Calgary City Teachers Convention 2015

The overwhelming message of this years Teachers convention has been that the key to a high functioning education system is equity.  From Pasi Sahlberg, the noted Finnish Educator; to @davidcberliner who has explored the depths of the American education system;  the message to Calgary teachers has been equity.  

Especially in the current economic and political climate in Alberta, we as teachers must be the advocate for equity in the system and in society as a whole.  Here are some disturbing facts.  First, 1 in 7 Albertans currently lives in poverty. Aside from this being an embarrassment to one of the most wealthy societies in the world, it illustrates the key role public institutions play in creating a more equitable society.   Notice the difference between the two schools in the following video.

http://youtu.be/7ZliNRsfJ2w

 

The question for Albertans is, do we want a society that rewards the already well off and socio-economically advantaged?  Or a society that is compassionate to those in need?