Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about the upcoming start of another school year.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length
Michael Higgins: Let’s start on this issue of a pronoun policy. The premier says there will be lots of time to get it implemented but that won’t be before Sept. 1st. Where does that leave the school setting in the interim?
Jason Schilling: We’re going to have to see what the legislation actually says and just where it goes in terms of the rules that they want to put into place and the implementation.
But my team, the teachers I represent, are concerned about the safety of all of their students.
Schools need to be safe, caring spaces for every student that goes there.
So we’re concerned about what this will have in terms of a chilling effect on our schools.
We have students that are struggling with identity.
Sometimes they …