Growing class sizes, diverse student needs, chronic underfunding and little to no support. Teachers are feeling the strain, it is becoming unsustainable and students are paying the price.
These are the takeaway messages from the ATA’s latest pulse survey of members.
“The survey tells the tale of what our members are facing in our classrooms — increasing class size and classroom complexities compounded with a decrease in supports and resources for students,” said ATA president Jason Schilling.
Conducted in December, the survey showed that 62 per cent of teachers have seen their class size increase this year, and four in 10 teachers have 30 or more students in their classroom. The largest class size reported was more than 50 students.
“With the large number of students, often the physical space of the classroom does not allow me to walk to students,” reported one survey respondent.
The survey also showed teachers are not getting the support they need for students with special needs. Half of teachers surveyed felt their requests for supports such as speech, occupational and physical therapy will go unanswered this school year.
“Our schools have become agents of social services. Teachers are carrying the entire load. We are parents, counsellors, coaches and everything else,” wrote one respondent.
Other overarching themes found in the survey include a lack of prep time, post-pandemic challenges, moral distress, burnout, adapting to a new curriculum with little guidance, and a lack of respect from government bodies and school administrators.
“Our class sizes keep getting larger. We are getting more students with significant needs with little or no support,” wrote a survey respondent. “I love what I do, but it is stressful accommodating these needs and learning a new curriculum. I rarely get a break in a day because of supervision and running programs for students. I’m worried I am going to burn out.”
Schilling said the government needs to respond to these concerns by properly funding for inclusion and population growth, as well as working with the Association on curriculum implementation.
“School boards also need to look at the supports they are providing for the students and staff, specifically addressing the needs of our students with diverse needs,” he added.
Recommended solutions
The survey report provides five professional recommendations for long-term solutions.
- Reduce class sizes.
- Enhance supports and resources.
- Strengthen teacher support systems.
- Facilitate effective curriculum implementation.
- Improve communications and respect.
The implementation of the above recommendations will take collaboration from government, school leaders and the ATA, Schilling said.
“It will be the work of Provincial Executive Council and locals to advocate on all levels of senior leadership to make changes, and I have already had several conversations with the government on these issues and continue to push for more funding to support our students.” ❚
