COMMITTEE REPORTS
The New Government Must Invest in
Public Education Reprinted with permission from the Manitoba Teachers' Society
Before the Manitoba provincial election, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society developed a postcard like RTAM did, in addressing the
concerns of retired teachers as senior citizens. We mailed our postcard to you and hoped that the issues and questions were useful in
your encounter with the provincial and federal hopefuls coming to your door.
The MTS postcard had the problem of distribution. How do you get a postcard out to the general population? Regardless of that
problem, we think that the points raised in their postcard are worth a second, if not a first, look. They have given us permission to print
their postcard and in light of the K-12 Education Review to be reported on by February 2020, we think you will find it interesting to see
the priority of concerns given by the MTS to all political parties, and in particular to the “new government.” – John Sushelnitsky, RTAM
Political Advocacy Chair
; FUND EDUCATION
Public education is a long term investment
which can generate social benefits, such as
a healthier population, a higher standard of
living, and a reduction in crime. These social
benefits can lessen the demand for social
assistance, public health care, and criminal
justice services.
The new government must ensure that
public education funding is stable, adequate
and sustainable.
; BRING BACK THE CLASS SIZE CAP
Students who have greater access to
individual attention from their teacher
achieve greate academic success.
In 2017, the provincial government removed
the cap on class size for kindergarten to grade 3.
Eighty-four per cent of K-3 teachers say
that the removal of the class size cap has
negatively impacted their ability to provide
individual attention to students.
; ADDRESS HUNGER IN THE CLASSROOM ; IMPROVE ACCESS TO CLINICIANS AND
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
With the second highest child poverty rate in
Canada, every day many Manitoba children go
to school hungry.
Research shows that hungry children have
lower math scores, and are more likely to
repeat a grade, come to school late, or miss it
entirely due to illness.
The new government must establish a
universal meal program for all school-age
children. Early assessment of learning disabilities
improves performance and educational
outcomes.
In Manitoba, assessments can take more
than a year, affecting students' abilities to
reach their full potential as learners. The new
government must reduce the wait time for
assessing students with learning disabilities
and ensure that students requiring clinician
resources have timely access.
; CONSIDER CLASS COMPOSITION
Over the years classroom diversity has grown
beyond behavioural and learning challenges
to include socio-economic backgrounds,
languages, cultures, religions, sexual
orientation and more.
The new government must consider
class composition and ensure inclusionary
practices are approriately resourced and
supported.
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