Teachers worry about impact of Bill 44

Jasper’s local MLA, Robin Campbell, voted for the controversial Bill 44 which was passed Mon, June 1 that effectively allows parents to pull their children from classes dealing with sensitive subjects.

According to Campbell, who said he spoke to people across the riding, most people thought “it wasn’t that big a deal and we were doing the right thing” but admitted he had not fielded any opinions from teachers in Jasper.

“We have a very diverse province, we have a number of different religions, we have a number of different cultures and we have to respect that,” he added.

The MLA said he had phone calls from lots of parents in support of the bill which he said “doesn’t change anything in the way teachers will conduct business... [and] doesn’t interfere with conversations in the classroom” as it was only for courses that are related to religion or sex education.

For Mark Crozier, Jasper Jr./Sr. High School Principal, who is currently awaiting formal direction from the school board or teachers association, the bill makes him a “little worried.”

“I’m sure they’re, hopefully, listening to others in their constituency and ridings... but there is concern for people being impacted by it, which is the teachers and the school boards, so I hope that they do reflect on that,” he added.

Crozier’s concerns are supported by the Grande Yellowhead school board who lobbied against the bill prior to its passing. 

According to Crozier, the passing of the bill was disappointing and opens the door for liability as far as those “teachable moments” where unplanned questions may get asked.

The school board trustees also “expressed concerns that such legislation could curtail the discussions of students and their teachers, particularly those spontaneous discussions that encourage students to think about and debate current social issues,” in a statement issued earlier this year.

Asking Campbell though, the bill “doesn’t take away the teachers rights to engage students in conversation” but instead reinforces laws already in place.

Crozier agrees with Campbell that the bill does fortify the School Act whereby teachers must get signed permission from parents before conducting classes on sexuality and religion. 

“Of course, the School Act already provides parents that first right,” he said.

“If it’s a course that particularly deals with sex education or religion, there’s a process to follow,” Campbell said, “but in the everyday classroom where it’s not explicit, I mean there is going to be discussions, I would think that common sense prevails and people do business as usual.”

But, as Crozier looks forward, there is now a worry that teachers will be coming before a tribunal after answering questions in a classroom environment that a parent may not approve for discussion.

“When you’re teaching a lesson and a student raises their hand and starts talking about religion or sexuality in the middle of a class - if parents weren’t previously informed, where does that leave the teacher?” asked Crozier. 

“The unfortunate part is that you build relationships with students... it’s those moments that can engage and help young adults and if we have to worry about whether we’ll be coming before tribunal or not, some of the guidance we’ve been able to provide in the past maybe stifled a bit,” he added.

However, Campbell said the appeal process won’t change and teachers could just “carry on as normal” and that any complaint would be directed through the School Act appeal process rather than the Human Rights Council. 

“It’s healthy if a student has the ability and the confidence to speak to the teacher after class,” he said noting that different students have different comfort zones and learn at a variety of levels. 

“At the end of the day our teachers will continue to teach,” he said.