Here is my most recent email to Iker, Fassbender and Clark. Mr. Iker, Mr. Fassbender, So, it’s begun. Educational Erosion. A family of my acquaintance has sent their children to independent school so that their children can go to school at all. They were walking distance to school, but now have to drive. But with no school on, what does distance matter? I am disheartened because they were an active part of the school community.…
While on the way back from Qualicum Beach yesterday I was called by CTV. They wanted to do an in home interview. We managed to catch the correct ferry and get home in time to make the news. This was September 1, 2014. bc.ctvnews.ca/2.1141/ctv-news-at-six To find the video segement, look for “CTV News at Six for Sep. 1: Teachers” in their section on the right. The segment I’m in starts at 5:26 minutes into the…
A mother of two and teacher of many and volunteer extraordinaire wrote this letter to the premier. Please people, whether you are taking sides or not, the thought of refusing school to kids this September is unacceptable at many levels. Write, tweet or email your MLA. Dear Premier Clark, Minister Fassbender and Minister De Jong, I was outraged to hear of your proposal of paying parents of school-aged children $40 per day should the strike…
If you have an opinion, send it to them here: premier@gov.bc.ca peter.fassbender.mla@leg.bc.ca FIN.Minister@gov.bc.ca educ.minister@gov.bc.ca To Ms Clark, Mr. Fassbender and Mr. de Jong, I am writing to say I am disgusted with the way you three have handled the teacher’s strike. The $40-a-day plan that was announced yesterday was so distressing that I had to write to you again. Apart from the blatant practical issues with the plan (negative tax impact, cost of setting up…
I just emailed back (see previous post) on the response from the Premier’s Office. Please everyone … we have to keep asking that the strike is fixed by Aug 15! Hi, Thanks very much for replying. It makes a difference to know that a single voice can be heard. I’ve been thinking more about the situation and before I prattle on, I want to let you know that my intent is always for a practical…
I was in Ontario and Quebec for family vacation for two weeks. The objective was visiting distant family and friends and exposing my recently-graduated-grade-7 daughter to French outside the classroom. (It was a huge success for her; pity the parents and administration failed to set up a proper FI cultural exchange during the school year. It would have been better.) Naturally during out visit, the topic of the teachers’ strike arose. As I tried to…
On Wed June 25, my daughter’s class had a grad ceremony at Kits Community Centre, instead of Hudson, due to the strike/lockout. This turned out to be quite the adventure because the ceremony was basically cancelled and I had not worried too much because I felt there was little I could do. Then I got a call from a dad, who I’ve know since my daughter was 3, who said, “I have a contact with…
To Clark, Fassbender, Iker, Bacchus and those in your employ. When you increase the MSP rates and cause budget shortfalls, you attack my children. When you deny a French Immersion spot at my local school for my son, you attack my child. When you call a strike, you attack my children. When you slow down the rate of seismic upgrading to schools, especially my child’s school, you attack my child. When your toxic negotiations rub…
I just emailed the text below to the Premier, Minister of Education, the head of the BCTF and the BCSPEA. ————— There’s a straightforward way to solve the dispute between teachers and government. This solution has the benefit of actually helping children, meeting basic goals of both the government and the union. I suspect that the government is being so weird about pay because paying the teachers more does not guarantee better results in the…
I always knew I’d learn a lot being a parent, but this is ridiculous. At time of writing there’s a labour dispute between the BCTF (teacher’s union) and the BC Provincial government (employer). Representatives from each side of the dispute have said their actions are “for the children.” I’m not sure to which children they are referring, but it sure can’t be the ones currently attending school. Maybe it’s some theoretical bunch of children they…