The ATA News , March 10, 2026 ❚ 5
A future built on truth, not fear Every child deserves free public education
Substitute teachers recognized during annual appreciation week ATA News Staff E ach day across Alberta, substitute teachers step into classrooms Substitute Teachers’ Conference held each fall. Additional supports include online resources, access to teachers’ conventions, scholarships, free membership in one specialist council, ATA publications and library services, as well as consultation and professional support.
I was fortunate this year to introduce Tim Caulfield and Carol Off at the Calgary City Teachers’ Convention. Their session cut straight to a pervasive problem: misinformation breeds mistruths, and mistruths erode trust.We all see and feel this every day. As teachers, I would argue, we tend to feel it more. When people no longer trust institutions, they stop trusting each other and that’s when policy gets driven by fear, and semantics become increasingly important. Caulfield and Off reminded us that misinformation doesn’t just live online. It shapes our daily conversations, election platforms and even government referendums. In education, we see it manifest in false claims about what teachers teach, who belongs in our schools and what public education is meant to be. And right now, the misinformation and mistruths around education and immigration are colliding in ways that should alarm every Albertan. One of the most dangerous misconceptions gaining traction is that children’s access to public education should depend on their immigration status. That idea is not just cruel; it is reckless. The Alberta Teachers’ Association has clear policy: regardless of immigration status, children should have access to free public education.
Schools are not border checkpoints. They are places of learning, safety and belonging. If that principle is abandoned, we could see thousands of children removed from classrooms.Thousands. That is not just a number; it is a generation of young people pushed out of opportunity.These are families and children who came here for a better life—who believed in Canada and in the promise that education opens doors. Denying children access to school because of paperwork does not solve anything. It simply guarantees more poverty, more marginalization and more division. Caulfield and Off argued that this is the aim of misinformation—to keep us divided. Caulfield and Off challenged us to push back with evidence and courage. Education has always been on the front line of dispelling lies about what happens in classrooms, about who our students are, and about what kind of society we want to be. Misinformation thrives in silence. We can’t be neutral when mistruth harms our profession and our students. We know that learning thrives in light. If referendums are going to shape our future, they must be built on truth, not fear. And the truth is simple: every child in Alberta deserves a teacher, a desk and a chance.
to keep student learning moving forward. Their contributions are being recognized during the annual Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week, March 9—13. Teachers, school leaders, schools, locals and divisions are encouraged to mark the week by writing personalized thank-you notes, highlighting substitute teachers in newsletters or on social media, or recognizing them at staff meetings. ATA president Jason Schilling said substitute teachers are an essential part of Alberta’s public education system. “Substitute teachers step in when their colleagues are away to provide continuity, professionalism and care to our students,” said Schilling. “They are vital to our profession.” The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) supports substitute teachers year-round through professional learning and networking opportunities, including the annual
“Recognizing substitute teachers during this week is important,” Schilling added, “but so is ensuring they feel valued and supported throughout the year.” Learn more about Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation week and the ATA supports and services available to substitute teachers on the ATA website at teachers.ab.ca/teaching-career/ substitute-teachers. Active ATA membership for substitute teachers begins on their first day of work in a school year and continues through the end of that school year. DID YOU KNOW?
I welcome your comments. Contact me at jason.schilling@ata.ab.ca.
RED for ED! There’s a new way to gear up in support of Alberta
teachers and public education. Teachers and supporters can
now order mugs, toques, shirts and sweaters with
such logos as “#Red4EdAB” and “I support AB teachers.” The collection is available now and will continue to change throughout the year. You can browse the latest apparel and accessories by visiting abteach.cc/ATAStore.
Show us your RED for ED! Want to share how you or your team is supporting public education in Alberta? Let your colleagues know why you wear Red for Ed or how you create moments of engagement or advocacy. Email managing editor Lindsay Yakimyshyn at lindsay.yakimyshyn@ata.ab.ca.
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