Survey results show Alberta teachers becoming more stressed as classrooms become more complex: ATA
CBC
The results of a survey of some Alberta teachers has found an overwhelming majority of respondents are feeling pessimistic about the state of education as classrooms become more complex.
The survey results were released by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) on Wednesday.
The report cites systemic challenges like underfunding and provincial policies as factors that respondents say are exacerbating the issue.
More than 5,700 teachers and principals responded to the survey conducted between Nov. 21 and Dec. 5.
While the results are not necessarily a statistically representative sample of teachers in Alberta, the ATA says they point to an overall deterioration of morale among those working in the profession.
Around 95 per cent of respondents reported feeling stressed, and that they were pessimistic about the future of the profession.
Eight out of 10 respondents said the diversity and complexity of student needs in their most complex class increased this year compared to last year.
And when adjusted to complexity, the report found that the average Alberta classroom functions like a class of 38 students in terms of workload.
At a news conference, ATA president Jason Schilling said teachers are feeling the strain now more than ever.
“Teachers are fed up with waiting," he told reporters. "Our students shouldn't have to wait for six months to never get the assessments that they need in order to better diagnose their learning needs.
“That's indicated in the survey as well, that students are not getting the assessments that they need in order to be successful at school. And teachers are seeing kids fall through the cracks day in and day out.”
When the Alberta government legislated an end to the provincial teachers strike in the fall via Bill 2 — or the Back to School Act — it promised to address concerns about classrooms crowded with students who have increasingly diverse needs. The government has promised to hire 3,000 teachers and 1,500 educational assistants over three years.
Schilling said the fruits of those promises are yet to be seen, with survey respondents indicating inadequate staffing remains an issue.
When 51,000 teachers walked off the job in Alberta in October, the strike became one of the biggest labour actions in the province's history.
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