LaGrange: New Bill Would Better Protect Students From Teacher Abuse Cases

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Fourteen years ago, as a newly elected school board member in Red Deer, I began hearing concerns about a lack of transparency in the disciplinary process from teachers. Now, as Alberta’s minister of education, I hear these same concerns from students and parents across the province.

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While the vast majority of teachers in the province are caring and dedicated professionals, we know that instances of inappropriate or even dangerous behavior do occur, and sometimes those instances involve a student.

In 2019, an extremely concerning case crossed my desk in which a teacher was convicted of inappropriately touching five young students, and only a two-year suspension was recommended. Finding this unacceptable, I reversed the recommendation and issued a lifetime teaching ban.

In the wake of this incident, I directed my department to review the discipline process for educators.

It quickly became very clear that the current discipline process does not put Alberta students first. Cases are dealt with out of the public eye and often take years to resolve after a complaint is filed.

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As minister of education, I have been informed of cases where educators commit disgusting and abusive crimes against children. It is heartbreaking for me to read about these situations, knowing the long-term effects of the students who have suffered from this.

However, current legislation prohibits the government and me from informing the public. In fact, the government is not even aware of the complaints against the teachers until the hearing is held, which, again, can take years.

Children spend most of their days at school; parents naturally want to know who their children are spending time with and who is raising them. As a mother, I strongly believe that parents deserve to know if their child’s teacher has been convicted of unprofessional conduct or professional incompetence.

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Alberta’s current legislation is lagging behind. British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan all have public records where parents can easily check the status of their child’s teacher certificate.

Most Albertans would also be surprised to learn that there is currently no legal requirement for teachers to undergo a criminal and vulnerable background check. Most school divisions recognize the importance of this and often conduct these verifications when hiring, but there is no uniform or standard approach across the province.

We should all agree that our students should come first. More can and should be done to ensure our students learn in respectful environments from vetted professional educators who are in schools for the right reasons.

That is why I will introduce the Student First Act in the Alberta legislature next week.

I have the utmost respect for teachers and their profession and that is exactly why I am introducing this legislation. Not only will it protect students and ensure parents are informed, it will also protect the integrity of the teaching profession and uphold the high standards for which Alberta educators are known. Change is coming, and that change will keep our students safe, parents informed, and teachers accountable.

Adriana LaGrange is Alberta’s Minister of Education.

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Reference-edmontonjournal.com

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