I start muttering and twitching even before I’m out of bed. The cell phone on the other side of the room has “dinged” and because it’s 6am on a winter weekday, I know that a text has just arrived, saying “All schools in HRSB will be closed today.” They’re words that strike fear and loathing […]
Education
Posted inNews + Opinion
Educational support workers standing with teachers
[Image-1] Educational support workers in HRM are standing in solidarity with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), while at the same time bargaining with the Halifax Regional School Board (HRSB) for a new collective agreement of their own. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 5047 president Chris Melanson says school board employees in his […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Before the murder and after, the life of Tyler Richards
In the mural painted in his honour, Tyler Richards looks out over his community with a pensive, protective glare, a basketball clenched between his palms. He can see the Steps—the childhood meeting place where he and his friends would congregate and play, a place Mulgrave Park kids before Richards’ generation and after have used as […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
School closure leaves the most vulnerable at greatest risk
[Image-1] On Monday morning a recalled Nova Scotia legislature will begin the first steps to forcing a new collective agreement on teachers and taking away their right to strike. At the same time, outside Province House, angry crowds will join in a protest against the Liberal government’s battle with the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU). […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Children locked out of school by province
[Image-1] Instead of locking out unionized teachers, the Liberal government has decided to lock out Nova Scotia’s students. All public schools in the province will be closed starting Monday, December 5. Education minister Karen Casey made the unprecedented announcement at a press conference held Saturday morning. The province says the planned work-to-rule action by the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Auditor general report slams province over plans for new schools
[Image-1] A report from Nova Scotia’s auditor general says the provincial government is doing a poor job planning for the future of its schools. The report, released Wednesday, says the department of Education and Early Childhood Development has “an overall casual approach to decision-making” and is without a longterm capital planning process. Auditor general Michael […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Talks break down between province and teachers
[Image-1] Negotiations for a new collective agreement between the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) and the province have broken off. The two sides had met this week with a conciliator to try and stave off a strike. A work stoppage could now happen as early as December 5, though what form that will take has […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Why we support Nova Scotia’s teachers
[Image-1] When we started up Nova Scotia Parents for Teachers two weeks ago, our Facebook page quickly gathered around 400 members. Since our first bit of media coverage last Wednesday, membership has soared to over 5,000 and counting. We hope that premier McNeil is taking notice. As a group of concerned parents and grandparents of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dal’s sexual assault helpline received 17 “legitimate” calls last year
[Image-1] An internal review by the Dalhousie Student Union of its Sexual Assault and Harassment Phone Line project found a total of 57 calls made in the 2015-16 academic school year—17 of which were recorded as “legitimate.” The report, released under a Freedom of Information request, says there were two repeat callers in that 17. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Scotia’s teachers are ready for a strike
[Image-1] A strike vote of 96 percent on Tuesday means Nova Scotia’s 9,300 teachers could be walking off the job as early as December 3. “Public school teachers have spoken loud and clear,” said NSTU president Liette Doucet in a press release. “We feel strongly about providing better education to Nova Scotia’s students and are willing […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Canadian universities are becoming divestment dinosaurs
[Image-1] This summer, members of the Canadian Association of Geographers made a unanimous decision to divest their financial holdings from the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies. In the process, CAG became the first academic organization in Canada to divest from fossil fuels. While joining hundreds of organizations, municipalities, churches and universities that have committed to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Here’s the new $23-million DalPlex replacement
[Image-1] Dalhousie University students will be able to enjoy (and pay for) their school’s brand new fitness centre come Dal’s 200th anniversary. The new DalPlex will sit on the former site of Eliza Ritchie Hall on South Street, right next to the current DalPlex, which will remain open for athletics and stressful exam writing even […]