June 29, 2018, Alberta, Stettler Independent: Clearview to spend $362,000 to support teachers in the classroom—Emphasis on supporting students with special needs https://www.stettlerindependent.com/local-news/clearview-to-spend-362000-to-support-teachers-in-the-classroom/ Alberta Education specified that dollars should be used for staffing and/or professional learning with an emphasis on supporting students with special needs. Clearview’s teachers were surveyed asking what their priorities would be for use of the CIF dollars. A key priority identified was to have additional training for teachers with respect to the Scholastic Resources. As well, teachers identified a need for additional educational assistants. After examining survey results completed by 68 per cent of their teachers, Superintendent Barron, along with school principals, developed the proposal that was sent to Alberta Education outlining four components: (1) hiring of additional Educational Assistants, (2) hiring of a consultant to support staff in inclusive supports for students, (3) the provision of a professional learning fund to support staff attending special education conferences/workshops, and (4) hiring literacy consultants to assist elementary teachers address literacy rates as identified through the Star Reading benchmarks. On June 27, Clearview received approval from Alberta Education to use the $362,000 CIF as follows: • $212,000 of the budget goes to the hiring of additional educational assistants. • $125,000 of the budget goes to additional professional learning of teachers on literacy. Funds will be used to hire a literacy expert who will work shoulder to shoulder with teachers in our division. • $15,000 of the budget goes to additional professional learning to support the Collaborative Response Model. • $10,000 of the budget goes to additional professional learning with respect to special education/inclusive learning. “We are very appreciative of these additional funds to support our most vulnerable students,” said Superintendent Barron. …
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.