Politics in Education

1. Politics in Education Defining the relationship between Education Administration, Governance & Community Leadership -Simon Bird B.Ed. M.Ed. M.N.G.D

2. Speaker Bio: Simon Bird is a member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation or Wood Lands Cree, and is currently fulfilling his role as the Director of Education for Lac La Ronge Indian Band, located in Treaty 6 territory. Simon is interested in uniting the fields of governance and education so that a sustainable and prosperous relationship can emerge. By reviewing the common goals of education and politics, while also reflecting on the shared experiences of many First Nations groups, we can see that colonialism has played a role in diverging the two fields, while also diverging the community. In truth, politics and education share common goals, and an effective governance system will lead to an effective educational system.  The challenging dynamics that currently exist between governance and education are the result of confusion in professional roles. Establishing a clear set of communication strategies will help to create a stronger political framework by increasing political commitment, clarity of roles, accountability and creating a set of policies. Creating a healthy dynamic between politics and education will empower the field of education will be empowering the role of governance in the community. 

3. ●How do you define Politics?●How do you define Education?● How are these the same? Different? With a partner or in a small group. Come up with a definition of each and be prepared to share.

4. What is your experience with how the two typically co-exist?? Education? Education? Politics? Politics? Positive? Negative? Both? http://www.nea.org/tools/fighting-stress-teaching-to-Test.html

5. Roots and New Growth • Has it always been this way? • How did we get here? • Where do we need to go from here? • How are we going to get there?

6. Colonial Roots? • Residential schools began as a tool by which the federal government used to assimilate First Nations people in the new vision of what they desired Canada to be. The policy to “Remove the Indian from the Child”began through various efforts, but it proved that the most efficient means to do so was to remove the First Nations children from their communities and families. Image: Flickr: Creative-commons licensed: https://flic.kr/p/87p9pQ

7. Political Roots • 1972 – policy paper Indian Control of Indian Education (First Nations sought greater control over First Nation education, more parental involvement in decision making about their children’s education, and better support for the promotion of First Nation languages and culture); Screenshot: http://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/education/3._2010_july_afn_first_nations_control_of_first_nations_education_final_eng.pdf

8. Where is the authority rooted? • First Nations first published the concept of “Indian Control of Indian Education” in 1972 • 1972– policy paper Indian Control of Indian Education (First Nations sought greater control over First Nation education, more parental involvement in decision making about their children’s education, and better support for the promotion of First Nation languages and culture) • Section 35 of the Constitution • Recognizes and affirms the inherent and Treaty rights of First Nations and other Indigenous Peoples. • United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples • Indigenous Peoples have the right to establish and control their education systems and institutions providing education in their own languages, in a manner appropriate to their cultural methods of teaching and learning. • Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) • Among the 94 Calls to Action, many speak to the role of schools in advancing reconciliation and building better relations between Indigenous Peoples and other Canadians.

9. Our Roots • First Nation control means that First Nations are able to exercise our inherent rights to education by developing their own policies and laws to provide linguistically and culturally-appropriate education that meets the individual and collective needs of their learners. • Relationships are what governed our people traditionally and it will be relationships that will continue to govern today. • Establishing trust in the relationship through written process and clarifying roles in our governance and educations systems today.

10. Who Defines our Roles and Participation? • If we don’t participate in defining who we are, then who will? http://www.afn.ca/policy-sectors/education/afn-poster-welcomebg/

11. Buffer? Bumper? Who defines our policies? Trust Just a Four Letter Word without established process.

12. Key Questions • Is your role clear (to you and to others)? • Is your role appropriate (is this what you should be doing)? • Do you know where the boundaries are? • Can you resist the temptation to cross those boundaries? • Once you cross-over should you immediately return to your role?

13. So what’s my job as an elected leader? • Legislator? • Representative? • Administrator? • Business Manager? • Program Manager? • Policeman? • Judge? • One-person complaint department? • Control Freak? • To fix everything for everybody? • Dog Control?

14. So what’s my job as an administrator? • Policy Development? • Representative? • Proposal Writer? • Student Advocate? • Guidance Counsellor? • Fundraiser? • Teacher Recruitment? • Social Committee Party Planner? • School Schedule Master? • Extra-Curricular Dictator? • Principal, Vice-Principal, Human Resources, Chief Financial Officer (and everything in between).

15. Governance and Administration must have clear roles.When there is an undefined relationship, confusion will settle in. The relationship will be impacted.

16. When Politics interferes with Administrative Process everything is unstable & short term, resulting in high staff turnover and poor student outcomes. 6. Affecting Student Outcomes No Clear Roles 5. Staff Interference 4. Ignoring Administration Procedure 3. Student and Staff Safety has no long term plans 2. Ignore Identified Strategic Priorities/Concerns 1. Established governance with no long term or consistent application

17. Administer Daily, Monthly, Annual and *Multi-Year Operations. 6. Student Outcomes Administration 5. Staff Supervision (Retention) Capacity Maintenance 4. Staff and Student Safety 3. School Culture and Building Maintenance 2. Identify Strategic and community Priorities/Concerns 1. Administer Policy as set out by board, committees or leadership

18. Establish Governance, Build Institutions and continuously maintain and revise. 6. Support governance. Leadership Build & Support 5. Identify strategic priorities/concerns 4. Build capacity (Human Resources, institutions, infrastructure etc.) 3. Allocate resources for implementation 2. Development of Laws and Governance Process Claim Jurisdiction and decision making power

19. Effective Governance will shape Education. An Effective Education System will help shape long term effective Governance. Governance TRUST Education System

20. Communication Strategies - Effective Education Governance. • Clear Direction and Commitment -By Chief & Council and the Board through a BCR if need be. • Clarity of Roles – By Chief & Council, the Board and the Administration • Accountability- By the Administration to the Board and the Board to Chief and Council • Policies and Administration Procedures- Human Resource Policies, Finance Policies etc. • Administration must be Accountable to politicians/boards/community by accounting/reporting on a regular basis.

21. Role of Chief & Council-Oversight and Monitoring through Administration. • Chief and Council authorize the Authority and provide its mandate via Policies or an Education Act. • The Education Act tells the Board what it can and cannot do, operating within a delegated framework. • An Education Act is a framework through which the Chief and Council maintain oversight and monitoring of the Authority. “Biggest weapon you have against political interference is policy.” - Moshom Darren Googoo

22. External Factors shaping Education is a constant reality. The role of both Education Administration and Politics is to maintain consistency. Reality. Goal. Effective Communication + Role Clarification = Consistency. Consistency = effective administration + effective governance

23. Education and Politics must move together in their respective roles, for our students, for our governance. This relationship will uphold our inherent rights and will define and maintain the course of our path together.