MTS: How They Will Conduct Your Code (and How YOU Can Code Your Conduct!)

I was a fairly moderate, quiet child, who kept most of my opinions inside and didn't seem to get too riled up about things (except for when it came to anything to do with my sister, but that's a whole other story).  Occasionally, something would come up that would ignite my passion, and I would feel the need to share my perspective with anyone who would listen to me (or not.  Whatever.)  Like when I decided I was born in the wrong century, and was actually supposed to be Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Or my lasting infatuation with Kevin Costner, the only man worthy of my affections (yah, I was eight.)  In my mind woodticks were the epitome of evil, and I was convinced they were out to get me.  Above all, I became animated about unions.  I'm not sure where exactly it came from, but I felt very strongly that unions were bad news, and I was proud to state that I would never, EVER work in something as awful as a unionized job.  I remember being absolutely baffled that grownups would get so mad at their boss that they would refuse to work, and march around wearing silly signs trying to arouse sympathy for their cause.  "Can't they resolve things in a peaceful and mature manner?" I asked my mother.  She, ever wise and thoughtful, responded "They have tried that dear.  And this is a peaceful manner.  They are just showing their bosses that they are serious.  Unions are a good thing, they stick up for the rights of the worker."  I remained unconvinced.  So nurses would strike and leave people to die just for more money?  City workers would leave garbage and allow unbelievable filth to spread just because they wanted shorter working hours?  BLASPHEMY!  Where were the hard-working, non-complaining and loyal heroes of my youth?  (Fred Penner would NEVER deprive his fans of his music no matter how bad things got, he understood his show was providing an essential service).  What was wrong with these yahoos?!  "People just don't work like they used to...always wanting more...now the dock workers and the railways, how is a farmer supposed to make a decent living with everyone striking along the way?" I heard my Grandpa tell my Dad, feeding fuel to my fire.  I think what bothered me the most is that there is no choice.  You are forced to join the union, pay for it, and then you HAVE to do what they tell you to do.  If they decide to strike, you have to as well!  Whether you believe it is the right thing to do or not.  I firmly believed our society had a human rights disaster on its hands.  What had happened to freedom of speech and choice?!

Here I am, several years later, about to join the Manitoba Teacher's Society and its gasp!  U-N-I-O-N.
The Manitoba Teachers' Society is the collective bargaining and professional development organization for all of Manitoba's 15,000 public school teachers.  Founded in 1919, the Society provides assistance to local associations in collective bargaining, offers professional development workshops and lobbies government on legislation that affects education, students and teachers.  (Alright, that doesn't sound too bad.  I think that's a nice little introduction).
The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is dedicated to safeguarding the welfare of teachers, the status of the teaching profession and the cause of public education in Manitoba.  (Okay, it wouldn't be so bad to have someone watching my back.  Sounds like these people might know what they're doing). 
In fact, the more I read about the society, the more I like it.  Their goals are thoughtful and well-written.  The Code of Professional Practice is more than something I will just adhere to, it is a code I can be proud of.  There is nothing in this document which I feel the need to dispute, since I fortunately agree with all of the points made.  While I think all thirteen points outlined are important, I find the first six to resonate more strongly with me, due to their more personal nature. To me, this code outlines how teachers should behave, interact with others, and what is required of them.  It lets the public know what they should be able to expect from the people left in charge of their most precious possessions seven hours a day, five days a week.  As long as you adhere to the code, you never have to be alone in dealing with issues, MTS is there for you!  The Code of Professional Practice holds teachers to a high standard, which I believe should be expected by the parents, students, colleagues,  society in general, and of yourself.  Teachers need a set of rules to abide by, and a way to be held accountable for their actions.

Fortunately for myself (and those who know me), I have gradually come to my senses, and my opinions have matured considerably.  I now know I would not have made a good pioneer.  My ridiculously picky eating habits would have seen me either starve, or most likely be abandoned by any sane pioneer parents.  Although Kevin Costner made the greatest Robin Hood, Matt Damon or Ewan MacGregor are far more suitable marriage prospects (the fact that they are both happily married does not deter me.  (Eye on the prize Lindsay, eye on the prize).  I still find woodticks to be pretty awful, but I know they are just as likely to attack you as me.  Most importantly, I have finally realized that unions are not such a terrible thing after all.  In fact, they are pretty alright.  I am lucky to have grown up in a country where women are respected as equals.  I am fortunate that my parents value education, and made my dreams of going to a post-secondary institution a priority.  And I will have a real advantage in the workplace because of the strong union and respectable society I belong to.