”

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