Head of Teachers’ Union Visits North
Wednesday, September 24, 2003 at 16:04
The new president of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation just got a first-hand look at some of the situations, experiences and challenges that define teaching in the North.
Murray Wall was in Cumberland House yesterday for the final stop of a 5-day tour that also took him to La Ronge, Sandy Bay, Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la-Crosse, La Loche and Beauval.
Wall says it’s evident how important it is to expand training and programs that are sensitive to the North’s unique culture and heritage. He says the schools in the North are the heart of many communities, and teachers have told him they need more access to professional development opportunities to fill their expanding roles.
Wall also gets the sense that local collective bargaining is improving recruitment and retention rates in the North.
Wall is also encouraged that about one-third of the teachers he met over the last few days are NORTEP graduates — many of which have returned to their original communities.