CBE to trim 200-250 jobs

[Yasa]

This was on the news, so I don't have a supporting link currently. This really pisses me off to be honest. Perhaps they shouldn't have spent millions on a terrible product such as smartboards (not to mention the abundance of repairs and service calls they require,) and more on the teachers and textbooks. Class sizes don't need to get bigger, some of them already push 40 students.

I'm sure there's other reasons theyre hemorrhaging money, but right now I'm annoyed.

[pylon]

My question is how far away are we from abolishing teachers altogether?

With the growth of and knowledge available on the internet, when will kids simply be taught from home. I was a horrible student that hated school. In the last 5 years of my life, as an adult, I have learned more than I did the previous 31 Just surfing topics that interested me.

I really think once you teach the kids the basic ABC's and 123's they almost could learn more efficiently on their own. Radical statement to make, but I think the "traditional" education model, may be in its golden age now.

[DuffMan]

I don't think those smartboards are an unnecessary luxury. They are a pretty good tool for the classes.

[Slava]

I'm really glad to see a thread on this. I was going to post one, but frankly just figured that no one else cared/noticed!

I don't even know where to begin with my frustration on this....but the CBE has some serious explaining to do IMO. How is it that other districts in the province (while certainly living the high life financially) are able to seemingly minimize these cuts where the CBE is continually cutting front-line staff? How is it that the administration budget seems set at the legislated maximum of 4% in the face of the budgetary cuts?

Yasa: I generally agree on the tech issue and the smart boards, but in a lot of these schools the parents fund-raise to buy those.

Pylon: I would greatly disagree that the public school system is winding down. Lots of kids hate school (and that has to be addressed, and there is actually progress being made on this issue), but the reality is that kids learn an immense amount of life and social skills in a classroom setting that they simply do not learn at home. Along with that there are opportunities and experiences that are available to kids in schools that are not available to children in a home setting, whether the internet is there or not.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by pylon

My question is how far away are we from abolishing teachers altogether?

With the growth of and knowledge available on the internet, when will kids simply be taught from home. I was a horrible student that hated school. In the last 5 years of my life, as an adult, I have learned more than I did the previous 31 Just surfing topics that interested me.

I really think once you teach the kids the basic ABC's and 123's they almost could learn more efficiently on their own. Radical statement to make, but I think the "traditional" education model, may be in its golden age now.

I don't think think teachers will be or should be abolished. I think the curriculum needs to be changed though. The entire structure of learning. Kids do poorly in school for a variety of reasons, one of them is boredom and disinterest in the courses. So I think there needs to be an entirely different system for that. An example would be like the Lord Shaugnessy high school that has specialized courses.

Teachers (good teachers, that is) can be great motivation for kids, and can add a sense of responsibility and structure as they grow. To remove them would be disappointing, and if kids were left up to their own learning...well...kids would just be that much better at xbox.

You probably learned more now because you're older and have a much better appreciation and interest for learning. Something not all kids share.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by pylon

My question is how far away are we from abolishing teachers altogether?

With the growth of and knowledge available on the internet, when will kids simply be taught from home. I was a horrible student that hated school. In the last 5 years of my life, as an adult, I have learned more than I did the previous 31 Just surfing topics that interested me.

I really think once you teach the kids the basic ABC's and 123's they almost could learn more efficiently on their own. Radical statement to make, but I think the "traditional" education model, may be in its golden age now.

There are other imporant things you gain from going to school besides math, science, etc, imo.
Social skills, frienships, recess, etc.

I think it would be more healthy for kids to continue learning at schools rather than the internet, imo.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by DuffMan

I don't think those smartboards are an unnecessary luxury. They are a pretty good tool for the classes.

They can be a great tool, when theyre being used. Most teachers don't use them though, and if having smartboards means losing teachers, then I don't want them. A smartboard isn't going to teach your kids or reduce class sizes. Not to mention the high rate of product failure and the cost it takes to service them each day.

[CaramonLS]

CBE has the highest number of admin staff of any education board in Canada. Maybe they should start there.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Get rid of the union then see what happens.

I've seen teachers take leave for 6+ months at a time, they still get full pay and benefits for staying at home... and are they the ones who get axed? Nope, it's the new ones fresh out of school who haven't been with the union for much time.

[Slava]

Samuel Shaw school is an example of the push for student-centered learning in the current system. The parents I've talked to rave about the school and the kids love to go as well. Its a middle school (grades 5-9) and if you can get kids in that group excited about school you're doing something right!

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

There are other imporant things you gain from going to school besides math, science, etc, imo.
Social skills, frienships, recess, etc.

I think it would be more healthy for kids to continue learning at schools rather then the internet, imo.

What he said. Kids in school learn so much more than is in the curriculum. It is by being with other people that they learn how to interact with people.

[Crazy Bacon Legs]

Wait, they are firing 200-250 teachers? What did they do? Plot to overthrow the government? Terrorism?

Please fill us out-of-towners in.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bacon Legs

Wait, they are firing 200-250 teachers? What did they do? Plot to overthrow the government? Terrorism?

Please fill us out-of-towners in.

Not enough cash in the bank so they're axing teachers.

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by pylon

My question is how far away are we from abolishing teachers altogether?

With the growth of and knowledge available on the internet, when will kids simply be taught from home. I was a horrible student that hated school. In the last 5 years of my life, as an adult, I have learned more than I did the previous 31 Just surfing topics that interested me.

I really think once you teach the kids the basic ABC's and 123's they almost could learn more efficiently on their own. Radical statement to make, but I think the "traditional" education model, may be in its golden age now.

No offense, but that is a line I hear from the 'unintelligent' quite often. It's a bit of the old inferiority complex. I am not saying that applies to you, of course - just that the arguement is usd by those without an education as a crutch.

For instance, I once knew a welder in town who I believe to be borderline mentally-######ed who would say he learnt more about how to be an engihneeer while welding than real engineers did at school.

The argument that one can self teach is inhertently flawed.

Now that's not to say I don't agree with what you're saying at some level - online learning has some merit.

However, the main advantage of the school setting as it is now, and something students need

A) to suceed in life
and
2) to grow as people

is the social aspect of school life.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by pylon

My question is how far away are we from abolishing teachers altogether?

With the growth of and knowledge available on the internet, when will kids simply be taught from home. I was a horrible student that hated school. In the last 5 years of my life, as an adult, I have learned more than I did the previous 31 Just surfing topics that interested me.

I really think once you teach the kids the basic ABC's and 123's they almost could learn more efficiently on their own. Radical statement to make, but I think the "traditional" education model, may be in its golden age now.

One, not sure you know what "golden age" means. I think you meant twilight.

Two, I've heard that the largest school in the city is the CBE's online school. But you have a point - one size fits all education isn't the most efficient way for everyone. But at what point is the onus on the individual if they can't learn in the publicly provided environment? There is a rather large service industry dedicated to providing alternate learning mechanisms - public services can't be expected to handled every situation.

I've heard the CBE lost a crap ton of money on the new headquarters - I'm sure this has a big part in the budget cuts. (absolutely no source on this, just rumor mill...)

Personally I can't figure out why school administration gets paid more then the teachers do. Teachers are the most vital cog in the entire machine and yet the higher ups get paid twice as much if not more. Administration should be kept to a tight leash with as much of the funding going towards actual education. Seems like there really isn't much competence in the organization if they have to be firing teachers - means the wheels fell off somewhere in the planning.

[Slava]

If you guys are interested in this there is a great new site you should check out: www.knowyourtrustee.com

I'm not directly involved but was a little and know the people who are. There are some very smart, dedicated people there.

[Josh]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

Get rid of the union then see what happens.

I've seen teachers take leave for 6+ months at a time, they still get full pay and benefits for staying at home... and are they the ones who get axed? Nope, it's the new ones fresh out of school who haven't been with the union for much time.

THIS, unions do a wonderful job of creating a complacent work culture, often protecting the worst workers.

[RougeUnderoos]

Good ol' Alberta.

The richest place in the country, successfully (though painfully) getting rid of the debt through a lot of sacrifice and with some dynamite, and we still can't do it right.

How is it that we can go through that ridiculous boom, pump billions out of the ground, sell oil for a hundred bucks a barrel today, and we still can't afford education and healthcare?

It must be the teacher's union and the Liberals.

[SeoulFire]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Good ol' Alberta.

The richest place in the country, successfully (though painfully) getting rid of the debt through a lot of sacrifice and with some dynamite, and we still can't do it right.

How is it that we can go through that ridiculous boom, pump billions out of the ground, sell oil for a hundred bucks a barrel today, and we still can't afford education and healthcare?

It must be the teacher's union and the Liberals.

I don't think you will find anybody around here defending that dumbass farmer that slithered in through the side door....

[Slava]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

I don't think you will find anybody around here defending that dumbass farmer that slithered in through the side door....

There were issues well before Stelmach took over though.

In this case I blame the province to a point, but I also wonder about the efficacy of the local board of education. Other jurisdictions don't seem to be in as much trouble as we are in Calgary.