In an attempt to make the teacher disciplinary process fair and transparent, the Saskatchewan government has proclaimed the Registered Teachers Act, which established the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board (SPTRB).
The board will be responsible for teacher licensing and discipline and will address both teacher and student complaints.
“What used to happen was the teachers’ discipline was done by the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF),” said Education Minister Don Morgan. “The public wanted something fair and independent that protected teachers and students. They wanted something that teachers could see as fair and equitable.”
The board will consist of nine individuals, seven of whom are registered teachers and two members of the public. The STF will appoint three members, the League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents will appoint one member, and the government will appoint the final three teachers and two public members. According to Morgan, they’re all people with experience in teaching or are regarded as having expertise and sophistication in dealing with things such as this.
Initially, the STF wasn’t too happy with the idea of an independent regulation board. Morris said he believed they felt the original process was adequate from a public perception point of view. However, the public felt that their concerns weren’t being addressed transparently and fairly, after which Dr. Dennis Kendel published a report in 2013 making recommendations for the independent regulation board.
“If you talk with individual teachers, they will tell you that they’re not concerned with it. Most of them want a rigorous disciplinary process,” said Morgan. “They feel that the ones with the problems are few, but those that are there should be dealt with.”
While they may have been against the idea in the beginning, the STF have since come around and now appear to support the SPTRB.
“Saskatchewan teachers recognize the importance of the public trust they are granted, and are committed to high standards of conduct and care to ensure the well-being and growth of children and youth in our province,” STF President Patrick Maze said in the news release. “The partners have worked tirelessly to create a teacher-led uniquely Saskatchewan structure that honours the public trust and will serve this province for generations to come.”
In the past, when a complaint was lodged against a teacher, an internal process followed during which the teacher in question was contacted and the advised of the complaint. Neither the proceedings nor the decisions were always made public.
“Right now, the STF is the primary advocate for teachers, so we feel that the disciplinary process should be removed from them and be independent,” said Morgan.
Morgan said that the board should hopefully be fully operational by October, after which people can file complaints via the SPTRB website. Ideally, any decisions that arise from a complaint process will be linked through that website. If complaints are filed through the old system, the STF will be obligated to refer them to the new board.
“The idea is that the public has a right to know like they do with other professions such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc.,” said Morgan.
