scroll down

Island teachers are in crisis.

If you look at what is happening both inside and outside of PEI classrooms, it’s easy to understand why:

Class Composition

Classrooms are filled with diverse learners. This includes students with academic, behavioural, social, and/or emotional needs. Teachers are planning and delivering multiple lessons as they strive to meet students at their current level.

Non-Instructional Duties
Teachers must deal with endless amounts of administrative tasks, such as emails and paperwork. This limits the time they have to prepare lessons, work with students outside of instructional time, and live a balanced lifestyle.
Resources & Supports
A growing number of Island youth aren’t receiving the support they need outside of school which is adding to teachers’ workload.
Social Media

Social media allows the disgruntled (often vocal) minority to spread misinformation, share hate, and tear down a teacher’s reputation in any given post.

Never before have teachers been so heavily leaned upon from society, while simultaneously facing unfair criticism via social media.

Teachers are second-guessing their
career choice.

Of the Island teachers surveyed:

%

Over 50% don’t feel respected by the public.

%

Over 43% wouldn’t recommend teaching as a profession to a younger generation.

%

During their first five years of teaching, over 64% contemplate leaving the profession.

The quality of the education our teachers deliver is directly linked to the support they receive.

It’s time for a

E

At the end of the school year, I feel like a failure. I see the data I have to enter and feel like I did not do enough.

 

Elementary School Teacher, 15+ Years of Experience

Fact check:
a lesson in checking assumptions

There are many thoughts, assumptions, and opinions made about teachers. Below is a list of some of the most common myths surrounding teaching, and the reality that many Island teachers face each and every day.

Teachers only work the school day and never work weekends.

Teachers often work into the evening and dedicate at least a portion of their weekend to planning, grading, and preparing for the upcoming week, sacrificing personal time. There simply is not enough time during the workday to get this work done.

Teaching is easy.
Teaching is one of the most challenging professions there is. It requires constant professional development, adaptation, patience, creativity, dedication, and learning.
Anyone can be a teacher.
Becoming a teacher requires two university degrees. Many teachers hold additional qualifications. Not everyone has the patience, creativity, dedication, and love for teaching children.
Classrooms operate the same as they did when parents were in school.
Today’s classrooms are incredibly complex and far different from those in the past.
Teachers have a lot of time on their hands.

When teachers are not with their students, they are preparing lessons, grading work, making schedules, talking to parents, answering emails, managing student conflicts, conferring with colleagues and administrators, and completing many other necessary daily tasks.

Students always behave.
Schools across Canada have witnessed an increase in serious violent behaviors directed towards both staff and peers. These behaviours are becoming more common across all grades/ages.
Teachers only teach.
Teachers care about their students. Providing lunches, clothing, and classroom supplies at the teacher’s own expense is a common practice. Over 85% of PEI teachers surveyed volunteer their time for school trips, coaching sports, or organizing clubs and activities to provide students with safe spaces and lifelong memories. Learning and student development extends beyond the classroom.
Those who can… do. Those who can’t... teach.
Those who can teach. Teachers make all other professions possible by giving others the tools and information that they need in order to succeed. Teaching is an undervalued, but highly specialized field.

Reach a

teacher

Reach a

The Prince Edward Island Teachers’ Federation believes communication between home and school is important and requires a team approach. Respectful communication is essential to help students succeed.

If you need to connect with your child’s teacher, you can find their contact information in the school directory.

Please consider the following before contacting and while waiting for a response from your child’s teacher:

1. Remember that teachers teach many students each day. You may not be the only parent looking to connect with your child’s teacher.

2. The teacher’s primary focus during school hours is their students.
It is important to temper expectations of a teacher’s response while class is in session. Many teachers are involved in organizing extra-curricular activities for students after school (sports, performing arts, extra help, etc.).
Please trust that the teacher will respond to you as soon as possible.
If your concern is immediate, please call the school.

3. If there is a concern, please contact the teacher directly at the school.
We are in this together. It is not appropriate to openly criticize or defame teachers and/or school administration online.

4. Teachers want the very best for their students, and this means being supported by their student’s parents. Your attitude at home will directly influence your child’s attitude at school.

5. Being involved in your child’s education helps to ensure success. There are many ways to connect including attending Meet the Teacher night, Parent/Teacher interviews, and school activities.

Resources

211 logo
Kids Help Phone logo
PEI School Food Program INC. logo
Canadian Mental Health Association logo
Brought to you by:
Prince Edward Island Teacher's Federation logo
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
To ensure the Course Correction campaign genuinely reflected the thoughts and stories of Island teachers, the PEI Teachers’ Federation conducted a "PEI Teachers’ Federation Member Survey." This survey, which featured 34 multiple-choice questions and 15 short-answer questions, was developed and hosted on the SurveyMonkey platform.

The survey was skillfully crafted in collaboration with Insight Studio, a local marketing agency, as a crucial element of the campaign. The target audience for the survey comprised the 1,500 members of the PEI Teachers’ Federation. Respondents were provided with the convenience of completing the survey online through secure email invitations sent out by the PEITF.

The online survey was accessible for ten days, from June 29th, 2022, to July 8th, 2022, closing at 11:59 p.m. At the survey's conclusion, it had received 486 responses, representing a substantial portion of the Federation's membership. All responses were kept strictly confidential, and no personally identifiable information was collected.

Brought to you by:
SURVEY METHODOLOGY
To ensure the Course Correction campaign genuinely reflected the thoughts and stories of Island teachers, the PEI Teachers’ Federation conducted a "PEI Teachers’ Federation Member Survey." This survey, which featured 34 multiple-choice questions and 15 short-answer questions, was developed and hosted on the SurveyMonkey platform.

The survey was skillfully crafted in collaboration with Insight Studio, a local marketing agency, as a crucial element of the campaign. The target audience for the survey comprised the 1,500 members of the PEI Teachers’ Federation. Respondents were provided with the convenience of completing the survey online through secure email invitations sent out by the PEITF.

The online survey was accessible for ten days, from June 29th, 2022, to July 8th, 2022, closing at 11:59 p.m. At the survey's conclusion, it had received 486 responses, representing a substantial portion of the Federation's membership. All responses were kept strictly confidential, and no personally identifiable information was collected.