Thread by @kieranleavitt

Now I’m over at the Alberta Teachers Association where they’ll be addressing some issues in the @Alberta_UCP education platform. #ableg #abvote

Greg Jeffery will be addressing the media. He’s president of the ATA. They learned this morning that @jkenney brought up removing principals from the ATA and they’ll be addressing that. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery says the ATA has a long history of non partisanship. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t political. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery says there are issues in the UCP platform. There are also real issues of growing class sizes but the new UCP platform introduces high stakes testing for grade 6,7,8 students and he says parts of this platform are “misguided.” #ableg #abvote

Jeffery says the platform is “absolutely silent” on inclusion and education complexity. #ableg #abvote

The UCP platform will create new challenges for already struggling schools and teachers, Jeffery says. Teachers know better about what kids need, he says. #abvote #ableg

Jeffery says cutting bureaucracy and teacher workload, plus maintaining funding, is good from the UCP. But the continuous recertification and renewed proposal for teacher testing is unnecessary and “insulting” to Alberta teachers. #ableg #abvote

Now Jeffery says removing principals from the ATA would hurt. They aren’t HR managers, says Jeffery and removing from ATA would be removing the top teachers in schools. Could intro a combative relationship. Negative results in Ont. and BC says Jeffery. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery is taking questions now. Kenney says there is a built in conflict with principals in ATA. Jeffery says that managerial piece of school leaders is a small part. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery asked about his meeting with @jkenney and he says that he felt positive about meeting. But they didn’t talk about everything. #ableg #abvote

Now Jeffery being asked about Kenney’s plan on GSAs. What gets lost is Bill 24, says Jeffery. Bill 10 is on both education and school act. But non disclosure part in Bill 24 isn’t in there, he says. #ableg #abvote

Bill 24 meant clarity for teachers and they welcomed that, says Jeffery. #abvote #ableg

Jeffery says discretion is one thing (to disclose or not) but there are additional pressures on disclosure and Bill 24 helped alleviate those, he says. #ableg #abvote

Here is a press release (or part of one) that media were given today. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery being asked about a Klein era task force that I’m unfamiliar with. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery being asked about math testing issues Kenney keeps raising. He says the last curriculum meant a few things were dropped. If those things appeared on the test, kids might not have experience with them. #ableg #abvote

How about standardized testing and what it means for kids? It’s a snapshot in time, says Jeffery. Parents believe in teachers and they’re provided with attention they need, says Jeffery. #ableg #abvote

Do some of the UCP platform planks mean an attack on teachers? Jeffery says there are just some misunderstandings in it. #ableg #abvote

Will a potential UCP government hurt education in Alberta? Jeffery says there will be a change in culture of schools in Alberta. Jeffery says there is an excellent relationship with people involved in education right now. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery says UCP platform pieces would introduce conflicts and problems for teachers. #ableg #abvote

“I believe things will not improve based on this plan,” says Jeffery about the UCP platform on education. #abvote #ableg

Jeffery asked about pressures on teachers when Bill 24 isn’t in place and pressures to disclose a student being in a GSA. Jeffery says pressures come from birds, administrators, outside the school itself. #ableg #abvote

Jeffery asked about Kenney’s argument for no Bill 24. The child could be at risk and a teacher may need to disclose. Jeffery says that the conversation should be between student and parent. #ableg #abvote

How many of 45,000 ATA members are principals? Around 2,000 but probably more, says Jeffery. They are getting back on exact number. #ableg #abvote

And that’s that folks! Maybe I’ll go write a story or six. #ableg #abvote