The Education Administration Amendment Act, also known as Bill-35 has received a less-than-passing grade from Manitoba teachers.
The bill looks to create a registry system to log cases of misconduct in school systems in a transparent and structured way.
The Manitoba Teachers Society raised some criticisms, noting that some of the terms in the bill are loosely worded, and could be detrimental to teachers, as reports could be filed leading to possible false allegations and incorrect punishment.
MTS states that performance should be under the purview of employers. Connecting these standards to the framework of misconduct and child safety could have the consequences of teacher suspension or removal of certification.
MTS' Nathan Martindale says that factors of the bill could cause harm to teachers, and to the students who look to become teachers.
"Why would university students, or those looking to get into this profession want to become teachers if they have this hanging over them, especially with the possibility of a complaint being lodged that's not really a complaint, and then their name gets dragged through the mud? So, we're a strong advocate for student safety, but we have to protect teachers in the process."
Martindale also noted that hearing panels around this bill are not composed of people who would be well-informed on the inner workings of the education system.
"It would be more useful if the panel that would be adjudicating this process was made up of teachers so they're familiar with what's happening in schools, and what teachers' jobs are, rather than the minority being teachers and the majority of the folks being from outside the school system."
In order to rectify the issues with the bill, MTS looks to get clear ideas of the wording in the bill, including definitions of "significant emotional harm", ensuring hearing panels have a majority of teachers and the right for a teacher to have representation during investigations.
Martindale stresses the importance of protecting students, and MTS agrees wholeheartedly with that fact, but the phrasing of Bill-35 had them describing it as "anti-teacher".
