Protect Public Education
out of
10
teachers recently surveyed have had to rely on an uncertified community member or have gone without a replacement.
It’s time to focus on getting schools what they need: certified teachers. That starts with an aggressive retention and recruitment strategy.
Record population growth and record provincial surpluses should mean record investment in kids’ classrooms.
Public education is government’s responsibility to every child for a prosperous New Brunswick.
“We need certified teachers. The value placed on our education required to be a teacher is being diluted. It is not a job just anyone can do because they went to school.”
– NB Teacher
A recent survey found 7 out of 10 teachers reported their professional duties were compromised due to facilities issues in schools.
“I am currently teaching two of my classes out of the school cafeteria. I have had several students say that it is hard to focus/hear me during instruction.”
– NB Teacher
“Mould grew over the summer and ruined equipment for physical education. I had to deal with cleaning mould off equipment to ensure it’s safe and ready to use.”
– NB Teacher
6 out of 10 teachers recently surveyed have considered leaving the teaching profession or the province to teach elsewhere.
“Although this is only my sixth year of teaching, this profession has changed drastically. I feel defeated every day, want to quit completely, and am lacking support.”
– NB Teacher
“My reality is coming to work in a building where the air quality is poor by CO2 standards. Our wing smells like the sewer because it’s not being ventilated properly and it’s (been) recommended not to drink the brown water out of the water fountains.”
– NB Teacher
Stop the Distractions
of teachers reported experiencing verbal or physical violence at work during a recent two-week period.
Students’ learning should be the focus of teachers. Instead, they are stretched thin by poor behaviour, violence and too little prep time.
Teachers are feeding hungry students and providing other basic needs; the government needs to step up to close critical gaps.
Students are struggling with their mental health: they need healthy and safe schools that meet all of
their needs.
“Class compositions have drastically changed along with the increase of diagnoses and decline in mental health.
We are struggling to fill the academic gaps left from COVID (online learning and lack of instruction) on top of dealing with daily behaviour whether that be verbal, physical, social or emotional.”
– NB Teacher
8 out of 10 teachers reported having helped students find clothing or food over a recent two-week period.
“We have doubled our breakfast numbers this year. Our snack bins are getting depleted quickly as well.”
– NB Teacher
“We are having to focus less and less on academics since the children in front of us are not ready to learn. This could be due to mental health struggles, food insecurity, housing struggles, financial trouble at home, etc.”
– NB Teacher
“It is very frustrating when we want to help our students and there is only one of us with little to no other supports. We are expected to teach them all and meet all their needs (basic – food, clothing, mental health, etc.) and on top of all that we are expected to teach all levels of students, with various backgrounds and challenges. We are being spread too thin.”
– NB Teacher
Trust and Respect School Communities
DYK?
In a May 9, 2023, GNB press release this government proposed a bill that “would change some aspects of the roles of superintendents and district education councils in the anglophone sector.”
Trust and respect for school communities have been eroded by this premier. The next premier must be a champion for public education and professional educators.
Teachers are fed up with this government slandering them. They have been accused of teaching children to lie while working hard to do more with less.
This government must respect locally elected decision-making bodies in the anglophone system.
“As a veteran teacher, I’m extremely disillusioned with the direction and attention our current government is giving
to education.”
– NB Teacher
“We have been placed in a very vulnerable position where our reputations are questioned by the Premier and it emboldens the public to disrespect us. In addition to being called a liar, our office staff (vice principals and admin assistants) have been verbally attacked and sworn at by adults almost daily in September. I’ve had to hire police to supervise our football games as at the first two home games, staff or I were aggressively verbally attacked and people would not heed our requests to leave the property.”
– NB Teacher
“We are tired of being slandered on social media and other platforms and nothing is done about it. We get abused from every direction and we just have to take it. Our employer doesn’t back us.”
– NB Teacher
“Local decision-making authority allows parents and teachers to work together to support their neighbourhood schools. Government must respect this partnership in all New Brunswick communities.”
– Peter Lagacy, NBTA President
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Survey Methodology
Please note the following statements when reading the statements/statistics referenced above:
– The survey was sent out to the NBTA’s approximately 6,400 members across New Brunswick;
– The survey was administered confidentially through a digital survey tool and was available for 36 hours. It received 2,916 individual responses;
– The survey received responses from teachers at all levels in the public school system and all levels of teaching experience;
– The purpose of the survey was to capture first-hand experiences confronting teachers regarding the situations they deal with on a daily basis in the classroom and in schools;
– All responses were kept strictly confidential, and no personally identifiable information was collected;
– The survey featured 12 questions: 10 multiple choice and 2 open-ended.
Note: The NBTA has an ongoing political action program to influence politicians in areas that affect education or the welfare of the members of the NBTA. For more information, see NBTA Policies 951 & 953.