FOR PRE-REGISTERED SESSIONS PLEASE USE THE PRE-REGISTRATION LINK IN THE SESSION DESCRIPTION. The pre-registration web page is https://www.pdtca.org/pre-registration.html Adding the session to your Sched schedule does not mean you are pre-registered. Pre-registration is now closed. The pre-registration page has an email link if you need to request to be removed from a session so someone on the waiting list can have your spot - top right of the page. For changes or signup come to the convention information desk at/after 1:00 pm on Thursday, Feb 23rd. Please kindly check Button 3. on the pre-registration page to see if a session has room for you as most of them are full.
SESSION EVALUATION: You do not need to create a profile and log in to see sessions in Sched. However, if you want to add yourself to a session or evaluate a session you must be logged in.
NOTE TO SPEAKERS: We had planned to have a Zoom help desk, but decided against it.
“On the two school days of your assigned teachers’ convention, you have a legal and professional responsibility to attend convention. If you are not able to make it safely to your assigned convention, however, your collective agreement may include impassable roads or inclement weather clauses that you can access. If your collective agreement does not include language specific to road conditions or weather, you may make use of the personal leave clauses of your agreement in most cases. Please be aware that using any of these types of leave may require you to pay substitute costs, forego a portion of your salary and benefits, or report to your school or another work location in your district. Refer to your collective agreement for more information. Should you require any additional information or if you need assistance interpreting your collective agreement, please contact Teacher Employment Services at 1-800-232-7208 or 780-447-9400.” This information is also found on the Frequently Asked Questions page on the ataconventions.ca website. If you have any further questions regarding this, please contact me by e-mail at Daniel.Maas@ata.ab.ca.
*****SESSION EVALUATIONS WILL CLOSE FRIDAY MARCH 3rd*****
The session’s thesis is that; “Idealistic Rhetoric aside, the causes of war can be reduced to self-interest and for the greater part, the self-interests of Realism.” Realism states that The International System has no governing authority, International Law is a reflection of power and therefore each state is required to make survival, security, power and wealth its priorities. In practice however a state’s policies are influenced by the self-interests of the ruling elite whose interests may or may not reflect the interests of the state. Where they do not, the Ruling Elite usually assume a faux Realist position as in Nixon and Kissinger’s continuance of the Vietnam War for personal political power (The Anna Chennault Affair) and in the Neoconservatives’ War in Iraq for ideological and financial self-interests. A contrary example of the elite taking a non-Realist stance is the offshoring of industry to China for corporate self-interests, which has led to China’s rise. Evidence from past wars, including Canada’s, will be given to support this thesis and participants will be asked to contribute their evidence that may confirm or contradict it. Those opposing war should know that arguing that a war will not accomplish professed humanitarian goals will have no effect on war planners, for humanitarian goals are not actual causes. Those supporting war should also know that professed humanitarian goals are not actual causes. And both should know that actual causes lie within the structure of the International System and some combination of the perceived self interests of nations, leaders and to some extent, citizens. Attendees will participate in a “student” activity discovering analogies between Historical and Current Conflicts and Realist Concepts, such as: Territorial Expansion, Hegemony, Appeasement, Vassalage, Divide & Conquer, Shifting Alliances, Balancing, Bandwagoning, Balance of Power, Rising Power, The Security Dilemma etc. The session and its concepts are very straightforward and suitable for all levels of knowledge.
