ADVOCACY STEPSBy: Robert Hurdman
CAPSC is always interested to better understand the issues parents and school councils are facing in our public schools. Please contact us at [email protected] with a description of your issue. If you wish to take action, follow the suggestions below for who to contact. As always, it helps to remain positive and to suggest potential solutions.
If you want to effect change within your own school, try talking with your child’s teacher, meeting the principal and attending a school council meeting or talking with a member of school council. You should be able to find contact information on your school’s website or by visiting the school office.
If your issue affects more than just your school (eg. School designation, fees, programs, regulations or procedures),
Contact your trustee. You can phone them or email them about your issue and let them know how you would like them to represent you. They can’t stand for you if they don’t know what’s important to you.
If your issue is the responsibility of the provincial government (eg. Schools being built, school funding, curriculum, standardized testing),
Contact your MLA. Public education falls under the provincial jurisdiction. Find out how your MLA feels about public education and about the role of local democracy as it is exercised through trustees and school councils. Inform your MLA of your position on your issues. This can be done through a polite letter (most effective) or email, or a petition signed by a number of supporters (less effective). You can also phone or visit the constituency office, although you should schedule in advance.
If you want to comment on an issue that has appeared in the news,
Write a letter to the editor of the Calgary Herald, Calgary Metro, or Calgary Sun. You must provide your full name, address and daytime phone number. Due to space limitations, letters of 250 words or less are preferred. Ideally, a letter to the editor is in response to a prior letter or to an article that recently appeared in the paper.
If you are unsure where to address your concern, phone your trustee and ask. They should be able to advise you on the best method to address your issue.