No zeros, mandatory school fees don’t belong in Education Act, MLAs say

No zeros, mandatory school fees don’t belong in Education Act, MLAs say by Sarah O’Donnell, October 31, 2012, Calgary Herald
NDP education critic David Eggen expressed concern Wednesday that his amendment to reduce the influence of corporations on schools was defeated. Eggen told reporters the issue is real, referencing Calgary Board of Education plans to introduce corporate sponsor naming inside schools. “Maybe sponsorship is OK for hockey arenas and other things, but not for our schools,” he said. “Everything has a value, but it doesn’t mean everything has to be for sale.” Eggen also complained about debate on the education legislation occurring during night sittings of the legislature. “This process of legislating in the dead of night is entirely inappropriate,” he added. “We’re not getting the debate we need on landmark legislation, such as the Alberta education bill. If they expect Albertans to take them seriously then let’s perform legislation in the light of day.” [Emphasis added]

Terry the Fracosaurus comes out of retirement on Hallowe’en to promote gas well drilling process by Darcy Henton, October 31, 2012, Calgary Herald
Alberta’s New Democrats reached into their Hallowe’en bag of tricks Wednesday to deploy a controversial oil company mascot to make a point about the encroachment of corporate influence on provincial schools. Education critic Dave Eggen introduced Terry the Fracosaurus to hammer home his fear that corporations are being allowed in the back door of public schools to offset budget constraints. The purple dinosaur spoke briefly to reporters at a news conference at the Legislature. Calgary energy company Talisman employed Terry to promote the virtues of the controversial practice of fracking shale rock to produce natural gas until the mascot was lampooned by comedian Stephen Colbert last summer. Eggen pointed out the Calgary Board of Education has already announced plans to  introduce corporate sponsor naming inside its schools. “Maybe sponsorship is OK for hockey arenas and other things, but not for our schools,” he said. “Everything has a value, but it doesn’t mean everything has to be for sale.” Eggen is miffed that his amendment to curb the influence of businesses on schools was defeated by the Conservative majority in the legislature late Tuesday. He said school boards are now required to consult businesses in addition to other stakeholders, like parents and  teachers, when they ponder changes to their curriculum. [Emphasis added]

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