Governance

Education is a provincial government responsibility in Canada. In Manitoba, education is governed principally by The Public Schools Act and The Education Administration Act as well as regulations made under both Acts. Rights and responsibilities of the Minister of Education and the rights and responsibilities of school boards, principals, teachers, parents and students are set out in the legislation.

I found governance a particularly difficult topic to write a blog about. I went over the notes and the slides time and time again but still could not really come to terms with what it all meant. I decided that until I have some experience as one of the actors involved in governance, that is either as a parent, a teacher or principal, a superintendent or school board member, or as part of the provincial government, I probably would not understand everything that there is to know about governance. Since I am no where close to being a parent of a school-aged child, and am not interested in being on Provincial Government, I thought what I would do for my blog is examine the duties of the role I will more than likely fill first in terms of governance in education, and that is the role of the teacher. 

The current version of The Public Schools Act in Manitoba, outlines the duties of the teacher in part VII, section 96 of the document. The Duties of a teacher are as follows:

96(1) Every teacher shall

(a) teach diligently and faithfully according to the terms of his agreement with the school board and according to this Act and the regulations;

(b) keep a record of attendance in the manner and in such form as required by the school board;

(c) maintain order and discipline in the school;

(d) furnish to the minister, or to a field representative, any information that it may be in his power to give respecting anything connected with the operations of the school or in any way affecting its interests;

(e) notify the principal who shall notify the appropriate local health authority of the area in which the school is situated or where there is no local health authority the school board that he has reason to believe that a pupil attending the school has been exposed to or is suffering from a communicable disease as defined in The Public Health Act and regulations made thereunder;

(f) seize or cause to be seized and take possession of any offensive or dangerous weapon that is brought to school by a pupil and hand over any such weapon to the principal who shall notify the parent or guardian warning him that the pupil may be suspended or expelled from the school;

(g) deliver or cause to be delivered or provide the parent or guardian of each pupil taught by him reports of the pupil at the times and in the manner determined by the school board;

(h) admit to his classroom student teachers enrolled in a teacher education institution approved by the minister, for the purpose of practice teaching and of observing instruction. 

To put it in plain English for myself and others to understand I would describe these principles as teaching professionally, that is faithfully, diligently, and responsibly; take attendance; protect the interests of the school, for example health concerns, safety concerns, financial concerns, etc.; provide parent/guardians of students with progress reports and lastly once permitted accept student teachers and prepare them for their future in teaching. 

I think in the duration of my education preparing me to become a teacher, I will learn many things that will help me to become an effective teacher. Until I actually have my degree, and get myself a job though, there are some things that I will not fully understand, governance being one of those things. Knowing my responsibilities as a teacher under the Public Schools Act, I think is a very good place to start. The rest will come in the future with gained experience and knowledge.