5.8 KiB
Freedom to Learn
!!! quote "Educational Wisdom" "Learning is a lifelong journey, not just something we do until we can get a job in the oil patch."
Call Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education{ .md-button } Email Minister of Education{ .md-button }
Call Nate Glubish, Honourable Minister of Technology and Innovation{ .md-button } Email Minister Glubish{ .md-button }
Call Myles McDougall, Minister of Advanced Education{ .md-button } Email Minister of Advanced Education{ .md-button }
Why Do We Need Freedom to Learn?
Because somehow we got stuck thinking education ends when we get our first hard hat. Plot twist: our brains don't expire after high school, and learning new things won't make our trucks less manly.
Our Current "Learning" System
!!! example "The Alberta Learning Journey" 1. We get basic education 2. We pick a "practical" career 3. We stop learning anything new 4. We mock anyone still studying 5. We complain about "overqualified millennials" 6. We wonder why we can't diversify our economy
What Real Learning Freedom Looks Like
- Lifelong education (without the lifetime of debt)
- Skill exploration (beyond operating heavy machinery)
- Career transitions (yes, even FROM the oil industry)
- Personal development (more than just mandatory safety training)
- Cultural learning (because our world's bigger than Alberta)
But What About Job Training?!
!!! info "Plot Twist" Turns out, the more things we're free to learn, the more innovative our economy becomes. Mind-blowing, we know.
The Learning Landscape
Traditional Education
- K-12 that teaches critical thinking (not just test taking)
- Post-secondary that doesn't require a second mortgage
- Trade schools that teach future-proof skills
- Adult education that fits our real life schedules
Personal Development
- Hobby courses (because joy matters)
- Language learning (yes, even French)
- Arts education (not everything needs to be "practical")
- Cultural studies (our world's bigger than our hometown)
Professional Growth
- Career change support
- New technology training
- Leadership development
- Cross-industry skills
!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip" If we think learning is just for kids, let's try competing in today's job market with 1980s skills. Even our trucks have computers now.
Breaking Down Barriers
What's Stopping Us:
- Time constraints ("We work three jobs")
- Financial barriers ("Learning is expensive")
- Social pressure ("Real workers don't need book learning")
- Limited access ("Our only college is 3 hours away")
- Fear of change ("But this is how we've always done it")
What We Need
- Flexible learning options
- Affordable education
- Distance learning
- Practical support
- Cultural acceptance of continuous learning
- Time for personal development
The Economic Reality
When we're free to learn:
- Our innovation increases
- Our productivity improves
- Our adaptability grows
- Our economy diversifies
- Our communities thrive
!!! warning "Reality Check" Our freedom to stay the same doesn't mean we shouldn't have the freedom to grow and change.
The Bottom Line
Freedom to learn means having the opportunity, resources, and support to develop ourselves throughout our lives. It means understanding that education isn't just about jobs - it's about growing as people and as a society.
!!! note "Let's Get Learning" Ready to support learning freedom? Let's start by: - Supporting our education initiatives - Encouraging lifelong learning - Sharing our knowledge and skills - Creating learning opportunities - Never stopping our own learning journey
Remember: Every skill we have was learned at some point. Freedom to learn means giving all of us the chance to develop our full potential - even if that potential doesn't involve a hard hat.
Sources & Evidence
Education Funding Cuts
- Post-secondary education in Alberta has faced $690 million in funding cuts since 2019
- The University of Alberta alone eliminated over 1,100 positions
- Tuition increases have far outpaced inflation, with some programs seeing 40%+ increases
- Source: CUPE Alberta - Post-Secondary Cuts
- Source: University of Alberta Budget Documents
K-12 Education Concerns
- Per-student funding has declined when adjusted for inflation
- Class sizes have increased in many school divisions
- Educational assistants and support staff have been cut
- Rural schools face consolidation and reduced programming
- Source: Alberta Teachers' Association
Curriculum Changes
- New curriculum has faced criticism from education experts and teachers
- Indigenous education content remains insufficient according to TRC recommendations
- Science curriculum concerns raised about climate and evolution coverage
- Source: Support Our Students Alberta
Adult & Continuing Education
- Retraining programs for oil and gas workers remain underfunded relative to need
- Community adult learning programs have faced cuts
- Apprenticeship completion rates lag behind other provinces
- Source: Alberta Federation of Labour - Just Transition Research
Digital Divide
- Rural Alberta faces significant gaps in internet access for online learning
- Low-income families face barriers to technology access
- Library funding cuts have reduced community learning resources
- Source: Alberta Library Trustees Association
