In an effort to keep myself to, at minimum, a post per week, here I am. A bit bug-eyed, I suspect; the past week, since the inception of my holidays, has been spent glued to either the couch, love-seat, or bed: reading. The past ten months teaching has taught me how to lose myself in my work; the several days prior to this post has reminded me what a joy it is to lose myself in a novel (or, as in this case, novels).
Given that the conclusion of the series is due in September, I’ve dedicated myself selflessly to re-reading Stephen King’s epic The Dark Tower series. Nearly thirty years in the making, this seven volume set will, at last, find closure come the month of my birthday. I anticipate missing Roland and his ka-tet dearly, given my extreme enjoyment of my recent re-readings; at present, I’m in the midst of the fourth volume and look forward to reading volumes five and six (for the first time, no less) shortly.
Haven’t had the chance to listen to much music of late — reading — though that hasn’t stopped me from purchasing more of it. Nailed down a Shadow Huntaz disc on the strength of a recommendation from a trusted source. Interesting mix of hip-hop, something which normally does little for me, and slick-ass electronics, programmed and provided by the amazing Funckarma. Cursory listen indicates that I like it very much (he likes, he really likes it!); definitely something that gets my groove. Scored also a few Northaunt full-lengths, based upon the strength of a three-inch I picked up recently. Though I’ve yet to listen to either, I’ve no doubt they’ll amaze; huzzah for dark ambient!
On the current events front, and in partial reply to Chris’ query here, the CBA being considered in Alberta by — duh — Albertan teachers has fallen through. My biggest concern with what the Klein government was offering was the reason the deal was not ratified: there was no clause present, nor one that could be agreed upon, to ensure that negotiation within the Collective Bargaining Agreement could occur in the advent of unforeseen difficulties and/or complications down the road. To have locked into a decade-long contract without the potential for negotiation would have been a dangerous and very foolish thing.
Now, if you’d excuse me… Wizard and Glass, and perhaps a touch of lunch, demands my further attentions.
The thing about that is that, if class sizes are the main issue here, along with student care, this is a more than adequate measure to deal with those. The problem is, it isn’t, nor has it ever been, all about class sizes. While I have no doubt that there are a significant number of teachers who do care more about the classes than their cheques (yourself included) I suspect that in the ranks of union negotiators that faction is sorely underrepresented.
In the end, the deal isn’t perfect. However, the government is stuck with the task of making long term plans in a fast-changing economy, and that means that labour has to be a predictable cost over certain time periods. Perhaps it would be worth it to teachers, and in fact _all_ organized labour, to consider this prior to rejecting deals simply because they last too long.
Besides, even if there were issues with the CBA prior to its expiration, I would be willing to bet that there would be sufficient force behind a push to re-open it that there really wouldn’t be long term problems.
Making long term plans in a fast-changing economy is good for no one, especially in a system as volatile as education. To commit to a plan spanning ten years, and to be legally obligated not to deviate from it despite the
possibilityprobability of unforeseen changes or complications, would be detrimental to all stakeholders in education — parents and politicians, staff and students.It’s one thing to plan a journey from Point A to Point B, but another entirely to bind yourself to an unbending route through alien territory that’s prone to any and all manner of natural disaster. When traversing unfamiliar ground, it’s best for everyone involved (and who in Alberta isn’t involved?) to have the option of alternate routes, should they prove themselves necessary.
i agree with big brother. he’s always right, don’t you know? chris, i’ve been reading your blog and today i saw a bumper sticker that read, “report a capitalist today” and very fondly thought of you!
Granted on the unbending journey. I guess I’d be less inclined to object to that if there weren’t strong evidence that opening up a CBA early would just result in the very wage and labour disputes that the long term plan was intended to prevent.
If you were able to name me one union dispute or CBA that didn’t angle for a wage increase that was above the cost of living index, I’d be interested for sure. But I suspect that in the last 10-15 years, nothing of that kind exists.
Perhaps the issue of school funding should be 100% separated from paying teachers. Maybe that would allow the altruistic teachers, who really want nothing more than better classroom conditions, to display that trait, as opposed to lumping it in with cries that they’re not getting enough money. I do agree that classroom funding and sizes and textbook purchases and such are not things that can or should be nailed down for the long term. But what’s wrong with nailing wage increases to a cost of living index over the long term, with periodic (say, ten years?) reviews? If wages increase with the cost of living, how can anyone say they’re not getting a fair shake?