Staffing shortages a pressing topic at teachers’ society AGM

A union representing teachers in Manitoba says larger class sizes, increasing classroom complexity and rising workload pressures are a result of inadequate funding in the public education system.

These concerns are being raised at the Manitoba Teachers’ Society 107th annual general meeting that runs from today until Saturday at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg.

More than 350 educators across the province are expected to attend, including a delegation of 14 teachers with the Brandon Teachers’ Association.

“School divisions year over year are having to cut more and more in their budgets, and normally when they’re doing that, they’re cutting in terms of personnel because that’s the biggest part of their budget is staffing,” said Lillian Klausen, president of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society, which represents approximately 17,000 members.

This means that instead of having one teacher for every 20 students, now it’s common to have one teacher for every 25 to 30 students, she said.

Discussions at the AGM will focus on the state of public education in Manitoba, including the need for more educational assistants, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and resource teachers, Klausen said.

“Our resource teachers and our counsellors positions have been cut considerably in the past number of years — so all of the mental-health supports that teachers used to be able to rely on for help with regulating student behaviour and student learning that are no longer in the classrooms. And then the direct result of that is an increased amount of violence in schools,” she said.

A lack of funding in these areas can result in teachers having to take on the role of a counsellor, social worker or psychologist in the classroom when they don’t have proper training for these jobs, Klausen said.

Not having proper supports adds to the existing workplace pressure and feelings of stress, burnout and frustration, she said.

She said challenges teachers are experiencing are reflected in a poll conducted by the union this spring.

The poll received responses from 3,470 teachers, with 84 per cent who reported feeling stressed and 77 per cent saying they feel overwhelmed by the emotional demands of the job.

The poll also showed that 53 per cent of teachers said the demanding workload is the main reason why they would leave teaching early.

Klausen said she isn’t surprised by these numbers, but she is “disheartened.”

She said these results point to the growing gap between student needs and supports available in the education system.

“The government needs to be doing more and better to be able to reduce these numbers, so that teachers are feeling supported in the classrooms and ultimately, it’s about student success,” Klausen said.

“If a student doesn’t feel safe and supported in a classroom then those success levels for students are not going to be increasing either.”

The AGM will also focus on ways to support the mental health and well-being of teachers.

Delegates will vote on a resolution calling on the union to establish a mental wellness grant to support initiatives at the 38 locals for members experiencing increased workplace burnout and stress, Klausen said.

Delegates will also vote on resolutions based on the union’s strategic plan and approve the budget, set annual membership fees and elect members to its provincial executive.

She said she hopes the AGM will create solidarity between their education partners as they make priorities and move forward to work with government officials.

Klausen, as well as Canadian Teachers’ Federation president Clint Johnston, Manitoba Federation of Labour president Kevin Rebeck and Tracy Schmidt, the minister of education and early childhood learning, are included in the lineup of speakers this morning.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com