Dear WISE Math subscribers and supporters:

The province of Manitoba has initiated a new commission on K-12 education in 2019 which will hear presentations from the public and various stakeholders about the state of, and future of, education in our province.  Have your voice heard by participating in one or more of the planned consultation processes.  Here are your options:

1. Fill out an online survey.
   1. Parent/public survey
   2. Teacher survey
   3. Privacy notice
2. Take part in an interactive public Workshop when the commission comes to your area.
   

   Interactive Public Workshop Schedule

   Date	Time	Location	Registration
   April 24, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Avenue, Winnipeg	Register Now
   April 25, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Westwood School 46 Mallard Crescent, Thompson	Register Now
   April 27, 2019	9:00 am to 11:30 am	Canad Inns Destination Centre Club Regent 1415 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg	Register Now
   April 27, 2019	1:00 pm to 3:30 pm	Canad Inns Destination Centre Club Regent 1415 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg This meeting will be facilitated in French. (Language interpretation available)	Register Now
   May 6, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Wescana Inn 439 Fischer Avenue, The Pas	Register Now
   May 9, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Clarion Hotel & Suites 3130 Victoria Avenue, Brandon Bilingual (Language interpretation available)	Register Now
   May 11, 2019	9:00 am to 11:30 am	Aspen Lodge 200 1st Street SE, Dauphin	Register Now
   May 13, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Carman Collegiate 121 4th Avenue SE, Carman	Register Now
   May 14, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Pat Porter Active Living Centre 10 Chrysler Gate, Steinbach	Register Now
   May 15, 2019	6:00 pm to 8:30 pm	Caboto Centre 1055 Wilkes Avenue, Winnipeg	Register Now

3. Provide a written submission by the deadline of May 30, 2019 at the address below.  (Be sure to include your name and contact information. If you are submitting on behalf of an organization, please include appropriate information.)Email: K12educationcommission@gov.mb.ca
   Fax: 204-945-0221

   Manitoba’s Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education
   470 – 800 Portage Avenue
   Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4

4. Attend or submit/present a formal brief at one of the public hearings (Date/Place TBA).  Individuals and organizations may submit only one brief, and they are to be submitted in advance to the above address.
5. Current and retired teachers are invited to share their knowledge, experience and evidence of “exemplary practices”.  To participate, follow this link.

Here is the Ministry site where you can find the above links together with all relevant information including two discussion papers giving background and discussing the goals of the commission.

Our interest, of course, is in seeing parents and teachers address the issues that matter to them concerning mathematics education, and there should be plenty of opportunity for this, as the commission will be looking at curriculum, content, teacher training and pedagogy (how teaching is carried out in the classroom), all of which touches on math education, and concerning all of which we’ve been hearing from parents and teachers.

Those wishing to review a brief summary of our concerns we recommend Anna Stokke’s C.D. Howe report, What to Do about Canada’s Declining Math Scores.  The 2008 NMAP report, linked on our main page, gives a summary of research findings about and recommendations for changes in math education in the U.S. and of course these things still apply very much in our context and provide an excellent way to organize your own thoughts, assuming the things in that report resonate with you.

We at WISE Math will also be participating in the consultations, and we look forward to ongoing discussion about this with all and sundry.

We remind those eager to participate that if you hope to have an influence on our childrens’ education in Manitoba, it is imperative that you make yourself heard in a manner respectful to all.  We understand that many are angry and frustrated with the state of Math Education in our province, and we share many of those feelings.  Venting the feelings may lead to a personal feeling of catharsis, but let us be mindful that it is essential that all sides have a voice in these discussions, and being inappropriately combative will not help forward a constructive agenda.  Don’t allow your manner of presentation provide justification for your voice to be excluded or dismissed.  Let’s all contribute positively to restoring excellence to math education in Manitoba!