Working with government officials has benefitted the P.E.I. Teachers' Federation, says the union's president.
Gilles Arsenault, PEITF president, said Island teachers have a good working relationship with education partners, such as parents, school boards and the Education Department.
"We are the envy of the country."
More than 2,000 teachers from across the province were expected to gather for the annual convention that involved two days of personal development sessions, such as relating to teens and training students on the safe use of social media.
This year's theme is investing in students today for a stronger tomorrow.
The halls at the Delta Prince Edward were packed with teachers as they mingled between sessions Thursday morning and toured the various booths that vendors set up to pitch their wares.
Arsenault said as president he will do his best to serve the interests of teachers and knows he won't please everyone.
"They say that Jesus walked on this Earth and didn't please everyone so do you think that Gilles Arsenault can beat that?" he joked.
The PEITF is asking the government to support teachers and recognize their workload, Arsenault said, and added he hopes the government will continue to defend the interests of students and teachers in the province.
Arsenault said there are still challenges in the classrooms, which are not the same as they were five years ago.
"These days, class size is less relevant than class composition, he said.
Still, Arsenault encouraged government to maintain teacher numbers despite declining enrolment and said teachers are the driving force behind the education system. Without you, the system would collapse.
New Education Minister Alan McIsaac, who is a farmer by trade, gave opening remarks at the convention and said he remembered a time several years ago when a former teacher was named as agriculture minister.
McIsaac said at the time he wondered how a teacher could manage the agriculture file.
Well, now the roles are reversed, he said.
During his speech, McIsaac joked as he welcomed his wife, brother, sister and sister-in-law, who are all teachers.
Despite not being a teacher himself, McIsaac said he has been immersed in educational issues his entire life and it's through his life as a farmer that he learned to respect the magnitude of the teachers' jobs.
You are responsible for cultivating one of the most important products of life: well-rounded, well-educated, life-long learners, he said.
McIsaac said he wants to encourage an open discussion between himself and educators and joked by capping off his speech with something his principal once told him.
You, come to see me in my office, he said.
The morning also saw Michael Kaufmann deliver a presentation on how society is raising boys to be men and the expectations placed on them as they grow up.
Kaufmann told a story about when his son was born and the nurse who lowered the tone of her voice as she told him the baby was a strong little fellow.
I was shocked, Kaufmann said.
During the presentation, Kaufmann used images of perceived masculinity, including old pictures of somewhat goofy-looking Batman and Superman in tights as what used to be the unattainable ideals of manhood.
He compared those to modern versions of the superheroes who have bulging muscles and what he called supersized masculinity.
Kaufmann said society is raising boys through humiliation and teaches them to mistrust their feelings, such as telling them big boys don't cry. None of us can ever live up to those ideas of manhood, he said.
But while he discussed many of the problems he saw in the way society is raising boys, Kaufmann said he doesn't think the future is bleak for them.
I think it is amazing.
rross@theguardian.pe.ca
You idiot, you just did reply.