New billboards address class size in three dimensions

Chairs nailed directly to a billboard is the latest way the Alberta Teachers’ Association is alerting the public of the growing problem of large class sizes.

The newly created advertisements feature 33 chairs — one third of them red, the rest white — mounted on the surface of a billboard alongside the words “Alberta’s classrooms are over capacity.” The three billboards are located in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer.

“They offer a pretty stark representation of a real Alberta classroom,” says ATA president Jason Schilling, referencing the Commission on Learning study that recommended K–3 classes have no more than 17 students and grades 4–6 classes have no more than 23 students. 

In reality, Schilling notes, half of Alberta teachers are working in classrooms with 33 or more students.

The billboards are part of a comprehensive campaign that includes advertisements running on TV, radio, online and in newspapers. The aim is to raise awareness of issues like class size, class complexity and learning supports for vulnerable students and, thus, make public education a key issue in the upcoming provincial election. 

There are also posters available for teachers to put in their windows to prompt discussions with door-knocking candidates. The posters show the message “We stand for public education; will you?” and include talking points about key education issues.

“When candidates come to your house, they’ll see right away that public education is an issue that matters to this homeowner,” Schilling said. 

ATA locals will also be receiving copies of the posters to hand out in the community so that concerned Albertans can echo the message to candidates. It’s all part of the Association’s larger Stand for Education campaign, a year-long effort that seeks to create a new vision for public education in Alberta. ❚

For more information visit standforeducation.ca. Extra copies of the posters are also available by contacting distribution@ata.ab.ca.