Dark Days in Junior High

I have just returned from a meeting explaining the RAM and how it would affect our school. It was not a pleasant experience for the staff. It is strange that, despite all the Learning Commission recommendations, we are still facing large, complex classrooms, while continuing to receive very little support. I wonder what the future will look like in our schools.

Our staff was told that junior high schools have met the target of a class size of 25 because all classes were included in the survey (including special education classes). Special education classes are very specialized settings, meeting very special needs. They should be included in the RAM but not in the class size survey. This misrepresents the reality of a "regular" class. This will affect the funding given to the junior high program as it is not deemed to need more teachers.

Decisions at each school will be different, and will depend on what the staff and administration feel comfortable with, which continues to put us in very difficult situations. Each school will allocate their funds in different ways. Will they spend their money on support staff or certificated teachers? These decisions will impact the classrooms: but the how will look different.

Our protests with the government are not finished. We must continue letter writing campaigns. It seems that somehow the government feels that by giving education a little more funding, we should all be satisfied. Do they really know how little impact teachers and students have felt? I know that I have not taken the time to write the Minister of Education, and it is time I do. I hope that you will do the same. I have just returned from a meeting explaining the RAM and how it would affect our school. It was not a pleasant experience for the staff. It is strange that, despite all the Learning Commission recommendations, we are still facing large, complex classrooms, while continuing to receive very little support. I wonder what the future will look like in our schools.

Our staff was told that junior high schools have met the target of a class size of 25 because all classes were included in the survey (including special education classes). Special education classes are very specialized settings, meeting very special needs. They should be included in the RAM but not in the class size survey. This misrepresents the reality of a "regular" class. This will affect the funding given to the junior high program as it is not deemed to need more teachers.

Decisions at each school will be different, and will depend on what the staff and administration feel comfortable with, which continues to put us in very difficult situations. Each school will allocate their funds in different ways. Will they spend their money on support staff or certificated teachers? These decisions will impact the classrooms: but the how will look different.

Our protests with the government are not finished. We must continue letter writing campaigns. It seems that somehow the government feels that by giving education a little more funding, we should all be satisfied. Do they really know how little impact teachers and students have felt? I know that I have not taken the time to write the Minister of Education, and it is time I do. I hope that you will do the same.