REALITY CHECK: TIME TO SCHOOL KENNEY ABOUT TEACHERS

­­For immediate release
June 14, 2017

EDMONTON – Jason Kenney has some explaining to do about why he’s dismissed teachers and their concerns about Alberta education so often.  Let’s take a look at his record.

June 13, 2017: Jason Kenney blasted teachers after local Rocky View teachers encouraged members to think about getting involved with Alberta conservative politics. As a result:

• Kenney said teachers were trying to “hijack the process”[1]
• Kenney’s spokesperson said teachers were trying to “subvert”[2] and “kibosh”[3] unity
• Kenney’s campaign said teachers were trying to “scuttle”[4] the unite-the-right deal

All of these statements make it clear he does not welcome teachers in his party.

May 26, 2017: PC President Len Thom said teachers could turn children into Hitler Youth.[5]

December 1, 2016: Kenney called teachers an “interest group” that should stop driving their “political agendas” and “pedagogical fads” in the curriculum re-write.[6]

September 28, 2016: Kenney called a long-planned curriculum review that involves teachers’ input a “radical ideological agenda” and “social engineering”.[7]

May 30, 2016: Kenney said teachers hardwire students “with collectivist ideas, with watching Michael Moore documentaries, with identity politics from their primary and secondary schools”[8]

One question for Jason Kenney: why do you fear teachers?

[1] https://twitter.com/jkenney/status/874675303267696640

[2] https://twitter.com/boehmerB/status/874493573223170048

[3] https://twitter.com/boehmerB/status/874695220268376064

[4] https://twitter.com/UniteAlberta/status/874361159075282945

[5] https://albertandpcaucus.ca/news-events/post/kenney-needs-to-fire-pc-party-president-for-his-offensive-remarks

[6] http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/david-staples-jason-kenney-would-reverse-course-on-education-reform-photo-radar

[7] https://youtu.be/chMaJKUsCKY

[8] https://twitter.com/pressprogress/status/750762843314614272