The Rocky View Teachers Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) Local 35 (Rocky View) released a statement last week expressing their disappointment over the defeat of Motion 503 at the April 7 Alberta Legislature.
The motion advocates making it mandatory for schools to allow the establishment of Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) if a student requests it.
The motion was put forward by Liberal MLA Kent Hehr (Calgary-Buffalo).
“I think politicians missed the boat on this one…the Rocky View teachers were very disappointed with the result,” said Michelle Glavin, president of Local 35.
Nine Wildrose and 22 Progressive-Conservative MLAs, including locals Rob Anderson (Airdrie), Bruce McAllister (Chestermere) and Ron Casey (Banff-Cochrane), including Jeff Johnson, Minister of Education, voted against the motion.
Casey said he voted against the motion based on accountability — as the Education Act of 2013 empowers students, parents, teachers and stakeholders to work together to establish suitable solutions on a case by case basis; the act passed the legislature and received Royal Assent on Dec. 10, 2012 and was not supported by the Liberal Party.
According to Casey, voting yes to Motion 503 would have impeded upon this empowerment of school stakeholders.
“It has nothing to do with supporting or not supporting GSAs in schools. That wasn’t the motion that was on the floor,” explained Casey. “The motion on the floor was to make it mandatory for schools to set them up if a student requests it.”
Casey explained that GSAs, which are usually formed as a stand against bullying, might not always provide the solution to the issue at hand; through the new act, schools have the power to decide the best solution based on specific circumstances.
“We don’t want to take that responsibility away from those stakeholders,” he explained, applauding Hehr for putting the motion forward and striking a ‘positive conversation’ at the Alberta legislature on the issue.
Glavin said that Local 35 supports all student-led initiatives that advocate for diversity, equality and creating safe spaces for students; the local has a Diversity, Equity and Human Rights committee that ‘focuses on engaging and improving conditions for students, staff and families’.
Students in Rocky View Schools (RVS) are allowed to establish GSAs. Glavin explained that the local was seeking further support from politicians through Motion 503.
In response to the defeat of the motion, Rocky View teachers will be sending three RVS students to Camp Fyrefly this summer — Canada’s only leadership retreat for LGBT and allied youth.
