Thread by @yomeeks

Well, do need to swing away from pensions for a thread on teacher discipline. The non-progressive conservatives seem to be substituting their opinions for fact. This may be TL:dr; regardless, facts do need to live. #AbLeg #handsoffmypension

In the mid-90's Minister of Education Gary Mar appointed me to the Council on Alberta Teaching Standards (COATS). It had representatives from all the major stakeholders, staff from AB Ed and a lawyer from justice. #AbLeg #handsoff

You remember Gary Mar? Heir-apparent in training for Ralph. Anyway, COATS was charged with developing a regulation that would address teacher discipline for NON-MEMBERS of the ATA. Ab Ed and the minster felt there was a strong and robust process in place at the ATA. #AbLeg

Teachers at private schools and superintendents are not members of the ATA and up until that point had been escaping professional sanction for any heinous acts. They would lose their jobs and then have the ability to go down the road to a new jurisdiction and get a job. #AbLeg

Remember that the Code of Conduct applies to everything from arguments over the photocopier to criminal offences. I am, of course, talking about serious offences that are criminal or near-criminal. #AbLeg

The members of COATS were writing this regulation as the direct result of a superintendent that had done some bad things and escaped professional sanction. Again, the lawyer and Minister Gary Mar felt the professional conduct hearings at the ATA were solid and working as intended

Now here we are. We have a robust discipline process for public school teachers at the ATA. And, another highly secretive and thus little known discipline process at Ab Ed for superintendents and private school teachers. Where do you have your problem? #AbLeg

And, at our current LaGrangian point, discipline of superintendents will be off-loaded to CASS. Hmm. That is questionable to say the least. The ATA has for over 80 years successfully disciplined its members.
It is a process that involves the Minister of Ed for serious charges.

BTW, successfully disciplining your members means the decisions are legally sufficient to withstand challenge in court. Which is what we have seen in the last 50 years.

I am proud of my hundreds of (unpaid) hours of work with Ab Ed and COATS on discipline. #AbLeg

Our Minister's current announcements on this topic can be characterized as "unsure". She really didn't have answers for anything.

Which leads me to think this is more her attempt to influence the top secret teacher salary negotiations that are now underway. #AbLeg