It's an interesting pickle for school divisions, and the teachers who make up the bulk of their workforce, tofind themselves in. What days does the school bell ring?
When running for re-election, Premier Brad Wall said school should start after labour day, period. Starting school before that chops off the last week of the summer holidays, (often to return for just a day or two before the long weekend), fouling up tourism opportunities, as well as family time.
Then this year, he noted, "Our government is moving to a consistent minimum 950 hours of student instruction and this change has school boards looking at calendar changes. Still - there remains room for the traditional February break and a significant Easter break as well."
He made these statements on his Facebook page in February, pointing out he was speaking in his capacity as MLA for Swift Current.
"The Chinook School Division (Swift Current area) has developed a proposed school calendar for next year that includes the discontinuation of the February week-long break and the week-long Easter break. They would be replaced with a week-long break in March and more long weekends in the spring. In my capacity as MLA for Swift Current, I am seeking input from constituents on the calendar, as the Ministry of Education is reviewing proposed calendars."
He heard it, all right. In early March, Wall's Facebook page stated, "Swift Current MLA Brad Wall indicated today that the majority of constituents who contacted his MLA office do not support the proposed calendar for the upcoming school year in the Chinook School Division.
"Wall's MLA office began receiving calls earlier this winter from constituents who expressed concern with the proposed 2013-14 calendar for the Chinook School Division. The proposal would replace the traditional week-long February break and the week-long Easter break with one week-long break in March, as well as some additional long weekends. Chinook School Division has also been seeking direct feedback as they look to make some changes in order to incorporate the movement to a minimum 950 hours of instructional time."
Most individuals who contacted Wall's MLA office voiced their support either to maintain at least the February week-long break or keep the status quo.
"I would like to thank everyone who phoned, wrote emails, posted on Facebook and Twitter and visited the MLA office to voice their opinion," said Wall. "I understand the Chinook School Division has also been gathering feedback from the community, and I encourage them to take these results into consideration when determining the final decision on next year's calendar."
The statement concluded, "The Chinook School Division has indicated it will be making its final decision on next year's calendar later this spring."
No kidding. The guy who signs the checks just strongly hinted putting the kybosh on the winter break is a no-go. Good luck with that, Chinook School Division.
There's growing frustration among parents when they look at school calendars. There are some months you wonder just when your kids actually go to school. This past Monday, my kids were off school due to some sort of professional development day, I believe. Whatever the reason, my mom had to look after the kids.
Why her, instead of me, you might ask? She's manning the fort because I am doing my own professional development this week. My PD days are done during the off-season. Most professional photographers are in fact wedding photographers. And since few people book their weddings in February, March or April, that's when photogs like myself gather to learn the newest tricks of the trade. The Wedding and Portrait Professional International convention has been held each year in February, but this year moved to March. In April, Professional Photographers of Canada is hosting its annual convention in Vancouver.
Construction outfits attend their tri-annual ConExpo convention in March, when the industry is at its lull. Heck, even baseball has spring training, and hockey and football have their own training camps.
If other industries can do this, why is it so hard for the education industry (and it is an industry) to figure it out?
Teachers should be holding their professional development days during their off-season - the summer. Lord knows their off-season seems pretty long compared to working stiffs who get only three weeks off a year. Perhaps it can be the last week or two of August, maybe even early September before Labour Day. Consider it training camp for teachers.
I don't do a lot of weddings anymore, but what I learn at the WPPI convention and trade show each year has strongly driven the development of my business and craft. Similarly teachers' professional development days are supposed to inspire them to be better educators.
I'm a strong advocate of professional development. Do as much of it as you possibly can.
Just do it during the off-season.
- Brian Zinchuk is editor of Pipeline News. He can be reached at [email protected].
