Caitlin Russell, from Calgary, hoists up a picket sign at the teachers rally at the legislature yesterday.
Photo: Perry Mah, Sun
By TIMOTHY le RICHE -- Edmonton Sun
The stress felt by Alberta's teachers rings out clearly in their description of classroom disruptions.
Shirley-Anne Hacking, a recently retired Elk Island teacher, recalls an incident involving a friend.
"You have one child down on the floor having a seizure, and a behavior-problem child running out the door at the same time," said Hacking. "What do you do?"
In that case, the teacher, who had no aides or any one else to help, gave her attention to the sick child.
"She did the best she could," said Hacking.
Edmonton Catholic kindergarten teacher Ann Karpa says almost one-quarter of her more than 40 kids in two classes are high-needs special education students.
"Most of it is language, speech or behavior problems," said Karpa. "When language and speech are a problem, behavior is not far behind."
One particularly defiant student would run away when other students came into class.
She was able to get an aide in that case, but it's a rare luxury these days, she said.
"Schools can't afford it any more," said Karpa.
Glen Buchan, the local president for Elk Island's 850 teachers, said the cuts have also wreaked havoc on the curriculum, the basis of what Alberta children learn.
"We're scared of curriculum change because we can't afford the new books," said Buchan, a social studies teacher at Bev Facey high school in Sherwood Park.
Art Jorgensen, a 35-year teacher from Edson who retired 12 years ago, said he is also appalled at the cutbacks.
"For every dollar we don't spend on children now, we spend several times that amount down the road," said Jorgensen, referring to welfare, health and criminal justice costs.
Emily Hickman, 13, attended yesterday's rally with parents Russ and Erin, both Parkland County teachers. She said funding cuts have resulted in more behavior problems in her classes, and that hurts teaching.
"Teachers spend more time yelling at us," said Hickman.
