Well hey, hey, hey, great start to the second period for those Oilers! 3-1, but I promised a teacher thread tonight and I don't want to disappoint.

First off, for those that MAY not have heard, there is a news conference tomorrow at 9 am with Dr. Hinshaw and "The Grunge". I'm

cautiously optimistic. I mean it can't get WORSE right? This government has proven to be composed of mindless buffoons with no integrity, no empathy, and no traces of human life. So I'm sure hoping that we have good news coming. Everyday is one day closer to the start of school.

Now, the one thing I hope we don't see coming from any affected Albertans, assuming it's a positive announcement, is gratitude for this government. There are NO EXCUSES for us to be subjected to this angst and stress. None. This government is being given NO CREDIT, and NO

THANKS from this guy. I will NEVER be thankful for people demonstrating that they're human. This government was elected to govern for Albertans and they haven't done that, plain and simple. They've screwed over Albertans at every turn, and have rewarded, well anybody else.

This government has exposed us to gaslighting, blatant lying, and has caused huge amounts of stress to educators, parents, grandparents, students, EA's, Bus drivers, and sanitary staff during this stupid staring contest with the school boards and the upstanding people that

compose the education system. This government took part in something similar, of a different magnitude obviously, with regards to rent relief, earlier this year. When it finally got down to the deadline, they allowed for a degree of relief (deferral of payments for a few months)

if I recall correctly. This sort of childish bullshit is completely unacceptable. The uncertainty and fear they've instilled in thousands of households is simply wrong.

Now, to get onto something else here. People who argue that educators get off two months vacation every

year and that as a result justifies them putting up with what they put up with in a year in complete horseshit. Burn this into your mind if you've been one of those folks who've said this. I'll reiterate this again, 90% of people COULD NOT DO THE JOB. We have parents that say

"Oh the schools have to be in come the fall, I can't stand anymore time with my kid at home" or "They need to be open because I have a job" etc etc. Educators are NOT babysitters. I understand that when everybody works that gets forgotten, but here is a bold reminder. Something

many may not know about teachers is as follows:

Sports teams don't happen without them
Clubs don't happen without them
They DO provide parents peace of mind when their kids are at school during the day/week
Teachers put in TONS of time outside of instructional time as part of

their job

My wife and I sat down one summer and figured out based on a guesstimate of how much time she put in during the year, with EVERYTHING she did for her students, she could have dispersed those hours across the summer and STILL worked full time+. I hate to say this, but

I bet there are cases out there where a students teacher cares about a student more than their own parents do. That sounds offensive, but it's not meant to be, it's true.

If teachers were ever forced to withdraw part of their services from your child's school experience, I

assure you, they won't enjoy it and hence you as parents will hear about it. It's an underappreciated and rarely spoken of contribution of teachers.

So do me, and everybody who is highly invested in the individuals that answer late emails from students, give extensions on

assignments, lend their ear to students having problems at home or otherwise, or provide students a place to enjoy sports with their schoolmates or the ability to partake in a club, a favour: when push comes to shove, and we're seeing it now and we'll see it more yet......stand

by teachers, principals, the school boards and everyone in between. This government wants to make THEM the enemy. They AREN'T the enemy.

This government is the enemy. They're preventing making funding available, they've cut out supports for students who need it the most, they

are the ones forcing you to send your kids to school into a potential cesspool of infection. They're failing all of you. And if, heaven forbid, the teachers strike at some point. STAND WITH THEM. They are NOT your enemy. They do a TON for you and your kids. Don't you DARE

throw them under the bus, ever.

With all that being said, I know there are TONS, and I would be bold enough to say MOST people appreciate educators for all that they do. They need your voices. They need your unconditional support. Fight for them, not against them.

That's all for this Insider

oh..........and #LetsgoOilers #GoOilersGo