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Here are some school choice thoughts based on happenstance conversations with two parents and a colleague re. teacher gifts last night (I guess we hob-nob 
). A thread: #abed #abpoli #ableg https://twitter.com/adrianalagrange/status/1272927666707062786
). A thread: #abed #abpoli #ableg https://twitter.com/adrianalagrange/status/1272927666707062786
Parent 1 is stressed about what to do for teacher gifts b/c as a member of their niche charter board she is painfully aware of how âwoefully underpaidâ teachers are (her words, not mine), and doesnât feel she could ever do enough in thanks, and is already at $500 on gifts. 2/15
She wasnât *trying* to be patronizing, sheâs a good person who also volunteers and makes monthly donations in the $1000s to various local charities. 3/15
Parent 2 is of a similar mindset, and has organized a $10K collection to be gifted to staff at her childâs private school in the form of $150 gift cards to each teacher. 4/15
She also wasnât trying to be patronizing. She knows sheâs in a position of privilege. Itâs simply the reality of the wealthy that teachers are not viewed as part of that club. 5/15
Neither parent feels that theyâve negatively affected the public system by exercising their right to choose. That choice easily costs them $10K+ in fees each year. 6/15
A colleagueâs partner is support staff in yet another private school, and has been gifted travel vouchers in the $1000s from families, among other things, in the many years that sheâs worked there. Weâre talking fly-in private estate getaways. 7/15
Not one of these 3 charter/independent schools pays teachers/support staff commensurate to the tuition or fees they charge. Itâs the same pay structure as public boards (often a bit less). 8/15
As nice as it would be, we would never be allowed to accept such gifts in public schools. There are policies in place. We donât even get honoraria for supervising student teachers anymore. Itâs been replaced by PL support. Itâs an anti-graft strategy. 9/15
Because clear inequalities and socioeconomic gaps *already* exist between private, charter, and public schools, and between âhaveâ schools and âhave-notâ schools in the public system. 10/15
This is the result of successive PC govâts in AB that have devalued public ed over the last 30 years. First to be cut, and never adequately restored. Like glacial retreat. 11/15
The slow erosion of public ed has normalized the expectation that charter and private schools will fill needs that the public system cannot as a result of chronic underfunding. We have our own version of âEducational Stockholm Syndromeâ. 12/15
Bill 15 will widen the gaps even further and hollow out already struggling community schools that are scraping bottom, b/c it will create a system where those who can will inevitably move their kids if theyâre given the option. 13/15
None of my lovely parent friends and colleagues believe that they are part of a bigger problem. Tell me again how the independent schools mentioned previously will need funding that follows the child? The whole system will be redesigned in service of the plutocracy. 14/15
Klein started it; Kenney is determined to finish it. Public ed in AB will be unrecognizable in 2023 if we donât speak out now to stop Bill 15. Please contact your MLA. 15/15
