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The @Alberta_UCP ran on a promise to “affirm the primary role of parents in choosing how their children are taught”. It took a #pandemic for parents & caregivers to know that #CHOICE in #abed is only afforded to a privileged few, whether that means a #SafeSeptember or #charters
They promised that “A UCP government will defer to parents as the natural guardians of a child’s best interests and will trust teachers as professionals.” But they are ignoring calls from parents & teachers to establish a province-wide plan to protect students & staff. #AbLeg
Long-time #PublicEducation advocates @SOSAlberta wrote to @AdrianaLaGrange in May asking for improvements to school, classroom, and staffing conditions. Their letter has gone unanswered.
https://www.supportourstudents.ca/covid-19-open-letter.html
https://www.supportourstudents.ca/covid-19-open-letter.html
They have since formed a coalition with @RADEducators & #abdocs4teachers to lobby the @UCPCaucus for a safer school relaunch across #Alberta.
https://www.supportourstudents.ca/coalition-for-safer-school-relaunch-across-alberta.html
https://www.supportourstudents.ca/coalition-for-safer-school-relaunch-across-alberta.html
@holdmyhandab asked for the following in a letter sent to LaGrange last week:
Pop-up groups have formed to advocate specifically for a #SafeSeptemberAB.
@SafeSeptember has been writing letters to @AdrianaLaGrange and @jkenney since August 01st that you can read here: https://www.projectsafeseptember.ca/letters
@SafeSeptember has been writing letters to @AdrianaLaGrange and @jkenney since August 01st that you can read here: https://www.projectsafeseptember.ca/letters
@alberta_moms gained over 7000 followers on Twitter in a matter of days organizing very successful communication blasts aimed at the Kenney government demanding appropriate funding to #KeepOurSchoolsSafe.
Parent @Blurg5 organized a province-wide protest where parents, caregivers, teachers, and concerned citizens showed up at their MLAs offices to voice their concerns. They were met with locked doors and security guards. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/protest-against-governments-school-re-opening-plan-draw-ucp-minister-out-of-edmonton-office/wcm/69f26f62-b792-4340-a256-80e47b404af9/amp/
President of @albertateachers assc @schill_dawg has given 100 interviews since July re: concerns teachers have with the re-entry plan. @AdrianaLaGrange finally met with him a few days ago and promptly announced that her gov’t would NOT be addressing them. https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5688245
School staff from @_AUPE_ responsible for working with our most vulnerable students, cleaning our schools, and monitoring children who come to school showing symptoms of #COVIDー19 have given @AdrianaLaGrange an F on her re-entry (non-plan) plan. https://www.aupe.org/index.php/news/news-and-updates/education-minister-ignores-front-line-workers-school-reopening
The @Alberta_UCP’s platform says they “recognize that every child is unique and that parents, not politicians, know what is best for their children” yet @AdrianaLaGrange continues to tell parents/caregivers that elected boards will decide what is in their “local best interest”. https://twitter.com/adrianalagrange/status/1296902557026009088
But LaGrange is also ignoring said boards. @EPSBNews has raised concerns - the need for additional millions in funding for reduced class sizes and physical distancing. They have called for more teachers, more EAs, more space, and creative thinking in ensuring safer schools. https://twitter.com/shelaghdunn/status/1296991502783004672
LaGrange is ignoring the official opposition @albertaNDP and education critic @shoffmanAB’s call for an alternative (safer) relaunch plan. https://www.albertandp.ca/safe-school-reopening-AB
The @Alberta_UCP promised to “affirm parental choice” but the only choice being offered is an unsafe learning environment or homeschooling. Parents must choose between going to work or staying home to educate their kids. This is not a #CHOICE that most families can afford.
None of the above groups have been a part of any meaningful consultation re: #SafeSeptemberAB. Attempts at communication have been largely ignored by @AdrianaLaGrange and the Ministry of Education save for a very few non-committal form letters. #abed
If the minister is ignoring ALL stakeholders (parents, caregivers, concerned citizens, teachers, support staff, trustees) then her party’s promises have not been kept.
@AdrianaLaGrange and the @Alberta_UCP do not care about parental choice. Those were buzzwords used to open the door to American-style education in #Alberta. It was a fancy way to get parents to support #privatization. #COVIDー19 is simply speeding this process along.
But it has also made it crystal clear to parents and caregivers from all backgrounds that the @Alberta_UCP’s promise of choice was not meant for everyone. It was meant for a very select group of their privileged supporters. We should all be #VeryWorriedAB
#abed #AbLeg #abpoli
#abed #AbLeg #abpoli
And if you’ve come this far, please SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. For a party that ran on a promise to create jobs & get the “economy back to work” they don’t understand the simple fact that the best way to grow & diversify is to provide free, equally accessible education to EVERYONE
