Since April 11, teachers in 295 public schools across the province have been voicing their concerns about the impact of inflation and the current realities of their working and students’ learning conditions. The New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation (NBTF) has launched an awareness campaign to support teachers in leading this important public conversation.
In recent years, New Brunswick and Canada have faced a significant labour shortage, and the teaching profession is no exception. While we are already facing challenges in recruiting a sufficient number of new teachers, the issue of retaining those already in place must be addressed and taken seriously.
More and more members are telling us about the increasingly difficult working conditions related to the lack of support, the lack of pedagogical, technological and human resources. This has led to an increased load on teachers. These are the things that are driving some of them out of the profession. If we’re not able to keep our certified professionals already in place, we’re just amplifying the shortage problem.
With just over 40 per cent of New Brunswick’s teaching staff retiring or eligible to retire in 10 years, and the administrative burden and impact of the shortage only increasing, the stage is set for teachers to develop a sense of inefficacy in their own profession. In a system that is in dire need of stability, many are asking the question, why stay in a profession that creates unreasonable expectations? A recent survey of teachers demonstrates this sentiment. Here’s what one teacher said:
“I chose this profession because I love working with children. They are creative and innovative. My job has become very difficult, and I don’t have the resources to keep up with all the tasks required. I am a classroom teacher, and I am ‘out of breath’ with the number of students in my class, the different needs to be met, the different clienteles to be served, the children who do not have the language […] Not to mention all the changes in the education system.”
The years of putting the squeeze on education should be behind us. Teachers have been squeezed dry, adding pressure will not change anything. Let’s allow the dedicated staff in our schools to do what they do best, educate and support our children; it’s about retaining expertise in our schools.
Connie Keating and Nathalie Brideau are co-presidents of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Federation.