Alberta Teachers’ Association president Jason Schilling speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about changes to the education system the provincial government is trying to make which would affect sexual education and students’ names.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Michael Higgins: Let’s look at Bill 27, the Education Amendment Act. How do you expect this to change dynamics in the classroom?
Jason Schilling: Our concern is that it’s going to eliminate trust that students have with teachers at schools. We want schools to be a safe, caring place for all of our students and the Education Act tells them that’s what it should be.
We’re worried that these kind of rules that are coming in, will undermine that trust, that safety of our most vulnerable students. Our trans students, who are struggling sometimes with finding a safe space where they can seek assistance, and for a lot of those students, school is the only place that allows that.
So …