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Reposted by Joe McFarland

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 3h

When asked about the UCP's statement on the last offer by the ATA which said teachers need to expect a deal that is "rooted in reality"...

ATA President Jason Schilling held very little back in his response.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli #abed

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 2h

Interesting how she’s parroting some talking points from some of her hardcore supporters about overall numbers. It’s such a bad-faith argument because a class of 30 in Cochrane and a class of 12 in a small town make it an average of 21. She’s openly dismissing cities & growing municipalities. #ABleg

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 3h

Today...

Sigh.

Danielle Smith couldn't articulate the difference between students and teachers and then postulates that if every registered teacher was working full time hours we wouldn't have a class size problem.

Roll the clip.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 21h

“Hey, how do we distract from the teacher’s strike and the health care layoffs?”
“I know! License plates!”
“Perfect. Call Dinger!”
#ABleg #Alberta

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 22h

“The words on the plate have been decided.

Strong and Free.”

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

calgaryherald.com/opinion/colu...

Bell: Danielle Smith set to roll out a new Strong and Free Alberta licence plate

Alberta gets a new licence plate with the Strong and Free brand, Premier Danielle Smith will roll out eight designs and Albertans will vote

calgaryherald.com

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 1d

Something I’ve noticed driving around my neighborhood in Airdrie: WAY more signs on lawns supporting public education than signs supporting candidates for the municipal election. That says a lot in a provincial conservative hotbed. #ABleg #Airdrie www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...

Most Albertans side with teachers in ongoing strike: survey

A new survey suggests most Albertans side with teachers in the ongoing labour dispute between them and the provincial government.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 5d

"It tries to teach Grade 1 students how to multiply. Grade 3 students learn how to count American money — not Canadian. And Grade 4 students are instructed in drawing triangles — an activity for those in Grade 1." Tough to get grade 1 kids to multiply when some don't know their numbers to 10. #ABleg

‘A big mess’: Expert, parents criticize Alberta tool kit for students during strike

An education expert is criticizing online lessons the Alberta government has curated for students during a provincewide teachers strike as “incoherent.”

www.ctvnews.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 6d

Hey Mike - Great shows all season long. Here's a question that I don't think has been asked yet: how integral has David Popkins been to this lineup? From the resurgence of Springer & Kirk to the strong performances of role players like Lukes, Barger & Clement, there's a calmness they all exude.

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 11d

As we head into what will surely be an emotional weekend for teachers, parents, students and everyone who cares about the education system in #Alberta, time to re-up my letter to the editor that was also sent to the Premier, @naheednenshi.bsky.social & more. #ABleg

Letter to the Editor: Teachers don’t want to strike, but might have to

Teachers love being in the classroom and see their profession as a public service.

www.airdriecityview.com

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 11d

A really good read about the state of education in Alberta and how I think many teachers are feeling right now. The numbers are the numbers, but the sheer disrespect shown, especially since 2019, needs to be addressed. #ABleg #Alberta www.parklandinstitute.ca/disrespect

When Disrespect Becomes Policy: How Government Neglect Sparked Labour Unrest

As Albertans brace for the first teacher strike in nearly 25 years, a new opinion piece on Parkland’s blog gives a frontline perspective on the government’s long war against public education.

www.parklandinstitute.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 15d

Quick math (just because it’s fun) in my wife’s classroom:

$30/day for each kid
X 25 kids in her class
= $750/day
X 182 instructional days (in my wife’s case)
= $136,500/school year

That’s just days with students? Yeah, we need to talk about her getting a raise. #ABleg #Alberta

a man standing in front of a chalkboard with mathematical equations written on it

ALT: a man standing in front of a chalkboard with mathematical equations written on it

media.tenor.com

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 15d

OK. Time to fix some numbers. I see it's actually for kids under 12. So, roughtly grade 6?

435,155 K-6 students
x $30/day support
= $13,084,650/day
x 19 school days in October after strike day
= $248,608,350

It's still very close to a quarter of a billion dollars. #ABleg

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 15d

Some quick math for my #ABleg followers:

825,000 K-12 students (according to gov’t website)
X $30/day support (as is being rumoured)
= $24,750,000/day
X 19 school days in October (from Oct. 6 if strike goes all month)
= $470,250,000

But we can’t afford to monitor class sizes. #Alberta

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 15d

There was a much easier way to respond to the question. Let the student speak, then “Thank you for being involved as a young person. We need more of that. While your question isn’t related to what we’re discussing, it’s provincial jurisdiction. Premier, would you please respond?” #ABleg #Alberta

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 15d

At tonight’s “consultation”…

When a high school kid tried to raise concerns about the teachers strike, Bruce McAllister cut the kids mic and then suggested his parents should have beaten him more.

Listen to the clip yourself…

It’s…

Telling.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 15d

This isn’t a random media member or emcee. This is the executive director of the premier’s office, who has shown open disdain for dissenting voices for the whole tour. This would be unbecoming of anyone in the media/emcee world. It should also be for the premier’s office. #ABleg

The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 15d

At tonight’s “consultation”…

When a high school kid tried to raise concerns about the teachers strike, Bruce McAllister cut the kids mic and then suggested his parents should have beaten him more.

Listen to the clip yourself…

It’s…

Telling.

#abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 18d

A further point involves teaching assistants. 1,500 by 2028 sounds great. But when you have 2,200(ish) schools, it’s less than one per school. And I know of schools that need 3-4 more just to handle the number of complex learners entering the system. It’s all a drop in the bucket. #ABleg #Alberta

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 18d

As an aside to that: yes, the province has its accelerated school build program. But is there an actual expectation that enough new schools will be opened over the next three years to ease the crunch? Or are jamming more students in existing facilities? #AbLeg #Alberta

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 18d

As teachers start voting on the new/old deal, some math: #Alberta has averaged 25,000 new students/year recently. If you’re averaging 25 students/classroom (K-12), you need 1,000 teachers. So the deal only pays for growth and not to ease current strain, no? And where are we putting them? #ABleg

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Reposted by Joe McFarland

Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 18d

I’ve tried to pack a lot in here:

TL;DR
- Many AB teachers intend to vote against a contract offer
- among them is a teacher who chaired the bargaining committee until last week
- ATA internal comms says if they strike, the scale will be unprecedented; public pressure will affect outcome #AbEd

Why some Alberta teachers will vote against the latest contract offer | CBC News

Many Alberta teachers say the latest contract offer from their employers and union isn’t good enough to stop them from striking.

www.cbc.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 19d

If you missed that long letter I sent to the premier, education minister, @naheednenshi.bsky.social & others, here’s my open letter regarding the looming teachers strike in #ABleg and what I see every single day as the husband of a phenomenal teacher. #Alberta www.airdriecityview.com/opinion/lett...

Letter to the Editor: Teachers don’t want to strike, but might have to

Teachers love being in the classroom and see their profession as a public service.

www.airdriecityview.com

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 20d

It won’t be 95% like when they voted to strike. But I wouldn’t be shocked if it was 75% rejection. I am curious about how things play out if it’s 50-50 or even 60-40. Having it split helps the government I think.

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 20d

Judging by what I’ve seen in the online world, many teachers aren’t impressed with it being essentially the same deal as May. That said, I think some teachers are also getting cold feet, thinking they can’t trust that they’ll get a worse deal down the road. My gut tells me they reject it.

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 21d

It’s absolutely crazy to me that this hasn’t been put on the table from #ABleg. Had they said “listen, we can’t afford a massive raise right now but we can give you class size tracking & measures to address it,” I bet the province would get more sympathy. My guess: teachers reject this “new” offer.

Robson Fletcher @robsonfletcher.com · 21d

"Although the province stopped tracking class sizes in 2019, educators say anecdotally their classrooms are becoming increasingly jammed."

Honestly wild Alberta stopped tracking this data and we now have to rely on anecdotal evidence when it comes to a key issue holding up a new teachers contract.

Alberta teachers and their employers have reached a tentative agreement | CBC News

Alberta teachers and their employers have reached a tentative agreement that could avert a strike in the province's schools, according to a statement from Finance Minister Nate Horner.

www.cbc.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 21d

“Won’t be made public.” Let that sink in. A report into the allocation of millions of OUR dollars is going to be kept from Albertans. How does this hold anyone accountable/responsible for what has allegedly transpired? Bring on the public inquiry. #ABleg www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/art...

Interim report on Alberta health contract scandal not finished, won’t be made public

Alberta’s government says it has yet to receive an interim report on the investigation into allegations of corruption over health contracts but it should be finished in the coming days.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · 23d

As we get ready to see #ABleg attack ads in the ongoing dispute with teachers, a few important things to keep in mind. The biggest one to me: 3,000 teachers sounds great but how many are actually needed over three years just to fund growth vs. addressing current challenges? #Alberta

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · Sep 8

I wrote this a few days ago and finally sent it this morning to the premier, education minister, opposition leader and education critic. It's long. But it needs to be long. And it needs to be said. This isn't just about salaries. @albertateachers.bsky.social #ABleg #Alberta #ABed

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Joe McFarland @joemcfarland.bsky.social · Sep 6

Random #ABleg thought: coverage of the book ban debacle sure did a nice job of covering up the threat of a teacher’s strike, the healthcare mismanagement, the worse-than-expected budget deficit and the fact #Alberta now has the highest unemployment rate in the country.

a cartoon dog is talking to a man in glasses .

ALT: a cartoon dog is talking to a man in glasses .

media.tenor.com

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