THE FUTURE OF THE TEACHING

PROFESSIONDR. E. CALVIN FRASERSECRETARY GENERAL

CANADIAN TEACHERS’ FEDERATIONJANUARY 2013

The Stakes:Two Extreme Considerations

Teachers As Technicians

Teachers As Professionals

Unions DisappearAltogether

Strong Union Leadership

UNIONS HAVE LED IN BUILDING SOCIETY AND PUBLIC

EDUCATION• Unions …create

crucial rights for society as a whole

• Virtually every improvement in education has been due to teacher bargaining

George Lakoff, US

Charles Ungerleider, Canada

FINANCIAL SECTOR IS IN CHARGE?

Bank Bonuses Canada: 2012 Sees Huge Jump In ‘Variable Compensation'

EU Set to cap bankers’ bonuses

(Reuters) - UBS has extended for up to two years a unique deal to protect its top Australian bankers' bonus pool

Jack Lew, Tim Geithner: the treasury's new boss, same as the old boss

EI POLICY PAPER CONSIDERATIONS

• Democracy, human rights, social justice, sustainable society

• Education to serve society and develop the individual

• Free, inclusive education, international support

• Credible education research

• Flexible curriculum to meet student needs

• Protection from privatization and commercialisation

• Social dialogue with unions as equals

• Pedagogical leadership, high professional standards

• Appropriate support and environment

• Fundamental pillar of society

For years educators based the purpose of education on the definition by John Dewey, restated by Gene Carter , Executive Director and Chief Executive  Officer of ASCD,

" —that the general purpose of school is to transfer knowledge and prepare young people to participate in America’s democratic society." But, says Carter, that definition is insular and inadequate in the 21st century. Instead he'd rather that "purpose of schools must be preparing children to compete in the global environment."

August 2, 2012

Harper goes after trade unions with Bill C-377 By Duncan Cameron| December 18, 2012

Dyslexic boy was discriminated against by B.C. school district, Supreme Court rules

Love affair between McGuinty and teachers on the rocks? : Featured ...www.edmontonsun.com/...mcguinty...teachers.../179117981000117 Aug 2012 – Is the love affair between Dalton McGuinty and Ontario teachers on the rocks?

Ontario imposes contracts on public school teachers

Jan. 3, 2013

Can teacher unions survive without changing their focus?

• Do our members understand the roots of the criticism and how they are being isolated?

• Are we even talking about ways to reassure parents?

• Are we making the public aware of the value of unions or do we continue to fight the reactive battles without considering the full agenda of privatization?      

•  Are we part of the problem – do we use business terminology to discuss educational issues? Have we allowed others to choose the playing field?       

Is the answer to any of these questions … “Sometimes” ?

CAN WE SUCCEED FROM OUTSIDE?

… because they are rarely invited to the table to discuss substantive policy issues with education decision makers, teachers’ organisations can only react after the fact to decisions that have already been made.

Nina Bascia in a paper for Education International (2011).  

IN GENERAL

• Licencing is done by non-teachers

• Loose connection between the profession and professional education institutions

• No standardization for acceptable qualifications

• Teacher education institutions have funding concerns

• Disconnect between teacher education and research centres

• Poor distribution of education research

• Disconnect between research and decision-making

• Minimal union role in decision-making

CTFFOCUS ON A VISIBLE TEACHER

VOICEResearch• Teacher Surveys • Analysis of external

research• Commissioned papers

Publications• Internally written (e.g Public Good)• Externally Written

(e.g. Transgender)

Partnerships• National Groups (e.g.

AFN, CEA, CMHA, CMHR)

Programs• ImagineAction• Francophone Services

Campaigns • Teacher Voice

(e.g. lobbying, member engagement, etc.

Economy LabWhy it's so hard to measure a 'quality' education FRANCES WOOLLEY Special to The Globe and MailPublished Friday, Jan. 13 2012, 7:54 AM EST Last updated Monday, Sep. 10 2012, 2:11 PM EDT

WHEN OUTSIDERS SET THE AGENDA IN

IF POWERFUL GROUPS IN SOCIETY WANT TO CHANGE

TEACHERS AND CHANGE TEACHING…

COULD WE HAVE A FUTURE WITH NO UNIONS?

Progressive work is being done in many places

Partnerships pay off!

THE FUTURE OF TEACHING MAY DEPEND ON OUR ANSWERS

1.Are we able to take charge of our own qualifications and expertise? Do our organizations even want to at this time?

2.Are we able to broaden the public discourse on public education?

3.Are we able to get the public onside? 4.Are we able to get commitment from our

own members?