Thursday, May 22, 2014

What Teachers Make Take Two....

Okay, I know that if you follow my blog with any sort of regularity, you'll know that I posted this TEDtalk before....

But... in lieu of the current situation between the teachers in this province and our government (who for some reason do not feel that they have to follow the law and adhere to the Supreme Court ruling that has found them to be guilty of illegal stripping our contract language) I thought, perhaps, it was worth a second listen.

And I think that it is worth noting that it is not only teachers who make a difference but the School/Staff Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, School Counsellors, Psychologists, Multi-cultural workers, nurses etc. that are no longer a part of our day to day system in the way that they once were (due to cut backs that force them to cover an absurd amount of students in the district or to not be in the district at all any longer) but that were an integral part of our school system when I first started teaching.

Just saying...that even though I am not thrilled at the strike action we are having to take (especially against a government that clearly is not interested in following the letter of the law - see comment about Supreme Court above) I am ALL for my students getting the support and time they need to be the best people they can be. 

I know that smaller class sizes would make a HUGE difference (been there, taught that!) but also the reinstating of services (that, unfortunately, most current families don't even realize were lost) would make a MAJOR impact on the learning and success of the children in the school system. 

The media (and government) keep the focus on teachers wanting a pay increase. They keep trying to make the public think it is all about money. And, I'm not going to lie, of course being paid a reasonable wage (especially once you see how much more other teachers in Canada make!) would be lovely. 

But, for me, this whole contract negotiation etc with the government is NOT about my making more money. It is about the government not following the ruling of the Supreme Court which has stated quite clearly that the government was in the wrong and needs to restore the contract language it stripped from us so many years ago. It is about the government giving back to the students and families of this province what they should have had for all these past years. A reinstating of contract language that protects the students and gives them the best possible learning conditions. Seems pretty simple, right? 

I don't teach for the money. Hello! If I wanted a career that was going to give me a heck of a lot of disposable income (as opposed to the zero amount I currently have!) I would have become a doctor or a lawyer or something else. The crazy thing is that those careers make more money but that they wouldn't have had the education to go into those careers unless they had teachers (who make significantly less. Hmmm...makes you kind of shake your head, doesn't it?) 

I just want to be able to come to work every day and put all of my passion and love into my job while feeling like I work in a province that actually cares about the well-being of its children. I want to live in a place that puts its money into early learning in order to prevent the issues that come later. A place that is proactive rather than reactive. I expect that I am dreaming but I am unwilling to give up hope that someday, someday my dream might be a reality and that our young people's education (after all, they will be responsible for us one day!) will be a priority and not an afterthought.  

Okay, enough already, right? I am going to get off my soap box and let you enjoy a moment of poetry that helps me to remember why I do this job in the first place. Because teaching fills me with love and because I know that if I make an impact, on even one student, I have done my job exceedingly well.



Okay, I lied...I am going to give you more than one moment of poetry. Here is another one of Taylor Mali talking about his experiences as a teacher. 


Enjoy!

Olwyn

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone out there has enjoyed a day filled with mother love. Whether it be directed at you for your mothering, by you towards your mother or simply shared with all of the other kinds of mothers we have in our lives. May the day have been one of joy for you all!

My lovelies did wonderful tissue paper collages on canvas for Mother's Day. They turned out really well.

Here is a wee sample. I love the rainbow of gifts as they all sat, wrapped and ready, waiting to go home!


Many of the kids did an ocean them (as we've been studying that) but there were some abstracts, some animals, some gardens, just a whole variety of ideas. They were all so beautiful. I wish I had taken pictures of all of them but I didn't remember until I was wrapping up the last few. So, you'll have to trust me on it, but they really were all lovely!





Cheers!

Olwyn

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

WWR May 7

This is my new motto

I think I need this one printed out and posted all over. It has been one of those weeks!

Sunday, May 4, 2014

My Dad would have liked this...

The Sound Of Slience
from here
And I would be so happy if I can have one or two moments of this in the coming week.

Cheers!

Olwyn

Friday, May 2, 2014

It's Currently...May!!!!



It is craaazy that it is already May!

The time is just flying by!!!

Here's my Currently for the month. I'm linking up with Farley again over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade

Gotta say that this is my fave linky party. Love filling in the Currently and love reading about other people in their Currently's. 

Aside: But, have to apologize for last month. I didn't check out as many as I was supposed to, so if you were before me or after me and I didn't get to to you, I am abjectly sorry. Life got crazy and I just didn't get to it. Sorry!



listening...am a huge BBT fan and watch reruns ALL the time. Yet another one is playing in the background while I work on the computer.

loving...enough said.

thinking...I had a MAJOR attack on Monday with trouble breathing, coughing etc etc etc. Am now on inhalers and coughing less (sort of) and wanting it gone, gone, gone!

wanting...what a beautiful day today was! We had the door open, worked out on the patio, played lots of music from Frozen (don't tell anyone but I am kind of in love with the soundtrack!), did lots of art and fun activities (including a Bike Rodeo and Community Centres). I know not every day can be like this but, boy, do I wish they could be!!!!

needing...my hubby has gone to Montreal on business and I am on my own with my mum for the next 8 days. If you follow any of my posts, you'll know my mum has Alzheimer's. I am not looking forward to the next 8 days without my hubby's shoulder to lean on but, I know, this too shall pass....

surprise...I don't get too many comments (boo hoo!) and don't have many followers (double boo hoo!) but I can always count on Mrs. Bartel to leave me a good word. Check her out!

Mrs. Bartel's School Family

And there's all she wrote! Another month of Currently done!

Cheers!

Olwyn