Our school board was very progressive in promoting professional development. They backed up their ideas with money. They started a clause 14 which was a fund calculated so that every teacher got to attend an in service every 2 1/2 years.
Well, guess what? Not every teacher wanted to participate in professional development. So there was money left. Well, you know who applied for money that was left. Sometimes I got to go to 2 PD sessions in one year.
Now we are between Edmonton and Calgary and Banff and Jasper are just as handy. Both Calgary and Edmonton have Universities so there were many capable people to put on workshops. Who wouldn't want to go to Banff or Jasper for an PD session?
Now the board also hired well known scholars to do major professional development. .
They hired Madeline Hunter to get us all on the same page as far as lesson planning and presentation was concerned.
It was also an excellent tool for teacher evaluation.
So there you have it. I beat the system and I have no egrets.
I'm not sure what happened.
ReplyDeleteWe have to recognize the efforts of Mr.Allen Gibb,the Negotiating Sub Committee and the wisdom of school district members such as Dr. Bob Cooper, Lil Scott,and G. H.Dawe
Deletein understanding the value of Clause 14,which still exists to this day.
That seems like a long time ago and you were there.
Delete“I beat the system and I have no egrets.” I think you meant regrets, 😊 but possibly … a heron, the one with mainly white plumage? In any event, you definitely beat the system and I’m right there with you about attending PDs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a type to miss the r. I've been caught.
DeleteYou took full advantage of the sysstem. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that so many people didn't use the opportunity.
DeleteSounds good to me Red - keep up with modern progressive ideas - true in whatever profession one happens to be in. But there are always those who have no desire at all to learn - but wish to stay in the same pigeon-hole they landed in - to the detriment of the pupils they teach I believe.
ReplyDeleteOne had to grow and change to stay in the game.
DeleteIt's the local PD Days that were often killers.
ReplyDeleteI agree as some of them did not have great presenters.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteProfessional development sessions are a good idea. Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!
Congratulations to you for taking advantage of such a good deal, Red. I'm not surprised.
ReplyDeleteYou had to keep up with new ideas or you soon would not be doing well.
DeleteThere is always something one can learn at a PD day. I usually enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteConventions sometimes had some poor presenters.
DeleteYour last line gave me a vision of all the teachers who did NOT beat the system and were dealing with classrooms filled with egrets. A laugh with my morning coffee is always a good thing.
ReplyDeleteYou may feel as if you beat the system, but I'm going to guess that every student you had benefited from the knowledge you returned with.
I got caught on a typo . At first I didn't even know what you were talking about.
DeleteGoing to Banff or Jasper for PD sounds like a great place for that. I'm glad you took full advantage of it.
ReplyDeleteI remember many good times in these two towns.
DeleteGood for you, Red.
ReplyDeleteYou had to keep up with the new stuff that was coming out.
DeleteA day in Jasper or Banff? No complaints about that.
ReplyDeleteWe were never given the choice. I did stay in the field long enough that I had to present some of them myself. I am glad those days are long gone now.
ReplyDeleteI'd have done the same, Red.
ReplyDeleteSome one had to benefit from the funds left over!
ReplyDeleteYou have no egrets? I am glad to hear that as egrets are protected birds.
ReplyDeleteGood for you and that's a great story. Thanks Red!
ReplyDeleteVery good, Red. My mother longed to visit Banff but never made it.
ReplyDeleteJasper or Banff are worth seeing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! We had a lot of mandatory teacher inservice workshops but money wasn't involved. It was all handled by the district.
ReplyDelete