Hydraboss

Ooh, ooh Mr. Kadir...Mr. Kadir... How about simple things like: "I before E except after C" (this is a high percentage rule), or "an E at the end makes the O hard" (ie. con vs cone)?? Of course, this is the English language so pretty much everything is an exception to the rule.

That was just for anyone who thinks teachers are "hard done by" or "underpaid". edit.....oh, and please don't think the salary grid even BEGINS to reflect what they make. Keep reading if you really want the whole picture.

I can't seem to locate the Ontario CBAs for teachers, but this should give you an idea what the little whiners are looking for... This is my school board (you only have to roll down a little bit): http://www.teachers.ab.ca/For%20Members/Salary%20Benefits%20and%20Pension/CollectiveAgreements/Pages/Black-Gold-Regional-Division-No-18-%282012---2016%29.aspx

Space Chimps actually made me laugh.... I may not have taught 30 teenagers, but I did teach large classes of adults when I was in college. Challenging but manageable. I also deal with 28 teenage students on the football field. Not the easiest task....but manageable. Seriously Jacee.....no problem with Salem's Lot?? Don't disappoint me here. Oh, and by the way... I got this from my kids who rolled their eyes when they listed the movies. They have no clue why they were shown. So there

To add to that, the board is made up of teachers (and former teachers) including the superintendent. They don't eat their own. This is a battle a parent cannot win.

The board does not consider any of these films "inappropriate". They simply revert to the "latitude that teachers have" bs. Try and prove the films are "inappropriate". Good luck.

Link says the "government" forced the ridiculous contract. I hate unions, but I don't see the involvement of the teachers' one.

Different curriculum's perhaps? And it's Inglourious Basterds (don't need a failing English grade from you-know-who)

Oh, and before it gets asked, I have spoken to the Assistant Principals that are responsible for grade 11 classes and grade 12 classes (they will NOT discuss courses that do not fall under their reign). The same answer from both: "teachers have latitude to introduce materials they feel are appropriate, blah, blah, blah..." Amazing that they both gave me approximately the same answer. Almost like it was rehearsed. Weird, that.

Michael, here's a challenge for you: Go to a local public high school (just pick one) and ask for a list of the "films" they'll be showing in the English 20 and 30 classes that semester (not sure about Ontario, but that's basically grade 11 and 12 English classes). You may be surprised to see the names on the list. My daughter (grade 12) and my son (grade 11) have seen some doozies.... Off the top of my head (in addition to the standard Macbeth, etc), Gladiator (Eng 30) - ?????? A Beautiful Mind (Eng 20) - ?????? Space Chimps (Eng 30) - I have to believe that this one was just for fun.... Passchendaele (Eng 20) - This one actually made sense Romeo and Juliet (Eng 20) - Hold on........I mean the 1996 version with Leo D and my favorite Salem's Lot (Eng 20) - That's right...the 1979 Stephen King film. Apparently had something to do with the class. For the life of me I can't imagine what.

Jacee, unfortunately I am sure they represent the majority. To my dismay. I fund a couple of programs at the public high school so I spend a lot of time in the main office talking with the administrators and this kind of thing gets discussed even there. Funny that the admin staff (not being in the ATA) tend to share my view (a few of them have been there 20+ years) and make no secret of what goes on there. Unless Dr. XXXX the principal happens to come by - then they go back to talking about the program needs.

I agree with this part of your post completely. As long as the "you" can pivot both directions.

You just restated my point - the BC teachers went on strike before the school year was done (prior to July 1). That's what I was getting at - they held students and parents hostage. If they had waited until July 1, nobody would have even noticed. And I'm actually in Alberta. I was deeply involved with the Parkland teachers strike years ago and still laugh at their soap box antics. Like you, I really don't care what the Ontario teachers do, but we can all be sure that they will whine until given more money...and then go quietly back to "work" while the unions bellow that they "won on behalf of students".

Just for clarity, are you indicating that the teachers we bash are professional, or that we are professional trolls? Damn dangling participles.

Pct, only teachers in the public system are virtuous. The private school teachers likely text in class and eat kittens while inflating marks.

Yes we do. Almost all former teachers. So you can pretty much guess where that's going to go. This is the part you and I disagree on.

No need to thank me. Fixed it for you free of charge.

Then, by all means, prove them to be ridiculous. We'll wait.

My evidence is every bit as strong as.....yours.....that you're a teacher. Anyways, this is becoming a major thread drift. Back on topic. Will the teachers strike? Yup, but only if they can hold students and parents hostage during the school year. If they don't get their strike mandate together before July 1, they won't do it. Until September. When they can hold students and parents hostage again.

Patently false. Period. Here's the best link you could ever hope for - parents, go ask your high school aged teenagers if their teachers ever text in class.

As for "understanding professionalism" - in my profession we have to carry our phones 24/7. That being said, if anyone's phone rings or beeps during a meeting, the "offender" has to throw $20 on the table. There's usually a hundred or so in the pot by the end of a half-day meeting, and it gets donated to a childrens' charity. We've always done this voluntarily. If you have to answer your phone, you leave the room before doing so.

And I don't believe you understood a question posed in English.

So you have or have not witnessed teachers answering/not answering text messages in class?

Oh, believe me I have. My wife's mother was also a teacher and her father was a teacher/principal in both AB and BC for his entire working life. This is the reason I don't communicate at all with her family anymore. They disgust me.