1.10 "In a prairie province, education is going downhill" with STF President Samantha Becotte

In our tenth episode of Public Good, Shannon and Stephen are joined by Samantha Becotte. Samantha Becotte is the president of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation. She has bachelor’s degrees in education and science and a Master of Mathematics for Teachers. Prior to taking on the role of president of the STF, she taught mathematics and financial literacy. Samantha actively participates in the community by supporting local not-for-profit organizations. She is passionate about women in leadership and values continued professional development. In this episode Samantha gives an overview of the Saskatchewan education landscape. She outlines how the reformers are employing the privatization playbook, including changes in tax structures, boasting about spending rather than actual spending, vilification of teachers, and a reliance on consultants. Sound familiar? Drawing on the recent revelations about Legacy Christian Academy, Becotte outlines the broader concerns surrounding public dollars going to private schools. She also speaks about the government's plan to develop a new Distance Learning Crown Corporation. As the president of STF, Samantha shares what she is hearing from teachers about the consequences of government reforms, and the efforts that teachers in Saskatchewan are making to stand up for public education. If anyone happens to be in Saskatchewan on April 19th, you can join Samantha and the STF, at a rally for public education: https://www.stf.sk.ca/sites/default/files/stf-001406d_20230217_hn.pdf