Each province has a teachers association or federation that represents the teachers of the province in negotiations about things like health and dental plans, salary, or pension plans. In Saskatchewan, there is the Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF).

Coming from Alberta and had been in the education program at the University of Alberta for a year, I know about the Alberta Teachers Associaton (ATA) and some of what they do for teachers in Alberta. These two committees work in the same ways to support teachers as the STF. Something I had wondered coming from Alberta to get my Education Degree in Saskatchewan is if I could transfer it back to Alberta if I decide I want to teach there instead of in Saskatchewan. I thought it would be this very complicated process and I would have to jump through hoops in order to be able to teach in my home province, but it is easier than I thought. All that needs to be done is to submit my transcripts to the ATA or the teachers federation of the province I want to teach in and they decide if the classes I have taken are equivalent to the ones required to get a teachers certificate in that province. If there are more classes needed then it would take more time in order to take those classes. I was surprised at how simple it could turn out to be.

Along with supporting teachers, there are requirements of the teachers that belong to these federations to be respectful and uphold a code of conduct and professionalism. These codes are extremely important for teachers to uphold due to the seriousness of the action against a teacher who does not follow the codes. Teachers can be tried in front of their peers or worse depending on the severity of the situation. Keeping the professionalism in this profession is extremely important because teachers work directly with children and the public. Teachers are public figures no matter the size of town or city they teach in or how popular they may be in the teaching community. Being a teacher is a responsibility to be in good standing with the public, the teaching federations, and conducting oneself professionally in the classroom and in public.

These federations and associations also give teachers opportunities to progress in their teaching development, support them with access to resources to help them teach their classes as well as to give them opportunities to expand their horizons by teaching in other countries. The STF showcases the Stewart Resources Centre as a library for teachers. There are links on their website for overseas opportunities like professional development in other countries.

Teachers need a higher governing body to help them get them with keeping working conditions, salaries, and benefits they need to be the best teachers they can be. There is a need for balance between what the teaching federations do for teachers and how the teachers represent the federations and their provinces.