Aug
29
By Carole James
The coming of September usually brings excitement for back-to-school, but this year it is instead bringing tension and worry for teachers, parents, administrators, support staff, and boards of education. As I write this in the heat of August, teachers are still without a contract.
Over the last few months, it has become painfully clear that the BC government has no interest in getting children back into classrooms and bringing stability back to our schools. Instead of focusing on getting our schools running again and improving learning for our kids, the government announced a $40-a-day per elementary aged child rebate for extra costs if school remains out.
How ridiculous. Every penny saved from the school shutdown should stay in our public education system and not be going to create an unpractical scheme, while the lives of students and families continue to be disrupted.
Parents I have heard from over the last few months just want to have their children back in school. They have already had their lives turned upside down by the dispute, and they want the government to focus on getting a deal and getting schools back open.
The Official Opposition is calling on the government to put the $178 million "saved" during the school shutdown back into public education. It's unacceptable to be scheming up ways to spend it while the dispute goes unresolved. Energy should be spent on finding a settlement as the first priority. That would honour students and parents more than any scheme!
I have visited with teachers at many picket lines at schools in our constituency. I am committed to public education, and believe that mediation has a role to play in a settlement. Unfortunately this government doesn't agree and has stubbornly refused to appoint a mediator.
This dispute doesn't just hurt children and their families; it hurts all of us. Public education is critically important to our economy, society and the strength of our communities.
Bargaining to reach contract settlements and running school systems isn't easy work, as I know from my years around the table as a school trustee. But respect and goodwill are the fundamental building blocks to a deal, and both have been missing from this government through this dispute.
In fact, this government and the Premier have shown a distressing lack of respect for teachers, and a woeful lack of understanding for parents and students. This government has failed to address overcrowded classrooms, to provide adequate support for students with special needs, and to understand the importance of counsellors and teacher librarians.
I hope this dispute is settled by the time you are reading this, and that the students and teachers and all those who breathe life and energy into our public school system are sharing in the joy of a new year of learning and teaching.
And I hope the focus has turned to finding a long-term solution to ensuring funding and providing a continuity of support for one of the most critical institutions in our communities - our public schools.
As always, I appreciate hearing your views on this topic and any others of interest to you and your family. Please contact me at:
1084 Fort Street
Victoria, BC V8V 3K4
Phone: 250 952-4211
Carole.James.mla@leg.bc.ca
www.carolejamesmla.ca