a CHAT WITH BOB RAE
See page 3
F r i d ay , O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 1 2 — I s s u e 1 5
the journal Queen’s University — Since 1873
Education
Out of practicums
Mysterious mousetrap
Labour dispute leaves some teacher candidates scrambling to fulfill requirements B y H olly Tousignant News Editor
the full experience. “When a school does not have extra-curriculars, teacher As Bachelor of Education students candidates cannot help out in prepared to embark on their additional aspects, connect with placements this month, some were their students beyond the classroom, informed they’d have to make and really get a feel as to what a alternate arrangements. teacher’s job is really like,” he said. Because of the current labour “It is tough to hear some of dispute between the Ontario my colleagues say that they Secondary School Teachers cannot help students with their Federation (OSSTF) and the math homework until 8:00 in provincial government over Bill the morning because any minute 115, some associate schools have [is] deemed as “extracurricular” been turning candidates away. math homework and beyond a “There are some schools ... that teacher’s contract.” are no longer taking on teacher Declining an interview, Queen’s candidates as it is not a part of Faculty of Education instead a teacher’s contract to do so,” released a statement to the Journal Alex Love, ConEd ’12, told the that addressed the “difficult Journal via email. “Schools that are decisions that teachers have been taking teacher candidates are full making in terms of whether they from [taking] on those that were are taking our teacher candidates.” originally displaced.” “It is a stressful and difficult time “Those looking for placements in Ontario history as the passing of have been encouraged by the Bill 115 raises concerns that affect Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap leaves the viewer guessing which guest at Monkswell Manor is a pHOTO BY gINA eLDER Faculty of Education to essentially See Dispute on page 4 murderer. See page 11 for a review of Domino Theatre’s production of the show. take whatever they can get,” he said. The Faculty is home to a total Student employment of 2000 consecutive education students and concurrent education students of all years. Teacher candidates are required to complete 12 weeks of in-school practice in three teaching blocks at their choice of over 20 Ontario associate schools in areas including B y J ulia Vriend the AMS to provide more support psychology, anatomy, math Undergraduate TAs are currently Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Assistant News Editor paid $19.19 per hour, including and training for the undergrad TAs, and commerce. Ottawa, Oshawa and Waterloo. Harrison said the undergraduate vacation pay. so it can be more of a learning They also have to do an alternative The policy for undergraduate experience for both them and TAs’ pay is reviewed each year The lack of Queen’s-wide practicum, which can be completed student and when it’s increased, it’s done policy hasn’t deterred students teaching assistants their students. in the Canadian north, abroad or (TAs) is under investigation Currently, they’re so in line with graduate TAs. See AMS on page 4 at Ontario schools outside of those by the AMS due to concerns of handled completely at the the University is associated with. transparency and potentially departmental level. According to Love, the dispute inaccessible protocols. In the Senate document, the left some students scrambling to Isabelle Duchaine, AMS role of undergraduate and fulfill their alternative placement, academic affairs commissioner, graduate TAs was listed as the which typically takes place in said she started her investigation same. It outlined the rights and March, instead. in the summer and is working responsibilities of both teaching Bill 115, the hotly-contested Act with the Registrar’s Office to clarify assistants and the University, as introduced by the Ontario Liberal if a policy exists. well as protocols related to government, caused protests “I stumbled into this issue because equity and safety, discrimination among students and teachers in I was looking up the policy and I and harassment, ethics, training Kingston and across the province found there wasn’t any,” Duchaine, and more. since it passed on Sept. 11. ArtSci ’13, said. “I think it is a little Alan Harrison, provost and The legislation enforces a pay disconcerting that we don’t have a vice-principal (academic) said a cut on teachers and has led to distinctive policy.” policy is currently in the process many OSSTF teachers refraining The AMS obtained a Senate of being developed and isn’t yet from all duties outside of their Policy on Teaching Assistants which available for viewing. He noted sports postscript contracts, such as overseeing covered the period from 2005- 09. that there are 200 undergraduate extra-curricular activities. It’s no longer readily available TAs this fall, but the number Queen’s prioritizes Behind the scenes at the Love, who’s completing his own online, and no new editions have fluctuates year to year. Programs athletic scholarships. Wolfe Island Bakery. with undergraduate TAs practicum in Ottawa, said he thinks been released online. even those of his classmates who Duchaine said she wants to include engineering, computer pAGE 15 page 19 did find placements aren’t getting work toward a policy that allows science, film and media studies,
No policies in place for undergrad TAs AMS launches investigation into outdated policies for Queen’s undergraduate assistants
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