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1928...
a
HISTORY
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The first Alberta School Week (Education Week) was held Dec. 2-8, 1928. It was initiated by the Alberta Teachers’ Alliance (later to become the Alberta Teachers’ Association) “for the purposes of interesting parents and others in the many problems which confront educationalists. [It was] the first definite attempt on the part of teachers to explain the problems, the difficulties and the triumphs of the school,” reported the ATA Magazine in January 1929.
1934...
EDUCATION WEEK in 1935... ALBERTA
The concept of a special week for celebrating the work of schools and of teachers was brought to the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) at its annual meeting in August 1934. Teacher representatives decided to adopt the idea in all the provinces and CTF assumed responsibility for co-ordinating the week. “It was decided that the (CTF) should take School Week under its wing.” (The ATA magazine, January 1935)
The first Canada-wide Education Week was held Feb. 3-9. The editorial read “The idea of an Education Week is new in Canada. Most of the provinces are well-organized, and there is close cooperation among the profession in the best interests of what is after all the biggest thing
in the country—the education of its youth. Here in Nova Scotia the result we trust, will be to inspire teachers afresh with the importance and dignity of their high calling, and parents and school officials with a sense of the responsibility which the problems of the day place upon proper standards of education.” (The Halifax Herald, February 13, 1935)
1937...
A daily program of topics on the theme Equal Opportunities for All Canadian Children for Education Week, Feb. 21-27, was published by The ATA Magazine in apparent frustration with national efforts at co-ordination.
1946...
Responsibility for Education Week was transferred to the Alberta Education Council, a new council of 21 organizations formed largely through the efforts of the ATA. Among other purposes, the Council was intended “to arouse public interest in and to cooperate for the promotion and improvement in legislation relating to all phases of elementary and secondary education. [The council] took over sponsorship of Education Week, a baby that had been handed back and forth between the ATA and the CTF, and mounted some promotional campaigns designed to persuade the public that education was a good thing.”
November. The department focused its Education Week campaign on the value of education to the taxpayers and the promotion of high standards of achievement for students. The department partnered with Canadian Regional Air to give passengers a pop quiz using difficult questions typically found on diploma exams.
1995-2006...
The ATA helped schools and locals plan activities that sent a consistent and topical message to parents and the community through the media.
2011...
The Alberta Teachers’ Association, the Alberta School Boards Association and Alberta Education worked together to co-ordinate communications for Education Week. -courtesy the Alberta Teachers’ Association
(Chalmers, John. Teachers of the Foothills Province, 1968)
1980...
In its 1979/80 Annual Report, Alberta Education stated that it had provided general supervision over provincial Education Week activities. “This year’s Education Week theme, 75 Years of Knowing and Growing, commemorated not only the province’s anniversary, but also the 75th year that the Department has provided Albertans with quality education.” (Alberta Education Annual Report, 1979/80, p.12)
1993...
Alberta Education, after consultation with partners, moved the date for Education Week from the spring to
Education Week dates back 75 years and celebrates the importance of education and educators in our province.
TEACHERS help shape our communities NOW AND IN THE FUTURE
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ore than 75 years ago Education Week was introduced in Alberta in an effort to acknowledge and celebrate the role education plays in shaping our communities. This year, Education Week is May 5-9 and the theme is We Are Teachers. If you look around your neighbourhood, you are sure to find events that showcase education in various ways. One of the most important elements, especially for young people, is the teacherparent-child relationship. No longer is the child left out of the equation, and meetings, homework and agendas heavily involve the child to be sure they are communicating and understanding the connection between home and school. All staff want to instill a lifelong love of learning in each child. And this isn’t just a cliché. They truly want to help kids be excited about exploring our world. You can see the time and effort teachers and support staff put into their educational philosophies, especially when they spend extra time on things like garden clubs, sports teams and lunch-hour running clubs, planning fieldtrips, volunteer work and more. Many of us remember our favourite teacher and how they helped shape our school experiences. These committed, loyal and kind teachers are vitally important to our communities and to our children’s present and future. When you think of how many influential hours teachers spend with your child, having a healthy relationship with these educators is so very important. So take time to recognize and thank a teacher during Education Week and encourage a child to thank them as well.
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