A public information session on the Glaze report was held last night.
About 50 people attended the meeting at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School, including many teachers and local board members and representatives.
Public information session on Glaze report happening now at YCMHS. TCRSB facilitating the session. PC MLAs Chris d’Entremont (Argyle-Barringon) and Kim Masland (Queens-Shelburne) in attendance. pic.twitter.com/l2fLhFjiTu
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 19, 2018
The report recommends eliminating the seven English language school boards in favour of a provincial advisory board, and removing principals and vice-principals from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union.
The goal of the session was for members of the public to be heard and ask questions about the report and its 22 recommendations.
Retired teacher Jude Fulton began the meeting by saying she’d never seen a report accepted so quickly, and changing the face of public education will hurt students.
Retired teacher Jude Fulton says she’s never seen a report’s recommendations accepted so quickly by a government. Fulton says many felt betrayed by Glaze report, and trust in Liberal government is low. pic.twitter.com/rCPfmAuB07
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 19, 2018
Municipality of Yarmouth Warden Leland Anthony wondered who would become responsible for student needs in rural communities.
“An advisory board out of Halifax or wherever, centralization, will not work. People will be frustrated and upset, and won’t know where to turn to.”
One teacher wondered how eliminating school boards and removing principals and vice-principals from the NSTU would help students in the classroom.
Donna Tidd, who has been a Tri-County Regional School Board member since 1991 helped facilitate the meeting.
She says more careful consideration needs to come into play.
“What’s the rush? If we’re going to change the education system, let’s take our time and do it right.”
The two Tri-County PC MLAs were seated front row, Argyle-Barrington’s Chris d’Entremont and Queens-Shelburne’s Kim Masland.
d’Entremont says the public, along with himself, do not understand what the rush is from the Liberal government to pass the recommendations into law.
“People haven’t had the opportunity to digest the report, and they are trying to understand what’s going on. So they’re asking us to try and slow it down a little bit and give them that time.”
Masland says the Liberals have not repaired their relationship with teachers.
“How are we going to improve classrooms, when we’re doing nothing but causing for the dissension among teachers, families and government?”
11 of 22 recommendations are expected to be introduced in the legislature on February 27th.
TCRSB member Dolores Atwood supports the dissolution of school boards, says Dr. Glaze meant well with recommendations. Atwood says lack of resources in the classroom hurting students. pic.twitter.com/8RFh1g7Tli
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 19, 2018
TCRSB Chair Michael Drew wonders where the research is in the Glaze report? Says if one of his students handed him that report, they would have failed. Drew says the report doesn’t ‘Pass the Bar.’ pic.twitter.com/LCDCmStM7n
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 20, 2018
TCRSB African Nova Scotian member Michael Alden Fells says the fact the province has accepted the Glaze report is wrong. He says minorities will lose a voice if boards are eliminated, and it’s not in the best interest of students. He says the report is a move backward. pic.twitter.com/Do7gt3nj5j
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) February 20, 2018
