In Trouble For Putting Kids First

July 14th, 2003

The teachers’ union in Canada is considering punishment for one of their own — for merely devoting extra time to help his students succeed:

Jack Nahrgang, an English and history teacher at Forest Heights Collegiate in Kitchener, who won the Stewart Award for excellence in teaching this year, will be investigated for breaching union protocol during a work-to-rule campaign that lasted from February to mid-May.

In a June interview with the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Mr. Nahrgang admitted spending extra time helping his students after school — despite a union sanction only allowing teachers to provide extra assistance to students during a 15-minute window before or after class.

“My kids are always first,” Mr. Nahrgang said at the time.

John Ryrie, president of the Waterloo local of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, said Mr. Nahrgang never would have faced any reprimand for his actions if he had not expressed them publicly, but the media attention left the union with no choice but to notify the OSSTF’s head office in Toronto.

Mr. Nahrgang’s case will go through a disciplinary hearing as early as August.

The hearing could lead to a variety of possible reprimands against Mr. Nahrgang, including a fine, Mr. Ryrie said.

“We need solidarity from our members in order to exert pressure [on the school board],” he explained.

It’s ironic that a teacher would get disciplined (by his own union, no less) for daring to help his students after school. If the NEA tried to pull such crap here, they’d be in for a smackdown.

(link via Joanne Jacobs)

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Filed under Education |

2 Responses to “In Trouble For Putting Kids First”

  1. David Kian on July 15, 2003 July 15, 2003 - 2:57 am

    D.C -
    this is for you (and all who support the Iranian People), couldn’t find your email address anywhere..

    A group of American and Iranian American students at activistchat.com have written a very important petition which can be found at http://www.activistchat.com/petition1.html

    Definitely Read It! and of course sign it, if it is your will..

    In Unity We Will Be Victorious,
    David Kian

  2. bear, the (one each) on July 15, 2003 July 15, 2003 - 5:54 am

    Like with any union, dues taken from the members and creation of rules to reduce the work done for the pay received come as the first priority.

Comments are closed.