BC Teachers’ Union Protests Anniversary of Christy Clark Hamfistedness: Good Guys Wear Black–But Not Always…
Welcome to ‘Black Friday’. No, the market hasn’t crashed–yet…
There is no update to the ‘Batman’ series. No national mourning. Giorgio Armani isn’t switching from earth tones. The day of the euro-trash suit isn’t about to return.
Instead, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, in the always missing wisdom of their perpetual fight with any non-NDP government, is at it again. To protest the ten year anniversary of losing the ability to bargain for class size, composition and percentage of special needs teachers, they’ve suggested that wearing black today would make a difference. The contract breaking legislation was beaten down by a Supreme Court judge and the government has a little longer to come up with a settlement (which I assure you will be legislated). No matter, the union sees another opportunity to campaign for the BC NDP.
By, once again, using your kids.
The narrative by the teachers’ union is not just ridiculous it’s hurtful and damaging.
According to them, nothing has been the same since the government screwed them and the poor, meek, reasonable teachers federation has comported themselves with great principle–it’s the government that has been entirely at fault.
Bollocks.
A decade ago, when Christy Clark was education Minister, the beginning of the damage to education in this province by this government was spawned–that much is PARTLY true. She was a terrible Education Minister (but she was a terrible and underqualified Minister in EVERY Ministry she occupied). Previous to the Prom Queen, the NDP didn’t give the teachers much either–and did you hear a peep from the union?!
That the teachers aren’t playing politics, ONCE AGAIN, is drivel. It’s all about politics, it’s not about your kids. Not one bit.
The notion that the BCTF is negotiating a new contract with principle and balance is complete and total, unadulterated bull.
They’ve always lied about their falsely robust internal numbers against standardized testing; they cover for incompetent teachers; they cover atrocities through the corrupt teacher’s college, members whose conduct is completely objectionable (and do not easily release details even when it deals with possible child molestation etc.); they don’t believe in renewal, instead preferring to carry thousands of older members that constitute dead weight; they have no serious internal review of productivity levels, but rather, carry every member to retirement–and have one of the most lavish pensions in the union world.
But it’s all the government’s fault.
I have yet to bump into a public school parent that agrees with the teachers’ union on this point. It’s stunning, frankly.
I’m all for the government stepping up and getting their house in order where education funding in this province is concerned. I think we could do more with what we have, too, but they are not doing the right things, that much is clear. I know that there are children at-risk and that they and their families deserve better than they are getting. Particularly those with special needs; the BC Liberals have failed them so very miserably.
But with the BCTF as advocates, I’m not sure how this all ends without a simple whimper. Asking for 15% over two years is bad enough, but the multi-hundred million dollar package is abominable in the benefits they outrageously demand. Union bashing is wrong, but is this the wafer-thin level of sobriety we can expect from the union?
“Only 17 million is going towards wages,” says Ms. Lambert. Gosh, I sure hope she’s not a maths teacher. Because as an advocate, she stinks. Where’s the rest of the $280,000,000 being demanded going? Do we have line-items to support this? Is there an itemized accounting for this? No, and no.
It’s the same old, same old with this union. Always miserable about something, always looking for the warmth of battle. But they could get the same feeling from proverbially peeing in a dark suit–and about the same results.
The BCTF is always whining, always complaining, always bitching, always militant, always seemingly foisting yet another super-bitch upon us. The only leader I liked was Jinny Sims as outside the limited lather, she was reasonable. Carole Taylor shares the same opinion.
But Susan Lambert has to be one of the most brainless. Her talking points this week demonstrate that she is not only uninterested in what’s best for your children, but too, that she is yet another NDP shill in the mega-bitch mode of uncontainable NDP shrew Patti Bacchus, chair of the forever-grandstanding Vision Vancouver majority of the Vancouver School Board.
Ms. Lambert has every right in the world to claim the provincial government is stripping away $300,000,000 per year from education funding–a dubious claim if there ever was one. I’m not saying they’re angels, but show us the specifics NOW on how the government is doing this, instead of more deepest purple prose or bright crimson cacophony. When she says, “they do this to fund 25% corporate tax cuts for their wealthy friends,” Susan Lambert annihilates her own credibility–the little she enters the game with. How the hell does she know where that money is going, if anywhere? For example, the climate change file is a massive (and useless) drain on this government. How does she know it’s not going there? Does she not understand economics? If there is no money to offer–as she claimed only the previous month that “money is non-existent.”, how is it then being stripped away? And, again, if it’s genuinely being stripped away and the money does indeed exist, how does Ms. Lambert know exactly where it’s really going?
Her contradictory, highly political rhetoric is astounding and the spin is not what should be coming from the mouth of a woman who claims that she and her colleagues want only what’s best for your kids.
What is abundantly clear, is that she wants what’s best for her derriere and those of her pals in the NDP wings of the BCTF. This is not about your kids, this is about USING YOUR KIDS FOR PARTISAN POLITICAL PURPOSES.
And the featherbedding of long-time union butts.
This is the incredible nonsense of this particular union. This is why private schools see four or five applicants for every available spot: parents are sick of the spin, recognize the system is broken and want what’s best for their children, so they make arrangements to hugely sacrifice for the kids. This government is no bigger a problem in fixing education in this province than this union is.
Susan Lambert also has the temerity to say that they would never pump any political rhetoric to “the children, who should be everyone’s biggest concern.”
Really???
Handing pro-NDP pamphlets TO SCHOOL CHILDREN, to take home during election writs. Having closed classroom discussions WITH SCHOOL CHILDREN about upcoming elections (federal, civic and now provincial). Attempting to politically indoctrinate young, innocents. And now the wearing of black won’t make a single kid ask themselves why? This isn’t STRICTLY political?
Heavens, I can’t imagine the fair, tempered, equitable and gentle response.
Ms. Lambert doesn’t need to open her big mouth about why she and her dimwits are donning mourning wear. Kids aren’t stupid. They’ll put one and one together and come up with two.
Then again, that depends on if Ms. Lambert was the one teaching them maths.
15% over two years alex….. doesnt seem unreasonable when you look at what the mla’s voted themselves for a raise.
i agree some of the demands the teachers union have made are completely unreasonable… but i find it hard to argue with them when you look at what the people negotiating on our behalf have given themselves as government employees.
i would be all for a 0% mandate… if the mla’s that represent us in these negotiations accepted the same for themselves. until that happens i wish the teachers union luck, and dont blame them one bit.
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In principle, what you’ve written may appear to have great merit, unfortunately those to whom you wish great luck don’t feel at all as you do.
For if there was indeed real merit to your objection, then the union would not only raise the issue, but banner it everywhere.
Can you guess they they don’t? Could it be because the NDP joined the Liberals in the MLA raise fiasco? It was too high an increase (although I would argue that being an MLA and being a teacher in this province cannot be compared).
The greater contradiction in your position is that while we couldn’t afford increasing MLA’s salaries and pensions, we should add another $300,000,000 burden to the provincial bottom line by giving in to the BCTF’s outrageousness, which, um, you don’t agree with, but, um, agree with.
Okay…sure thing.
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My mother taught high school for decades. Like many teachers, she was often furious with her own union leadership, and often furious with the NDP government when they were in power. However, my mom loved her job and did it with great skill. She shaped the lives of thousands of kids in a very positive way. I’ve been in public with her when she has run into ex-students who have given heart felt thanks for having such a great impact on their lives.
Near the end of her teaching days, which was sometime during the Campbell years, she said something quite astounding. “I’ve always encouraged kids who wanted to go into teaching. I’ve told them it’s a great profession. However, if some grade 12 student came to me now and asked me about going into teaching, I’d tell them to go do something else. This government is destroying public education in BC.”
I think the increase in private school applications has more do to with the continued undermining by the gov’t/Fraser institute types than it has to do with the BCTF. I have no doubt that, if they could get away with it, this gov’t would reduce public education to nothing and leave it all up to the private schools.
What the BCTF should be doing is asking for a “me too” clause in terms of wage increases (should other public sectors get a raise in the next couple of years) and then be pushing hard and publicly for the the things they need to do to restore public education in BC. This is my son’s first year in school and we’ve already done more fundraisers in his first six months than I did in 12 years. That’s not right.
I too find the BCTF to be too militant. But their unprecedented assault on the government, however, is little more than pushing back for the decade-old anti-teacher agenda that this BC government holds.
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I don’t buy it, not for a minute.
I am the parent of three private school children and while I’m the product of a private school education, my wife was not. One of my three sisters was not. Most if my friends were not an their kids are not–and the complaints are te same: the public school system, rather than having teaching LEADERSHIP has reduced itself to a snivelers paradise, replete with supportive funds and narrative from the NDP.
The notion that private school demand is because of this government’s philosophical disposition to recognizing private school excellence is total and complete codswallop.
Private schools don’t need the Fraser Institute as good advertising. The failures of the public school system are more than enough.
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The truth indeed, is the other way round, that the previous poster posits.
The militant, careless attitude of the BCTF is driving parents and kids into the private school system. The public system is a poor shadow of what it used to be, thanks in large part to the BCTF, who has spent years caring more about militancy and unionism, using our kids as pawns, and human shields, than it has about the real educational needs of our kids.
My second kid is in Grade 9, the first has escaped the public system. Every year, there is one teacher who is either a first class idiot, anal retentive, or absent due to union activities, that we as parents, call on the carpet for dereliction of duties, and to let them know that the kid they decided to be arrogant and stupid to, has two parents that care, and won’t let ANY teacher get away with the petty crap that they try to get away with.
The public school system is rotten to the core, and the BCTF has a prime responsibility for that end result.
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I agree. The vilification of private schools is appalling and unfair. I say that and some ass shows up to point out I’m a Saints grad and that all three of my children go to private schools.
Well, this is what I know: Without a robust public school system, we as a society, are impoverished. The BCTF are delivering that reality in spades. Not everyone is prepared to make the sacrifices some of us make. We don;t holiday during Christmas and Easter but put together a month in the summer–but nowhere opulent. We live in not as nice a home as we could. We make SACRIFICES. The majority of parents who send their kids to private schools make HUGE sacrifices. The notion that everyone is driving a Bentley and snorting Grey Poupon is unadulterated bullshit.
The public school system is indeed rotten. No morals, no discipline, no consequences for actions that are wrong. Students are aimless, because teachers, many of them but not all, don’t care. It’s become a very militant profession. Too political. It’s sickening.
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My kid is in a private school because our local public school is rated lowest in the province. I am not sure how we can fault teachers for asking for a raise when they are currently rnaking 9th or so in the country. BC is a prosperous province, no? I’ve heard people say we should allow the market to decide the price for teachers. because everyone wants to be a teacher in BC therefore we should pay less. I’m not sure that is a healthy way to pay the people who are responsible for our kids education. Why should this zero mandate be in place anyway? Why not keep up with inflation at the very least and make the budget balance on some other expenditure instead of what people need to pay rent and feed their kids?
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Yes, some very good points, the govt is not appreciative of the majority of teachers in this province who are all very good. But the majority of their organizers are appalling shills. Not good at all and therein lies the bigger problem. You have to be able to deal with reason.
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are you implying that the current government in victoria is reasonable?
i know your right alex, resonable would be the road to go, but you dont start from a reasonable negotiating stance with people you know for a fact are going to be anything but. (and yes thats a 2 way street)
when the current govenment has legislated away rights that teachers had for job action….. what exactly did people think would be the end result? that the teachers union would come to the table with fair expectations and a reasonaable deal?
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That’s utterly ridiculous.
Because the Govt are acting like idiots that makes it all the fairer for the BCTF to act like petulant children.
I guess the logic and reason course was not an elective you thought would come in handy one day…
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not ridiculous alex.
the reasonable course for the teachers union to take at the moment is to cause as much grief as possible and delay any settlement till there is a change in government (from their position).
they can not in any way expect a reasonable deal from the liberal government, so why would you start your bargaining position from one that is fair? so the liberals can legislate something thats not?
end of the day though as you point out the liberals will almost certainly legislate the teachers deal, so does it really matter? (bryond psying lawyers for both sides for another ten years while the teachers sue the government again?)
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You’re simply repeating the same refrain just in a different key.
And it’s not any less ridiculous.
The government is useless = the union should get to play stupid bugger.
Makes perfect sense. Beyond ridiculous.
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For what its worth Alex, the teachers are still giving grades, although not formally on written report cards. We are receiving them via e-mail from my son’s instructors. So, at this point, it is ‘the game’ being played of official vs unofficial duties that is being performed.
Sooner or later, whether it is this round of bargaining, or the next, the BCTF is itching for the ultimate fight. Last time they defied a court order to return to work, and goaded the BCFed into a joke of a ‘general strike’, which I personally did not support, but could not cross the picket line due to reprisals from my own union, reprisals that prevent freedom of expression, or freedom to do my job, despite an illegal work stoppage.
Nonetheless, there is a big fight coming, I believe where the BCTF will stay out and prolong a work stoppage, court system be damned. And, frankly, I believe that fight needs to happen to slap the BCTF back into reality, and realize that they are public servants, and not the other way around, as they want the public to serve them. Would jail time or millions of dollars in fines wake them up? Somehow I doubt it, as the likes of Che Guevara have become their heroes.
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Great points.
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“The public school system is indeed rotten. No morals, no discipline, no consequences for actions that are wrong. Students are aimless, because teachers, many of them but not all, don’t care.”
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Might I disagree here?
The lack of morality, discipline, consequences, aimlessness that is apparent in SOME students is not necessarily the result of uncaring teachers. We are hamstrung by government policies and weak-kneed administrators.
One of the policies that the government is pushing through districts is a no-zero policy. We can not give a zero on an assignment for any reason. If the student doesn’t hand it in, we can’t give a zero. Whether they hand it in on the due date or 3 months late, they get the same mark. If the student skips a test because they didn’t study or decided to go skiing, give them another time to write it. No zeros. No consequences.
If a student is a major disruption in your class, send them to the office. But don’t expect anything to be done about it. They are right back in within a few minutes with no behaviour plan.
3 years back, a student with a locker outside my classroom door brought a bottle of wine to school. It fell out and spilled all over the floor. A puddle of wine remained on the hallway floor for at least an hour while students walked by on the way to class. Several teachers went to administration to get them to deal with it, as they had to go teach. The student was found and was “talked” to, but was back in class within a half hour. No call home, no suspension. When I spoke to the administrator who dealt with the student, I was told that he has a “good kid” and he wouldn’t do it again. He is a good kid, but that’s not the point.
Our school policy is zero tolerance on drugs and alcohol at school. This includes when students are on school trips. Students sign a form and are told everytime they get on the bus to go on a trip. When I first started on the position I am in now, some members of the senior boys basketball team were caught drinking in a public place in Alaska. Our school policy is that students caught with drugs and alcohol on a school trip are banned from all extracurricular activities for the year and are not eligible for school awards. We, as a school removed the students from the team as per school policy, a policy which students were made well aware of before hand. After our decision, the school board heard from angry parents and re-instated the boys on the team. Even if our administrators take a hard line on discipline, there is always someone higher up who will remove any consequence.
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Okay, here’s a classic example of how you failing our kids!
WHY IS YOUR DAMN UNION NOT BEINGING SUCH OUTRAGEOUSNESS TO LIGHT?! WHY ARE YOU NOT ADVOCATING FOR REAL MARKS?! HOW CAN YOU SIT THERE AND SAY IT’S THE GOVTS FAULT WHEN AS AN OBVIOUSLY INTELLIGENT AND REASONED TEACHER YOU’VE NOT HOOFED OVER TO YOUR LOCAL REP AND LAUNCHED A COMPLAINT?!?!?!
That there is no discipline in public schools is obvious, but now that you’ve demonstrated why–do something about it!!!! Forgive me, but with all your smarts and knowledge, you’re being paid to be the single most important role model in a child’s life. If you aren’t enforcing or at least pointing out where a kid goes wrong, how do you expect them to turn out at all well?!
No zeros?! God rest John Blackmore’s soul…I puked on my desk in the middle of a maths test in Gr. 7. I got it all over my sweater. He wiped down the desk with that same sweater, dropped it in the can and declared it “ruined,” told me to finish the last equation I was working in a walked me down to the nurse.
Next when I tried to stay home he called my mother and told her that I’d he didn’t being me he’d come collect me. “We earn our spot in life Mrs. Tsakumis–as your son should earn his. He has no fever, just a sore tummy. He’ll live. You pay us to produce a man and that’s what we’re going to give you. He’ll be here by noon thank you.”
He gave me a 4/15 and didn’t take into consideration why I couldn’t finish the quiz. When I scored a 14/15 on the make-up he averaged it out–but only a little.
My mother often recalls those words verbatim. Maybe it was a little extreme, but the seven counselors hanging over a kid with a hang nail nowadays is a pathetic way to get these minnows to open water.
To borrow from Bruce Allen: “We’ve pussified an entire generation.”
If the Govt is the problem, push back.
And I promise to walk you down to the nurse…I’ll even throw in a new sweater.
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Every single one of the teachers in my school agree with you 100% Alex. We spent 2 long and aggravating years arguing with our administrators on the attendance issue and not being able to give zeros. We gave up. It was like talking to a brick wall (or BCPSEA – BC Public School Employers Association). To suggest that we are not trying to fight it is quite hurtful.
This is a province-wide initiative. It is called Assessment for Learning and every Superintendent, Principal and Vice-Principal in the province is ramming this down our throats. And once again, this is part of our continuous fight – that of teacher autonomy. I have 3 degrees (2 science degrees and an education degree). Why did I have to pay for all that schooling if you are going to tell me how to evaluate?
Most teachers in a school decided to stop having the conversation with admin and just give zeros anyway. They face the real possibility that an angry parent will tell them that they can’t do that because it is not following provincial policy and they will have to concede. We feel that the risk is worth it because like you, we don’t want to unleash this on society.
As for discipline, we are not able to suspend a student. After the “wine” incident, I marched straight into the Principal’s office and told him how disgusted I was. I told him that we had a zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol in school. He told me that we can’t have a zero tolerance policy on anything.
This situation is only scratching the surface of the stuff we put up with every day. We are trying really hard to hold the ship together. It’s getting harder and harder to do. And we are a really good school with pretty fantastic kids. It pales in comparison to what other schools deal with. Fortunately, we know have a great Principal who agrees with us. Now if we can only work on our VP…..
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I’m not suggesting you’re not trying the fight.
What I’m telling you is that there is no way for the public to know otherwise and you should be getting your colleagues together and standing up for the integrity you all obviously have.
Being a teacher is like being a cop or a doctor. What you do, few can. It’s a speciality that, done right, can set a child for life.
I Admire your commitment and tenacity.
And decency.
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Can I add something?
If the union publicly came out and said they wanted to fight this foolishness brought on by government and administrators, they would have the public on side. But as long as the union whinges incessantly about an outrageous wage increase and class size, the public will, at best, turn a deaf ear to their demands.
IMHO…
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A most welcome interjection…
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“you’re being paid to be the single most important role model in a child’s life” – Alex
And yet a mid-range teacher makes about 55k. 4500/mo gross. What’s the take-home on that? 3500/mo? Let’s see, mortgage/rent, 1500, food 600, car payment 500, whoa less than 1k/mo left for everything else. And this teacher has a family too.
It seems the average teacher is being asked to barely get by, to be the most important role model out of a sense of pure love for the kids, perhaps?
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I’ve never said they should be paid as little as they do.
But they need to drop the union mentality and go back to how things were when there was a teachers federation. There was more bloody accountability then!!!
Increase accountability, stop the politicization of the school milieu, drop the protection of dead wood and I’d be the first to say start them at 65K a year.
Private schools pay a higher rate because if there is ANY issue at all, the teacher doesn’t survive the week–or sometimes in open and shut cases, the day.
Try doing that in a public school. You can’t. And therein lies the problem.
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“It seems the average teacher is being asked to barely get by… ”
WHAT A PILE OF CRAP!!!!
This sums up perfectly what is wrong with teachers. They honestly believe they are hard done by. None of them takes into account their plump benefits or pensions. Their ignorance to basic finance and math often astounds me. No weekends, no shift work, summer vacations, Xmas vacations, and Easter vacations …. but boo-hoo I can barely get by. Try having to save for your retirement on 55k a year like most families do. They have no clue what the reality of life for the non-pampered is.
PATHETIC!!!!
Teachers are the most oblivious group I have ever met in my life. The BCTF tells them that they are hard done by, then they whine and sniffle to each other convincing themselves how hard done by they are. I makes me sick.
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Sometimes Alex you sound as right wing as your republican friends in the US. Everything union is bad (live a living wages farily negotiated, pension plans, fairly negotiated, other benefits fairly negotiated) and everything non-union is good. Bullshit and you know it. If it weren’t for Unions fighting for the working people of this province we’d be back in the dark ages. Perhaps you right wingers prefer that but I won’t allow it on my watch!
You have no idea of what a union is or what it stands for and it shows in this post.
As for the teachers, I hope they painted their faces black as well. Time to stand up and fight for what unions won fair and square.
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“Sometimes Alex you sound as right wing as your republican friends in the US.”
Right and when I’m hammering them, as I did last week, you pull out your trumpet and hail my every footstep. Give it a rest Ronnie.
And by the way, my paternal grandfather was a union organizer for the railroad(s) in the early 20thcentury. My maternal grandfather carried a union card as a grocer for all of the 50s and into the 60s.
Thanks for the lectures (attempted, anyway) on the union movement. I know a ton of great union people. Even a few in the BCTF.
A few…
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Teachers are forced to turn to the NDP because the Liberals, in spite of their rhetoric do not give a d– for education. When the spin for paying CEO’s huge money and perks is the need to attract and retain good people, why is this strategy not used to attract the best into our education system instead of treating classroom teachers like the enemy?
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I couldn’t compare the two as they are not like in any way. I’m sorry.
But I do agree that teachers are under appreciated and the vast majority of the teachers in this province are terrific.
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The state of special needs requires a total re-think into how the classroom is being managed, frankly the system is a terrible mess . Granted, I have been out of the school system for a decent bit, but I do still have siblings that are on the tail end of highschool, along with some nephews still in the primary system, and to top it off a family member that is a primary grade teacher. So here is some perspective from the outside-inside.
I hope you don’t mind Alex, but I’ll keep some parts a bit vague and post this as anon this time. I don’t want the kids being ID’d by someone that may read this, which would be rather easy to pin down if everything was spelled out.
So, you have a young, relatively fresh out of university person beginning a career as a primary school teacher. In the class are almost 30 students, three of which have some type of special need or severe learning disorder. #1 is a severe low-function autistic child that requires a dedicated educational aid, #2 has frequent outbursts, and the third is a high-function autistic. Two of those special needs children have minimal supportive services in the classroom as child #1 takes up the bulk of the EA’s attention, so child #2 and #3 are often having to be attended to by the teacher. The remaining 20 odd children in the classroom range the mix from low-average to high grades.
I had the opportunity to sit in for a portion of a class one day as it was one of those ‘this person does this for a job’ presentation days, and I drew the lucky straw to come into the class and speak (speaking in front of adults is hard enough, but children will rip you to shreds). During my few hours of observation and subsequent talk, there was a sort of organized chaos tone to the classroom. Instruction was trying to be done, but there was always something that would interrupt the flow of things, be it child #1 having to leave the room, to child #2 throwing things or yelling, to child #3 getting up and going to randomly stand in different areas of the room. There would be a momentary shuffling around as the teacher went and corralled #3, talked to #2 to calm them down, and stopped to talk with the EA about child #1. Now you add onto this a number of other children asking questions, some having difficulty following along with reading, all the usual class room things that come up. To put it frankly, the classroom is highly dis-functional and I question how much education is actually sticking to the students.
We had the same things going on when I was growing up, you’d have a kid that was the class clown, the occasional one that was difficult, and the wide range of A’s to C-’s. What we didn’t have was three highly disruptive special needs children in the class every day. Those children for good or bad were in separate classes, but they still went through the motions and spent some class time with the rest of us, and also graduated with us, but they were segregated to a large degree.
Now here’s where I question that in the past, was that the wrong thing to have done, or was it the right thing? Was it right to keep those children corralled off while the rest could learn with a relative calm? Or was it a horrible thing to have done to them that just perpetuated the stigma of special needs? I don’t have the answer to that, there are points on each side which make you question just how you would handle things if you wiped the slate clean and had to build the system from scratch.
Now I get back on topic and see what the teachers union is doing and I shake my head, because it clashes with what my family member says is wrong with the system, the least of which is pay & benefits.
What a cluster—-, good synopsis Alex.
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Thank you. Good questions.
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This is precisely why more and more parents are enrolling their children in private school.
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Yes, and I’m not sure how thrilled I am about five applicants for every spot.
It shows that public school parents have had enough of the games and the BCTF must take as much of te blame (if not more) than the government.
Terrible situation.
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We’re going to have to disagree on this one, Alex. While I share your sentiments about the ineptitude of BCTF, not to mention their outrageous salary demands at the moment (though ultimately the BC Liberals are responsible for why the provincial coffers are empty in the first place), I feel this government has done everything in it’s power to undermine public education at every turn. Not only have they greatly reduced funding, they gerrymandered the system on how they fund to be able to do the Orwellian double-speak and tell us they are increasing funding to schools when they’ve done the exact opposite. I’m not sure what the BCTF has to do with the all-too familiar scenario painted by Anon, nor what they have to do with the huge cuts to education and off loading of costs onto local school districts. And it’s the government and not the BCTF who insist upon the useless and divisive FSA test which only serve to create a pecking order among supposedly equal public schools.
In spite of the traditional Union/NDP connection, I think if you talk to some teachers who have taught under both NDP and BC Liberal governments, they’ll tell you the relationship between the teachers and the NDP while in office was hardly beer and skittles.
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That may be. I’m dealing with what we’re faced with today and it’s atrocious.
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“Anon” has NAILED IT
We, as a politically correct society, have surrendered our childrens education to a minority of ‘special needs” kids.
Kids that may never learn anything other than how to be the “center of attention”. How many parents “high five” the day their kids are old enough to go to school and they can finally stop paying the exorbitant daycare extortion fees. How many parents drop their kids off to govt subsided daycare aka : school.
Kids that are uncontrollable at home become disruptive monsters at school and all the other kids suffer.
I grind my teeth when hear union reps constantly complain that they need more “assistants” because the classrooms are unmanageable.
Dare I be politically incorrect in saying, WHY are we spending scarce taxpayers dollars on kids that dont deserve the PRIVLEDGE of an education. Look at any 3rd world country that accepts donations for schools and hospitals. The kids consider themselves luck to be in school and not working in a farmers field , a factory or as a prostitute.
As “Anon” describes; I remember the exact same scenario when I was in highschool. Special Needs kids were all in one class together and were integrated with the rest of us for school events. The segregation worked for the students, the teachers and the taxpayers.
We , as a society are going to be forced to make a descision very very soon because the taxpayer money trough is empty.
When did we have to surrender common sense to the horrors of political correctness?
As for a 15% raise per year for the teachers…..sure as long as you dont mind inflation rising 15% per year because the nurses, doctors, govt workers, police, firemen will ALL want 15% per year…….
Hmmmm by 2020 a loaf of bread should cost $100. Weimer Republic here we come…….
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Truly, I love hearing from readers like you. It’s a privilege to have people like you come around.
As for the special needs kids, I really don’t know what the answer is. I just know this govt has screwed them–royally, and it began with Ms. Piggy-in-a-pants-suit.
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“WHY are we spending scarce taxpayers [sic] dollars on kids that dont [sic] deserve the PRIVLEDGE [sic] of an education.[sic]”
Without a doubt the most ignorant and insensitive comment I’ve come across on this site in sometime — if ever.
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Yeah, I wasn’t sure what to make of that either. I’m not sure that’s what he meant. Not right…
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Well thank you Alex. I’m not sure the last time I recieved a compliment like that in the same paragraph as ‘Piggy in a pants suit”. ( I think the last time was 1980 at 2am in a disco in Toronto).
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Too funny!
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They are not asking for 15% per year but over the term of the contract (3 years?) and that is a beginning bargaining position. Please get your facts straight.
Special needs kids are in the classroom now and there are not assistants to go along with them. They take up a lot of extra time and attention and that time and attention is at the expense of the other students. What is so hard to understand about this? It is not up to the teachers whether they are there or not, the system decided to put them there as it was better to integrate them into society then segregate them. I’m sure glad you don’t have one of these children as it would demand a wee bit of a heart to bring one up in this world.
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The special needs issue is only one of the many.
Cut the crap please. The union is out of control.
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Ever since Eileen Daly became Minister of Education in the Dave Barrett NDP government, the political posturing by the BCTF to enhance contract demands has been ever growing. When the VanderZalm Socreds played “choose either the union model or the professional model” in 1987/88 with the teachers, the teachers chose the union model, much to the surprise of government. Since then, the children and their parents have been pawns in the Government/Union chess game, and this will not change. Thanks to these changes and the pro-union ruling by Supreme Court of Canada, the Province and its School Boards have all but lost their right to manage the education system except by brute legislative force. Don’t expect the NDP, the BC LIberals or the Provincial Conservatives to change this.
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Agreed, certainly not until the union–the people who are supposed to be advocating for our children, change their attitude and for once do indeed look at the needs of children FIRST!
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This Union already tries to say that whatever is good for them, per force, is good for the students. Reminds me of the saying: “Whatever is good for General Bullmoose is good for the USA”.
“T’aint so”.
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Thanks for this article Alex. I have been saying the same thing for years now ( and mostly laughed at or beaten down verbally for it ). My opinions are based on my dealings with the school system as my son grew up, and in spite of all I did, sadly, my son is still not a great reader, writer,or math person. And like you say, for the teachers to push their political religion on the kids in the class room is total bullshit. I wonder how many parents , like me, wanted to go to the school and hammer the moron who told their kid to tell their parents how to vote ? I don’t know what the answer is for sure, but I do know that the College and the BCTF have no part in it.
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God bless you and your family. You have endured as millions of others in this province have.
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You quote “that it’s the government fault” and I would tend to agree because unlike Ronald Regan did with the Air Traffic Controllers they let this facade continue. We will not get the best education system possible until we clean house both government and union.
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Complete agreement.
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Hi Alex,
before your column I read in the T.C. about this wearing black “protest” with the same reaction that probably most other folks had, how lame can this union is become,? although I am a great believer in unions now more than ever, this is just dumb!. Who in their right mind could support the BCTF pulling stunts such as this.
You had noted that Jinny Sims was a reasonable leader of the BCTF, probably in part because she had come from the U.K. where classes of over 30 are and have been the norm, multicultural and social pressures are far in extreme of what most teachers have to deal with here in B.C. , most school days start about the same time as here but finish about 4, not 2.30, with less holidays. Jinny knew a good deal when she saw it. She would also know the multitude of contexts in which “bollocks” could be used
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Well, as someone who was also educated in England (in part) as well, I can tell you that the BCTF’s attitude is indeed BOLLOCKS!
They are pathetic. I, too, have great pals in the union movement and believe in their causes generally speaking. Particularly in these days of unbridled corporatism and government avariciousness, it’s easy and ESSENTIAL to do.
But the BCTF is a self-made caricature.
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I have been in most of the \provinces and states in north amerca I do not think there is one state or Province that hates public teachers more then the people in BC.
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And I think the behavior of the BCTF is the single most contributing factor.
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Hi Alex,
I consider unions to be a ‘necessary evil’ but find that they very quickly lose their way–becoming a political and bureaucratic monstrosity that both multiplies and feeds upon itself–in the end doing very little to advance the causes and respond to the real needs of its members. Even with the best intentions, the leadership and support personnel end up having more in common with those they ‘oppose’ than those who pay their salaries. I’ll never forget the night of the near general strike when women and minority hospital workers had their contracts rolled back, a member of the Liberal government lauded the leader of the BC Fed of Labour as a Statesman.’ It was horrific in my mind at the time.
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You raise some very important points.
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GREAT COLUMN
the teachers union is setting the stage for a imposed collective agreement,
this way they play the victim and blame the goverment shame
the union is doing a disserviice to not only their members but to all of the people of bc,
collective baraning is a meeting of the minds. both parties must agree,
a budget is set and both sides cost out proposals and come to an agreement.within the set budget
usually contractual language is the most difficult.
if the bctf think that they will have an easier time with the ndp they are wrong
if you truly care about the students send out report cards and get real,
your demands and behavior has damaged the labour movement across the board.
get real
.
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A superb perspective if there ever was one.
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Hi Alex,
Enjoy your website as it always poses intriguing perspectives. I don’t alway agree, but that’s as it should be. I’d like to say a few words on this topic if I may.
I am a teacher, working up north since 1978. Like most of your articles, I agree with some of what you say and also disagree with other aspects.
I remember the vote back in Zalm’s days. I wasn’t particularly thrilled about becoming a union, but it seemed the better option at the time. I will say I appreciate the benefits the union has been able to bargain for me.
However, I don’t agree with many of the things they do. Like any organization, the ” radicals” tend to be overly involved. The regular members usually have too much on their plate…like work, family, etc. Not an excuse, just reality.
I may be one of those old teachers you refer to, but I can assure you I’m no deadweight, nor are most of the older ones I have worked with over the years. I love my job. I enjoy going into work every day. I believe what I do is important and I believe I do make a difference. Maybe not for every kid, but it sure isn’t for lack of trying. It always depresses me when I can’t get through to a student.
The one thing I do hate is the constant posturing by both sides. One of the things I thought was good in the preunion days was the procedure that followed a failed bargaining process. Now, in those days we weren’t allowed to bargain working conditions, only money issues, and I don’t want to go back to that. However, when bargaining failed to reach an agreement by a certain date, it had to go to arbitration. In arbitration, neither side gets everything they want, but it was fair. It was an incentive to reach an agreement and be reasonable. If you were unreasonable, there was a good chance the arbitrator would punish you for it. I think a system such as this would make the process more efficient and we wouldn’t have all the nonsense that happens now, from both sides.
As for politics in the classroom…never done done it, never would. If my kids ask me what’s going on I always tell them the truth…a bunch of adults can’t come to an agreement.
Sorry for the length. I could go on.
Marty
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I’m sure you’re not one of those who have ever disrespected the system. That much is clear from your words.
This province would be much better off to bottle whatever you’ve blessed your students with over the years and force it down the gullets of the new generation.
I believe in a strong public education system. It’s essential.
Bless you.
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Hi Alex needed to post Anon.
Liberal’s are moving their henchmen to the BC Environmental Assessment Office. I am sure you are aware – just bringing it up.- Coleman is there also, a friend tells me.
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Yes, I heard last week. Thank you again.
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Well, isn’t it interesting , the documents obtained by the times colonist this afternoon , puts the lie to all tha fabricated lies VIHA told us , concerning the awarding of that contract to Christy Clark”s best friends husband.
Oh the muck around this woman just gets deeper and deeper.
This ones just too easy for ya Alex, like shooting fish in a barrel.
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I got the call two days ago.
I’ll be shooting that fish on Monday…..
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Right up front I want to state emphatically that I support all workers having representation to the employer through trade unions, professional employee associations, etc. However, I also recognize that, as with all organizations, only relatively few will actually become involved in the organization through serving on committees, running for the executive, etc. Most just want to do their job or pursue outside interests. Being a member of the union is a a requirement of the job, so their level of participation is limited to having their dues deducted by their employer on a monthly basis for submission to the union. The dues are the single biggest biggest resource to the union, so it is critical that the cash flow. The union has monopolistic powers as they are providing a single source service to their members. Unlike a commercial transaction where I may choose where to purchase my good or service, the union is the only source.
Public sector unions are solely dependent on the taxpayer as the sole source of income to pay their wages and benefits compared to the private sector unions whose source of income is dependent on how successful their employer is in selling their product into a marketplace(domestic or international). Over the past fifty years there has been a huge shift in union membership as public sector unions have grown much faster than private sector unions.
Due to the fact that public sector unions have the taxpayer as the sole source of income, it is not surprising that unions such as the BCTF, CUPE, BCGEU, BCNU, etc, etc have been increasingly politicized running public relations campaigns, choosing political parties they believe will support their interests, and so on. This is naturally to engage the “taxpaying public” to become the arbiter of their relationship with governments. In some cases, the union leaders themselves have used their positions as ladders to political careers. All of this is done using the resources(union dues) gleaned from members who in the case of the current dispute are teachers. In the meantime, the rank and file teachers become the meat in the sandwich between radicalized and/or ambitious leaders, parents/taxpayers, governments, etc. The simplicity of modern “sound bite” communications exasperates the situation as issues get distilled down to simple one liners such as “it’s all about the kids”, “teachers are all bums”, etc.
While the situation is fairly complex, I don’t think that the solution is all that difficult. I think it is critical to establish a greater level of accountability by the BCTF(and other public sector unions) to their membership. This could be achieved by ending “automatic check-off” of the union dues by deduction at source by the employer. Make the union collect their own dues. If the members believe they are getting value for money from their leaders they will be happy to pay on a monthly or annual basis. If not, they will have greater problems collecting their money and will not have the resources to engage in politicized battles(including political contributions). They will collect their dues if they deliver for their members, and it is likely that delivery will require adopting a more cooperative posture. I realize that this is not a “magic bullet”- it would however serve to increase the union leadership’s accountability.
A couple of points-
I am a member of a professional organization which does not have a collective bargaining function, but I am required to be a member in good standing to practice my profession. The association sends me an invoice and I have to pay it. I can assure you that there many, many engaged members, particularly when it comes to the Council proposing to raise the annual dues with many questions regarding value for money, etc. The annual dues are much less than those paid by teachers and we have a broad spectrum memberships from the private sector, all levels of government, consulting practice, university, etc.
Also, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall mused about such an initiative during and soon after his recent re-election
http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/11611-saskatchewan-premier-suggests-voluntary-union-dues-collection
Just a few thoughts
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And very challenging, thought-provoking ones at that! Thank you.
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under the rand formula workers in the public service can send their dues to charity . just a thought
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Thanks for the info
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Can you imagine if all teachers fed up with the union requested their dues go to charity.?
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I disagree with you Alex. The real war here is one between the teachers and an abusive government that wants public schools to fail so they can privatize. The BC College of Teachers became a manufactured crisis designed to separate teachers from the BCTF. If you read the government-appointed fact-finder’s report (clue:biased) Don Avison…you will see that he says there might be a potential of interference by the BCTF, but admitted he could not prove it. BTW talk about conflict of interest, Claire Avison, Don Avison’s wife, is the government’s rep at the current bargaining talks! Another issue is the brain-dead mainstream media who you have correctly labelled as “asleep at the switch” when it comes to holding this government accountable. By stripping class-size/composition in 2002, the government has clawed back approx. $250 million a year. That’s $2.25 billion eroded opportunities for students. Min. of Ed Abbott was caught lying that replacing teachers laid-off would mean an increase of 50% teaching force. Wrong. 50% would mean 20,000 teachers, but don’t let the facts get in the way eh, Palmer/Ferry/Smyth/Good? Is that the proper use of the word “bollocks”? BTW BC ranks in the top 5 in the world when it comes to math/reading/writing/science…and this from a “unionized” teaching force. Put some of your spotlight on some of this BS teachers face when dealing with this government as you do with BC Rail and the CBC/Smart crap, it would open so many eyes.
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I will. You can bet on it.
But the notion they want to privatize schools is ludicrous. That would collapse the entire system. It would NEVER work–or happen.
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You could have stopped at “abusive government” Paul. Well, arrogant, dishonest, corrupt, underhanded, under-the-table, vindictive, shameless, deceitful… also come to mind. But privatizing the education system?
On second thought, a railroad, ferries, health care, hydro electricity, gas, roads, bridges, liquor…Geeze! Maybe private schools and charter schools with Pattison billboards on the roofs and school athletic team uniforms emblazoned with the Apple logo; or Coca~Cola; Boston Pizza; Sun Life; Falsie Creek and Can’t Cope Man Healthcare Centres; Lotto 6/49: Know your limit, play within it; Fido; RIM (well…maybe not); Nintendo; Enbridge; Taseko Mines; Marine Harvest; CN; and even Fraser Institute, will be coming down the Pipe http://www.sumacridge.com/wines/searchwines.asp in the not too distant future.
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First off… I don’t have children, and therefore I have to admit I’m not as well versed in the habits and history of the BCTF as many off the others who have commented here. I will say however that it is my strong belief that teaching is a severely underpaid profession in our country considering the importance it plays in shaping our future. Unfortunately I know several teachers personally who have pursued the career as a fallback plan when their first (or even second. or third!) career path of choice fell through, or proved too difficult–a damned shame, especially considering my social circle is quite small.
Personally I’d have no problem taking a tax hit if I knew that it was going toward attracting the most capable people to these jobs, as their FIRST choice!
As for your comment above saying the union should be looking out for the kids, I disagree. The union should be advocates for the teachers it’s meant to represent, should it not? The teachers, on the other hand, should have the kids’ best interests as priority number one. A sticky situation indeed with a very blurry line.
I agree that teachers shouldn’t be imposing their political bias on their students, and the statement you made above about them handing pro-NDP pamphlets out to students is unethical, for sure. But I don’t see the harm in encouraging political conversations in class around election time (or even prompted by teachers wearing black to call attention to their cause), so long as seeds for debate are planted and discussion from all perspectives is fostered, encouraged and respected.
In fact, I feel like tip-toeing around these sorts of conversations are detrimental. Perhaps if these conversations were had more frequently at a young age, our young voters would be more inspired and informed?
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Let me make clear: The union should be looking out for their members, but as ‘Heartlands Teacher’ astutely points out, they frame their demands around kids.
And shouldn’t! I appreciate your contribution. Thank you. Much appreciated.
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As an experienced teacher of 15 years, I agree with some of your points. Most teachers I work with would accept a 5% raise over 3 years and think the 15% is unrealistic. I miss the days of the old mandatory provincial exams where teachers needed to be accountable. Unfortunately, the Liberals have decided to axe all grade 12 exams except English 12.
However, I disagree on the comment that Ms. Lambert`s claim of $300 000 000 in government savings is dubious. This statement came from Judge Griffin`s decision last spring:
[335] “There was some strength to BCTF‟s argument, and indeed some evidence to support it. When the Treasury Board of the government analyzed the cost implications of the proposed impugned legislation in November 2001, it estimated that the legislation would provide for annualized savings of $275 million. These savings were below the government‟s desired budget targets for education. At that time, the class size limit thresholds being considered in draft legislation were lower than what was ultimately implemented by the legislation. Further, the estimate noted that it did not include any savings in capital expenditures, but it was thought that the larger class sizes might result in fewer classrooms and cancellation of new schools, providing even more savings.“
The classes for the trades and science were once capped at 24 for safety reasons. Since the contract strips, the classes are all around 30 which saves a fortune. We start the new semester next week. Nothing is worse than getting a class of 30 kids with 6+ special needs and no support. The poor kids get as much attention as I can give, but at the end of the day it`s not enough. They eventually get frustrated and some will stop showing up. I would take no pay raise if it meant the kids had smaller classes and more individual time with their teacher.
I don`t agree with everything you wrote here, but you beat the hell out of Bill Good, Baldrey and the rest of the bunch. Keep it up.
The full decision is here:
http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/00-SM-Supreme%20Court%20Decision%20Bill%2027%20and%2028.pdf
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Thank you for that. I want the teachers of this province to be happy but recognize that with this government, it’s impossible. I have inside information which suggests George Abbott wanted to hoe a different road, but the Premier was adamant that the teachers get nothing–which is completely asinine.
Without seeing your comment, I just finished writing to another reader that a 5% or even up to a 7% increase would work for me.
As for the judge, I don’t dispute the $275M accounting I just it dubious to throw the figure out without itemizing it.
Always great to hear from you. Thank you for being a credit to your profession.
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Les Leyne nails the disingenous BCTF’s position here:
http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/They+even+agree+basic+math/6067048/story.html
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I thought Les did a very admirable job indeed
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Let me roll up my sleeves. I hope you will still respect me after, Alex
Teachers are angry. It is palpable. They blame most of the woes on the Liberal government (not to say that the NDP were much kinder). The last 10 years have been a very rough ride for us. The disrespect that has been shown to us and to our profession is reprehensible. However, many are also unhappy with our union leadership as well.
But, we do need a union. They are there to protect our rights as workers and to try to improve our working conditions. I am always disappointed when they frame it as, “We are doing this to protect the students”. That’s not the function of our union. We pay huge union dues for the union to protect teachers, and this is as it should be. That’s their role. To frame it using students is disingenuous.
However, you’ve heard the saying, “Happy wife. Happy life”? The same can be said in this case. The happier teachers are, the more effective they are in the classroom. Happy workers are productive workers.
Luckily, teachers naturally advocate for students. We care very deeply for them and speak out when the system is failing them. And I’m here to tell you, the system is failing them. Parents advocate for students too, but usually just for the needs of their own kids. Teachers fight for the good of them all. And it appears to me that we are the only stakeholders who are taking it on. Principals, vice principals, superintendents, and school board trustees have been strangely silent.
Having said all that, our union is in need of an overhaul. When we became centralized (I think it was the Socreds who moved us to province-wide bargaining), the BCTF became too big, and with that, out of touch. It appears that they, too, have little idea of the realities that the membership face everyday. But at least they ask.
Governments and school districts continue to make key decisions without asking those who know best the impact it will have – teachers. The Liberals have been awful at this. They have brought in countless new programs, all the while ignoring the concerns of teachers (BCeSIS, Healthy Schools, Daily Physical Activity, Graduation Portfolios..). All of these failed after wasting millions ($60 million on BCeSIS alone) of education dollars and resources.
But I digress. By the way, you don’t have a character limit for posts, do you Alex?
Back to our leadership….I am quite involved in the BCTF (as much as I can be with a full-time teaching position) and I have often been taken aback by things that the leadership does and says. BCTF decisions are supposed to be made democratically by local representatives (of which I am one) from each area of the province. However, many decisions appear to have been made without going through this process. To this day, no one can tell us where the ridiculous Bereavement and Compassionate Care Leave bargaining proposals came from. Every member I spoke with was shocked (and disgusted) when this was revealed.
Every teacher does not have a voice, but they should. Decisions should not be made by a few. They can not speak for all. However, we need a spokesperson, and that’s what Susam Lambert is. She was not voted in as president, she was acclaimed. No one ran against her. And that’s part of the problem (it reminds of BC provincial politics really). Jinny Simms was a powerful speaker, very intelligent, and personable, but she had higher asperations. We shall see tomorrow if any new candidates for president step up.
But regardless, most teachers are unified on increases to prep time and benefits, a little less so on pay. This round of negotiations has been a farce. We continue to pay money for our union to sit across from a group who refuses to bargain (and pay again as taxpayers for the government reps). You would think that if all they had to offer us was “net zero”, that they would be willing to beef up the no-cost portions of our contract. But they are not. They are also asking to remove teacher control over professional development (they will tell us what we should be learning), remove all of our seniority rights, and make it possible to fire a teacher after only 1 poor evaluation.
And that leads me to my last point:
I agree wholeheartedly with making it easier to remove ineffective, incompetent or (worse) damaging teachers (actually, I am all for a public tarring and feathering for the child molesters). I am always hoping to see the union get on board with this. However, one must tread carefully on this one. I have seen quite a few horrible administrators – many of who also vindictive. It should not ever become so easy that one administrator with a grudge can get a teacher fired. There need to be checks and balances. That said, a discussion starting between the employer and the union would be a step in the right direction. The majority of teachers are fantastic and have helped to make BC score highly in international tests. Getting rid of the dregs would be welcomed by the rest of us.
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Now why would I not still love you after that????
Although, I must admit, you lost me for a minute at “happy wife”
What the hell is that? I’ve never had one, or met one?
Oh dear, outside voice again….damn…
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Blah, blah. You better start speaking up then, teachers, because if you don’t we will assume your union is speaking for you.
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to Heartlands Teacher….
EXCELLENT observations ! I nominated you as union prez
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Yes! Me too!
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Heartlands Teacher:
My sentiments exactly.
Thank-you.
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I agree – an excellent comment by the teacher above and a lot of great input on this topic. I’m almost 44 years old and somtimes it just seems like we could go back 30 years and hear the exact same rhetoric in this debate. It’s like the two sides are actors in some kind of ongoing play, saying their lines in accordance with the historical experience and expecations, representing ultimately the triumph of politics over education.
We need a new approach to the entire system. We all know there is massive waste and bureaucracy, big salaries and expenditures incurred with little real responsibility and accountability, and I’m talking mainly at the Ministry and the school board levels. We all want to support the teachers who are, of course, actually dealing with the kids, and the only way I can see to really overcome the bureaucratic inertia is through radical decentralization everywhere. How else do we really expect to meaningfully support frontline teachers, deal with specific local issues, and hold everyone (including adminstrators) accountable ?
Taxation should be looked at with a view to holding local elected officials accountable to both sides of a budget, instead of just the expenditure side (subject then to the related whining and political posturing to the Province when the local allocation is ‘not enough’). Let’s pay people market salaries, by all means, but then hold them truly accountable to a budget and other responsibilities that are reflective of that remuneration. And let’s give them some freedom to deliver on those expectations as professionals, with the necessary discretion and authority that that implies.
The problem is that all parties to the current status quo would be opposed to this because, as somone pointed out above, they actually all have a vested interest in the status quo, the pro-forma rhetoric they throw at each other notwithstanding.
I am a product of the public school system and I am proud of it and have no regrets. As a society we require a strong public education system, no question, and we need to continue to attract talented people to work in that system. However, these facts should not give anyone a free pass to continue throwing more money on a broken status quo. The first group (or ‘side) that recognizes the bigger picture here and challenges the overall status quo with some truly fresh and innovative thinking, that truly reaches beyond its own self-interest, will carry public opinion along with it.
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One word: superb.
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Already on it Alan, thank you.
Unfortunately, change, especially big change, is slow. I am only one of about 200 voting representatives here. Add to that the fact that the upper echelons are doing EVERYTHING in their power to hold their line. But there is a movement brewing. We are trying hard to harness it. On another positive note, there is another candidate for president. It’s not much, but I’ll take it.
Oh and blah, blah, blah right back at you.
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Hee hee, I just know too many teachers who always seem to be looking down at their shoes these days…
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I really feel sorry for any parent who’s child is trying to get through the public school system today. In fact I was so sick about the whole situation in this province I quit teaching and took early retirement a few years ago.
We had a good educational system in BC. It had it’s faults, but in my mind it was one of the best. Then, 24 years ago, the “Federation” turned into a “union” and almost immediately things went downhill.
Like most unions, the BCTF started out with good intentions, but quickly became power mad. Now we have a union that is fighting for what it wants (i.e. it’s political platform), not what the teachers need, and certainly not what the students need.
The BCTF today reminds me of the child that is a spoiled brat, throwing a tantrum every time it doesn’t get what it wants.
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Too bad you left. The province needs more teachers like YOU!!!!!!
Bless you for what you did or the kids of BC. The province needs a good public education system. I would fully support say a 5% raise but the laundry list and the polemics by this iteration of the union is absolutely unacceptable.
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Not that it matters much, but the BCTF is asking for 15% over three years, not two.
Regarding Jinny Sims vs. Susan Lambert, having worked a little with both, I would disagree that Jinny was more reasonable. She was a great public relations expert (something Susan, most definitely, is not) and was much better at sounding reasonable, but I would say that Jinny was far more radical than most people would ever see. The BCTF bargaining with its own CEP employees is a prime example of that; the BCTF locked CEP out to force concessions out of their employees – isn’t it ironic?
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Susan comes across as a blithering idiot. Sorry. Jinny might have been more militant or more to the left, I don’t care and it doesn’t matter because she set that aside and looked at what was best first–before her own philosophies or beliefs.
Lambert is a nightmare.
The 15% cash, as I read your document, would be over 2-2.5 years. The other compensation kicks in heavily by then. The demands are astronomical in a time when many of the same people are attacking the corporate world for wanting the most they can squeeze out of the man.
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Okay, I’m trying to think back. I may not have the year right, but wasn’t it near the end of the BC Liberals first terms or just into second some years back when teachers and all other public sector employees’ contracts came up, but especially with teachers, and I think Colin Hansen was Ed Minister, and he was picking fights, / bating with teachers’ union, they were at the time trying to negotiate fair increase, class sizes, etc., perhaps Jinny Sims was there at the time, and I think the deadline was coming down to a possible strike. The Liberals suddenly found out that the greater public was on side with the teachers. Of course folks at NW, Global, BCTV were suddenly running around frantically as to why this could be happening, and coming up with spin jobs. Anyway, I think the government was forced to come back to the table and negotiate a fairer settlement ~ and that’s what happened.
Perhaps this time, the union is asking somewhat too much, but maybe they are also asking for more than they actually think they will get, but as the gov’t says “no” over and over, to the collective bargaining, they will lower their demands bit by bit, hoping that at least get something reasonable.
I think the BC Liberals have proven in the past that they are pro private sector (even by means of contracting out, lower wages and benefits), and anti-union .. (Campbell and a number of others hate labour unions and their connection to the NDP) and I think a part of the issue is, as I know you feel Alex, the BC Liberals can’t be trusted on a number of levels, and maybe this is just one more thing some of the unions feel they can’t be trusted on to be fair about.
With all the other bargaining taking place with the other public sector unions over the next couple months, should be interesting.
While the rich enjoy lower corporate / personal income taxes, public sector unions are being blamed for the economic woes more and more throughout the world, David Cameron another example. Well, in fact, you may remember that the last round of BC public sector union bargaining was only two years ago .. the reason, the world financial crisis, plus large amounts of money need to be spent here and there to prepare for the Olympics in Vancouver, new roof for BC Place, and other things the gov’t had money for, the unions said, okay fine, “zero” “zero” it is; well then, let’s bargain again in two years ~~ and the public said at least unions bargained in good faith – well that time is now, two years later (2 years later – right now)! What are they going to say this time ~~ which deflects from themselves and tries to blame the greedy unions for all their financial woes. Don’t worry, they’ll think of something! And most likely, unless I’m surprised, it will likely be again “zero” “zero” “zero” “zero” for the next four years, like it or lump it. If unions kick up any fuss, the BC Liberals friends’ in the MSM will convey to the public how unreasonable their demands are, and that they simply don’t have the money to increase wages .. blah blah, the HST was voted against, we have to pay that back, and every other damn thing they can think of.
I understand what you’re saying in this particular article Alex, and I’m not trying to paint any black or white picture here, just presenting there’s somewhat more to it, and no one should be describing things in any black or white terms. There’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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With pleasure. Thank you for offering perspective that helps in the discussion.
There is no question that this government has failed the kids of British Columbia. On the other hand, this particular union is a contemptible joke.
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I’ve been laying low somewhat )you know why) but what the hell is the BCTF smoking?
Not that I’m tooting the Liberal horn, but where do these chuckleheads in the union think the money is going to come from? People easily tend to forget that when they’re in sort of civil servant job.
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Right!
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Hello Alex,
I have been a follower of yours for a long time.
I have always appreciated your views on matters concerning
politics in this province.
Most of the time I agree with you,but even when I don’t, I have always
understood where you are coming from.
I inform myself on issues from many different sources,your’s being one of the most trusted.
I have never,EVER,responded,posted,commented,or replied to anything!
But on this issue, concerning teachers and BCTF, I feel I must.
YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!!
I don’t say this lightly.
For my entire life (I’m am 40-ish) I have lived,breathed,talked about, listened to, and understood the education system in this province and country.
My family is entrenched in education.
Both of my parents were teachers in public schools for almost 40 years each in this province.
My father designed and administered the BC provincial math scholarship exams for a number of decades.
A good portion of my Uncles and Aunts were teachers all across this country.
A fair amount of my cousins are teachers through out this country.
A good number of my Uncles were in administrative positions through out this country.
Heads of school districts,head of departments at SFU,deans of education at private schools,etc.
Everything about education and our school system runs through my veins.
My siblings are teachers in the metro-vancouver areas.
At every family reunion that I can remember, all the talk has been about education,public and private,classroom and administration.
I hope that you can appreciate when I say,
YOU DON”T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
I am tempted to delete your bookmark from my browser right now but am still interested in what ill-informed opinion you have concerning BC Ferries ,as I have made my career at Ferries and know alot more
about what is happening than the MSM reports.
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Please do us all a favour and delete the bookmark.
BC Ferries is a simple issues, so let me help you out the door. The govt has screwed the pooch and shouldn’t be running a company half off and half in govt like a private corporation.
Sitting there and hiding behind a false name and telling me I don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about without providing one stitch of rebuttal only serves to prove that your entire family’s influence and knowledge about education, if administered an enema, would leave a residual I could wash out of the head of a thimble.
What an asinine comment. I don;t expect people to agree with everything I write but on the BCTF is OBVIOUS. The union is there now to screw the children they claim they are negotiating for–because that’s precisely what their actions are doing. No report cards? Indoctrination like we’re living in Tehran? How does your mommy and daddy feel about that? Uncles and aunts? Any of the others?
It’s about the kids claims Ms. Lambert. BULLSHIT. Much lie your comment.
And along comes some sanctimonious yahoo like you to list his family’s credentials in the hope that it might do what exactly?
I’m emboldened by the 36 (and counting) letters I’ve received in the last several hours from members of the BCTF that are appalled at the intimidation and scare tactics your heroes employ and the wonderfully complimentary words they have provided to me.
I can see why they would hide.
But you have no excuse.
Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.
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To NOYFB,
I too have several ralatives that are/were teachers. My grandmother, mother, aunts and cousins were/are all treachers
( My grandmother actually taught school in a one room school house in the country. She would build the fire in the wood stove first thing in the morning, sweep snow off the steps and walkways to the outhouse. When she became too pregnant to teach she had my mother teach class for a month. Can you imagine the union allowing such blasphemy? But I digress.).
I wonder at times where we as a society have gone so very very wrong. Alex Tsakumis has critisized the union strong arm tactics in somewhat colorful language and your rebuttal is a vulgarian vitriol of profanity. I find that people that swear a great deal usually dont have a great deal to say( or listen to). Or they’re uneducated, which in your case is somewhat ironic, dont you think?
I too agree with Alex that the teachers union is about money NOT education. The union will use the same ruthless tactics that big business will use on its employees to make them tow the “party” line. The union, by its very nature must protect the lowest common denominator ie; the laziest worker in order to justify its existance.
The Unions today ARE big business. They generate millions (if not billions) of dollars in wages,pensions, etc. for their members. If that isnt big business,what is?
So, in the most simplistic example I can think of.
Say you needed to buy a service for your kids and there was very few businesses that provided it. The largest company “A” ( the union) had 95% of the “market’( the children).
Do you not think that Company “A” will not try to increase profits irreguardless of whether you the consumer ( the taxpayer)can afford it? Company ‘A” doesnt care what you think. Its all about profit for THEM.
I hope this helps the dinner conversation at your house scattered amoungst the “F” bombs …..
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LMAO! WELL DONE!!!
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Good Lord. Your story has just provided me a brief glimpse into a time I cherish. Lighting the stove and sweeping the steps brings a vision to me of my dear ol’ grandma. It was the 50′s and tramps and hobos were a reality. The order of the day for those that cared was to provide a bowl of soup’de’jour and a biscuit or a slice of bread on the back step for those in need. My granny broke tradition, she invited them to the family table and offered first helping. Before she let them slip away, she dug into the hidden bundle only she knew about and rummaged through the pennies and nickles until she found the biggest coin she could give and we never even seen her do it. Whoever you are or wherever you may be, Thank you for the memory.
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Gary, it was my pleasure. And as for the one room school house. It was painted red until the early 80′s. The last time I drove by it. It had been sold to a farmer, repainted white, and converted into a storage shed. Alas, so much for history. But the memories are what counts.
I remember staying at my grandparents farm many ,many years ago and they had a telephone installed on the wall. It was a “party line” phone. Which meant there was one line for 15 farms on the same road. Each farm had a unique ring.
My Grandparents “ring” was ’2 long-1 short”.
Well,…. the phone would ring at all hours of the night for all the other farms on the road….and me, being the visiting 5 year old “city kid” I would jump up and answer the phone every time! Imagine a 5 year old answering “Hello?Hello” to total strangers trying to talk over me. 9 anyone on that party line could pick up the phone and either listen or talk, hence the name “party line”)
My grandparent slept through the entire fiasco
The RCMP showed up the next morning to inform my granddad of my errant ways. Needless to say, I never touched that phone again without their permission.
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The BC Liberals agenda has been one of complete and utter disrespect , i know many teachers active and retired who are nowhere close to using the system they go above and beyond so often they deserve govt recognition for serving communities so for the ones who do live to play politics every bit as many are not and deserve some far better levels of respect, they too say NDP did not give them money but did listen to class size issues and special needs issues as well as having extra resource people to help .
One says its a drive by BC Liberal govt much the same as they have done with BC Ferries Bc Hydro and others to make the public system look pale compared to private and its hard to argue , that said 15% is a tough sell and i am sure its a negotiating number but the Govt has found literally hundreds of millions for projects such as BC Place none of us can dispute how out of whack the priority list is and you cant blame those easy targets on teachers.
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While I agree with government infrastructure upgrades and or improvements. BC Place wasnt a road, bridge, hospital, school or anything of historical value. It is a Canadian Football stadium which also hosts trade/car shows and music concerts.
The $600 million dollars spent on a ROOF for a sports stadium is such an obscene waste of taxpayers dollars the persons responsible should be breaking rocks in prison. The old inflated roof lasted 25 years and worked just fine. It merely needed replacement at a cost of $25 million.
The company that mainly profitted on this was Pavco. The leaders of Pavco were personal friends of the former premier Gordon Campbell.
Enough said.
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One of the most outrageous Govt initiatives was spending over half a billion dollars on a stadium roof when for another half billion they could have had a brand new state-of-the art facility.
David Podmore should hang his head in shame. That while Campbell crew are a joke and a half.
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I agree 100% that replacing the inflated roof was not the way to go. I thought these were tough times and we had to mind our money? When will politicians stop spending?
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Er, I meant “100% THE way to go.” I think I need a rest… How do you do it, Alex?
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It’s not easy. But I get to bed earlier now, I workout four or five times per week, no more endless tipples and I haven’t had a cigar since mid last year…I think…can’t remember frankly, and don’t much care.
Meditation helps. Anything else I can help with? LOL!
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And when doing so how do they look at any govt employee and say you get none ?
MLAs certainly are paid more and BC Liberals have done well with appointments , I will say Teachers are dealing with way more kids have less support staff and that has helped create part of whats happening .
Government should want a good system work to building good educational systems but they also use it politically , having a Union to grind with makes good headlines and i think thats always part of the agenda as well so we have a complete lack of respect on both sides and can be sure no common sense will be applied solving the problem.
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As far as report cards go, just because the LRB says teachers “need not” do them, does not mean we are not giving students and teachers feedback informally. All a parent has to do is phone or e-mail me and I’m glad to share current marks and other information. I’ve communicated BETTER with parents due to this job action..ironic, eh? You know what is sad? At my high school, we still have over 300 report cards from LAST JUNE that were never picked up! Some parents just don’t care enough about their own child’s education? My mom would have been over to the school office faster than Gordon Campbell could down a martini if I didn’t bring home a report card! The report card issue is again, a manufactured crisis George Abbott will use as an excuse to legislate us and try to break the BCTF. Teachers unions ( with warts and all) are not the enemy here.
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I meant “students and parents” not “teachers”…better watch my own wobbly-pop intake?
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No matter–I think we got it…
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Not once in my child’s whole public school years did she come home with a pro-NDP or any other political party ‘pamphlet’. I would like to see one of these as proof from the shills that spew this nonsense. Our local high school goes out of their way to not allow any political influence of any kind. Perhaps some people are seeing something that isn’t there. Bigfoot anyone?
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No, deflective bullshit to anyone who doesn’t read the papers or watch the news.
TWICE it was covered by the press in the last national election. THRICE in the previous provincial election. So your kids had ethical teachers. Marvelous. Others didn’t have such a luxury.
The only nonsense, at this point, is coming from you. I’m not going to do the research for you. The BCTF was caught flatfooted on it more than once. I also have a reind that works at a major westside school in Vancouver that insisted they were corralled in a staff room before the last federal election and told to vote NDP. Same thing at the same school in the last provincial election. When I called the principal about it, he sent out a memo to staff demanding not speaking to the media “about our business.”
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I thought our children were “our business”.
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Me too!
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Some great ideas about how to make unions or professional associations more accountable and relevant as well as make membership more engaged.?the necessity of representatives from public sector unions having to find political support makes sense to me given what we know of the sad state of the politics and journalism in the province where the most hopeless and unqualified aspirants can become leaders and the most biased and deluded can become journalists. As for the 15% or any items in the contract negotiation, why would this be played out in the news? Doctors, nurses, and other professions don’t seem to make headlines with their starting positions or government posturing at the other extreme. Settlements are reached or binding arbitration is accepted. Legislation and contract stripping doesn’t seem to occur. Is it all just game playing and bad blood on both sides? I do think that a strong, stable and well-funded public education system is essential for the functioning of a democracy. Like ethical investigative journalism, we are a sinking ship without it.
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Indeed…
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WOW. In the time I’ve been following this blog I can’t recall any issue that has sparked a more heartfelt debate than this particular thread. Pro and con representation is never more demonstrated than what has been pro-offered here by people that really care. The HST debate didn’t even come close. Not much wonder it’s the most read blog, not only does the author provide a measured opinion but the readers respond in like fashion. It’s not entertaining, it’s enlightening There may be hope yet..
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Thanks Gary, yes, it’s been a great story and the comments have been superb–generally, with, of course, the expected exceptions from some doctrinaire boneheads…
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Yes, I agree! This blog fills a void that has existed for so long in BC! It’s real, colorful and deeply considered. We have been reading, listening, and viewing so much about so little for so long that this forum is refreshing and addictive. Letters to the editor have fallen on deaf and disconnected ears for so long that most give up challenging what has been presented as the news for so long. I know it’s repetitive but THANK YOU ALEX!
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You’re most welcome.
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Unions in general need to re-invent themselves. They lack resonance with the general public.
The NDP needs to sever their link to the unions. It will make them look a whole lot more like government material. They can still be nice to workers and still bring in an agenda that does not crush society by declaring war on the middle class (Campbell/Clark) without the linkages to the union. It has the stench of church-state linkages and I find anything of the sort outright repugnant. (hear THAT BC Conservatives?)
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Excellent points. Very, very good!
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I guess the majority of the tax paying public that does not belong to a union ( insert Govt employee here ) is very unsympathetic to the union cause.
Union membership amoung government employees is almost unversal (and growing)while the private sector unions are shrinking to irrellevance. The wages, benefits and PENSIONS that unionized government employees recieve are far far more generous than anything in the private sector.
So when teachers, nurses or municipal workers state that they deserve a raise every year to keep up with inflation I shake my head. We should be so lucky in the private sector. Wage increases are not a right, they are an earned privledge. Striking unionized workers shouldnt expect a great deal of sympathy from the private sector workers that pay their wages through taxes and user fees. Especially when those same taxpayers recieve less money per hour and no benefits
Even if these unionized workers dont recieve a yearly wage increase they will still recieve a GOLD PLATED PENSION upon retirement that will be GUARANTEED by the Government( insert taxpayer here). All other non unionized employees(taxpayers) have no such guaranteed pensions with their RRSP’s, TFSA’s, etc.
I have repeated this ad nauseam. We, as taxpayers, have reached the boiling point. Is it a coincidence that we are seeing cutbacks to services while user fees increase? Governments of all levels are chasing a smaller and smaller piece of the tax pie.
And the largest tax payer cohort of the last 75 years is now retiring enmass. Baby boomers are now retiring in ever greater numbers for the next 20 years. Retirees vote more than other age groups and they dont like paying higher taxes. Municipalities in the US have already declared banckruptcy because of unaffordable union pension plans.
Get ready for an ugly fiscal showdown between the “haves” and the “have nots” .
This isnt over by a long shot.
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Not at all. I agree with you.
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You state, in your commentary, ( with great care, being sure to obscure anything conclusive, in the prevailing cloud of ambiguity) that they (the BCTF) ” … do not easily release details even when it deals with possible child molestation, etc.”.
In the following commentary, not one person brings up, what should, nevertheless, be a very salient point. They do however, when absolutely unfounded, unproven and scurrilous accusations are brought forward by some unknown person about Catholic or other Christian controversy I suppose however that any reportage of Jewish Rabbis being charged with transporting illegal drugs across the international border with Canada, or that Orthodox Jews (including Rabbis) have been charged with child sexual abuse (85 at last count) with 177 victims (at last count) are merely rumours, unless reported in the New York Times, or I might ad, at this blog site.
But in fact, it was reported in the very reliable and respected New York Post. Being a member myself of an imperfect organization, that nevertheless has done more for the dispossessed than all the secularists in the world, I would never condemn all Judaism for a selfish and perverted few. Still, I will be accused of anti-Semitism by many here present.
Seldom either, is it reported that many students from the residential schools admit that they would likely be dead today had it not been for the efforts of the teachers, nuns, priests and lay apostles who staffed the schools and many of whom went to their graves wondering why all their work was seen today as being a most heinous crime.
What a shoddy defamation this site has visited upon all Christians, and it is should be noted that any woman (even one who dares to allow her son a Catholic education) deserves, at least as a mother, to be treated a little more respectfully than being called (erased by myself) or some of the other childish epithets being thrown around this site. I bid you all adieu!
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Goodness, what a spectacular splash….off the deep end.
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time for your meds Larry, the “Zionist conspiracy theory” is bubbling up to the surface again.
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Honestly, I haven’t the first clue what possesses him. So articulate, well-read and learned and yet the second anyone points to any criticism of the Catholic church or mentions that one might be having a touch time spiritually, he comes up with these asinine anti-Jewish theories or anti-gay propaganda that just sounds like the lunatic fringe might even be critical of.
Craziness…an insult to his own dizzying intelligence.
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Anyone who would sit still while someone condemns their deepest held beliefs is only worthy of the lowest contempt and lacking in the most basic of moral integrity. This would include many Catholics I have known; on the other hand you appear to attract a fair number of sycophants who are either frightened of your wrath or else, who somehow feel beholden to your benevolence and acceptance of them.
Nor will I accept your back-handed praise (articulate, well-read, learned) , my latest entry to the national Vanity Press for poetical excellence situated me between a 9 year old and another of 14 years.
Dizzying intelligence indeed! But I am aware that these are not theories, and at no time was I anti-gay. You really are seeing things that son’t exist, though I will say you had enough sense to differentiate between anti-Semitic and ant-Zionist, unlike your “ally”.
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Oh good grief Larry. As my youngest daughter says to her brother: “Take a chill pill big guy…”
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What did I tell you, Alex?
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Larry, you do these things to yourself sometimes.
Honestly…
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noncon – why did you put “Zionist conspiracy theory” in quotation marks, as though I said that? I dare you to find any quote of mine wherein I use that term to define the Jewish State! Alex, are you blind here? You think it is just dandy to let someone blame R.C. clergy for the murder of children without so much as a scintilla of evidence, but say that what occurred as per the N.Y. Post is an anti-Jewish theory, and then continue on your shameless attack against Catholicsim, saying that I am on the lunatic fringe. Better take a look in the mirror, buddy!
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As usual, when your beloved Catholicism is on trial (a legitimate proposition in many, but not all, cases) you breezily manipulate what I write to suit yet another withering defence of a church which has paid passing attention an issue endemic to its clergy. No other religion on the planet seems to have had more issues with child molestation than the Catholic church. You tried to absolve them by cleverly blaming the issue on the fact that most of those priests were gay, but this is also untrue. The majority of them identified as sick, not gay, straight or martian. I took you to task for such a horrific deflection when you did this in the Tebow commentary I did.
It is, like it or not, lunatic fringe, as it is with my own parents, who do not address the same thing that has happened in the Greek Orthodox church–despite ample evidence, when trying to talk about everything else except the issue facing you.
These things are to be covered up because God’s will is to live a simple lifem free of judgements since we are imperfect and we should let Him judge after all. Sorry Lar baby, I don’t live my life like that.
MY WILL is that people who fiddle kids or rape women should get the f#%king gas chamber.
I’d laugh while they choked. Particularly the clergy who have a greater “calling” than you or I.
As for your support of the Jewish state, it’s sprinkled liberally among every post I’ve ever written on that issue. Noted and appreciated.
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Thanks Alex for your Jan 30 comment, but you see (don’t you) that the Roman Catholic faith is the largest (certainly Christian) in the world. Yes Islam is catching up, perhaps even passing them in sheer populations, but there are many stories about the sexual practices of some Muslims too. (Gadzooks!) Ever heard of man-love Thursday? Might want to look into some of the stories heard from people who have spent any time in Muslim countries. I will agree with you that you may not often hear of abuse in some of the other tens of thousands of Protestant sects, some of which have more than a couple thousand followers. Math is a funny thing, ain’t it?
All that aside, I appreciate that you acknowledge the fact that I have always supported the people of Israel, and have never, would never even think to deny the holocaust, because even I am not that stupid!
However I may have suggested in a kind of roundabout way that not all people accused of being “anti-Semitic” are; sometimes they are merely people whom certain Jews just happen to hate.
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Larry, I’m exceedingly fair to you. I wish you would always be fair to yourself…
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Ah well, it’s better than wandering around ankle-deep in self-righteousness! How are things down at the Orange Hall, you must be the belle of the ball right about now?
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If you don’t mind, I’m trying to fasten my apron…
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This could be an interesting twist.
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Susan+Lambert+faces+surprise+challenge+BCTF+presidency/6067618/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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Yes, there are a ton of members who hate her with a white hot passion.
She is pathetic.
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Larry . Agree to disagree. You and Alex will never meet even half way on this endless arguement that the Palestinians and Jews have been fighting for ………….3000 years?
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I am staunchly PRO-Israel as I believe she deserves, in fact, has earned her existence. I am ANTI-Palestinian because while they too have earned their right to exist, their raison d’etre is to deny Israel the right to life.
There can never be any negotiation with a state or nation-state that believes that for them to exist, another must die. Particularly if it’s the only true democracy in the Middle East.
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noncon – Alex and I, or anybody for that matter, have never disagreed on that point, I am neither anti-Semitic nor am I against the existence of Israel, never have been, they are our elder brethern. But to suggest that individual Jews have never done anything wrong in their long history, is to ignore the facts, even as they wrote it themselves in the O.T.. Truthfully Alex, have you ever heard me complain about the State of Israel’s right to existence? All I wanted to point out is that sexual abuse is not a Catholic thing as Alex and some others here seem to suggest!
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I’ve never suggested that “it’s a Catholic thing.” Simply, that it’s something that predominated for years in the Catholic Church and thanks to changes made by the last great Pope, John Paul II, it appears to have gone away.
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Cool!
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The last thing I would encourage my kids to do is go into teaching in this province. I read the comments on here and on other sites such as CBC, The Sun, The Province, ect and they all just love bashing teachers. So who would encourage thier kids to enter a profession that is so hated? And not everyone can afford private schools – so that is not the answer for everybody.
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That’s why there are plenty of private schools sprouting up EVERYWHERE that are charging ONE FOURTH of St. George’s and Crofton fees.
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Well, if we were ever given a voucher system of sending our education tax where WE want it spent, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, but then, that would be the democratic solution!
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Bruce, above, do the particular media you state (Sun, Province, CBC) commenters love to bash teachers and unions; – or – I wonder who some of those anonymous commenters are .. as we’ve seen before on some subjects. Sure some are legit, but I’ve said before, I don’t trust the corporate/big business friends of the Campbell/Clark government. They will do anything to try and convince people that and try to turn people against all those horrible/greedy public sector unions and lazy no-good teachers – yes, in some cases, justifiably so, but there’s a certain grain of salt I pay attention to these type of comments in the MSM.
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That was quite the 16 X 9 expose on Douglas College’s operations in Asia looking like an outright fraud. Even worse for Christy as they showed her on the recent Asian trip giving huge accolades on the quality of their programs. What a joke.
http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/01/28/douglas-college-orders-review-of-china-programs/
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Incredibly, the Premier looked more stupid than ever. I just can’t believe this woman continues to pretend that she has credentials about a short order cook or a diner waitress.
It’s unbelievable. Douglas College should be immediately investigated. What a disgrace.
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I took two years out from my career to get an education degree. I’m in the legal field – I have a long history of community service and involvement and had the privilege of working here and abroad in other countries for prominent institutions. I thought it would be loads of fun to try changing careers. I was encouraged by some friends who had done the same and had come from investment banking and are now teaching economics and lots of fun stuff in the school system in New York.
But unfortunately there are no positions available in BC and no provisions for mature career changers like me in either the public or private system. The union does not treat me any differently than a 21 yr old. I suppose that is both good and bad, but it does strike me as a bit anathema to experience and merit.
Of the young people I graduated with, I don’t know any who obtained work either as a substitute or a full time teacher.
With the younger teachers I felt badly because some of our instructors at college were fully pensioned, retired, and still going back to double dip by substitute teaching.a couple times a week on a regular basis. Meanwhile there are very many eager young teachers who could do with the sub work. In law, accounting and other professions where there are elements of mentoring taking place, hand-offs and successions are part of what keeps (healthy) businesses fresh, innovative and collegial at the same time. Not so in teaching im afraid.
Not surprisingly I have been to several interviews im the US, including some very interesting Charter Schools and larger New York public ones. Down south private and public schools actively recruit people like myself. Resumes and hustle still hold some weight down there.
Although it was nice to have opportunities in the US, I think I will likely go back to my profession here and continue doing my pro bono guest lecturing where I can.
My conclusion after two years is that there are simply too many teachers, too much deadwood and too much red tape at the moment. I have no regrets about getting my education degree, regardless.
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It was interesting in Tom Friedman’s book, the long section on education in the USA and how some States were taking very positive steps to remedy it. I can’t remember which State it was but they had put in a teacher evaluation system that was negotiated by a committee of teachers, unions and the Education Department.
When I was reading this I thought, ‘boy I can really see this happening here’! They were actually getting rid of the poorer teachers!
My wife was a teacher until maternity finished her career and she never wanted to go back.. She was appalled at the situation in her school as about a third of the teachers were just going through the motions waiting for their pensions.
The BCTF is terrified about evaluations because it would show up so many poor teachers. If they are doing their job properly, what are they worried about?
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Their worried about accountability. Cowards.
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I believe the salary demand was 3%, 6% and 6%. That is over 3 years. Not that it makes any difference in a 0% world.
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There seems to be bit of misunderstanding on how teachers are evaluated. Employees do not evaluate employees. Management evaluates employees. Every district has a Collective Agreement that spells out the process. I my district, a principal needs to evaluate a teacher three times. At the end, they are deemed “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory”. If they are deemed “unsatisfactory” they need to meet with the principal and work on a plan for improvement. If evaluations are not happening, it is because the principal is not doing their job. Mind you, I understand that principals are also busy. This is where the process breaks down. There is not one teacher that wants an incompetent teacher in a classroom. As a teacher, I wish principals would either get on with their duty to evaluate, or government takes something off their plate so they can find time to evaluate properly.
Teacher evaluations should not violate a teacher’s right to due process. The BCTF has a code of ethics we are required to follow, and the old College of Teachers has a code of standards we are also required to follow.
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And based on the behavior of many of your colleagues, present company excluded, not many follow the code…
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Quite the contrary, very few teachers do not follow the code. There is no proof for your comment.
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Tell that to the dozens upon dozens who have front row seats to the nightmares. Tell that to the dozens of teachers that have emailed me privately since this commentary hit twitter and have LAUDED me for speaking out.
I guess they have to hide because they follow a code…LOL!
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About a year ago the Burnaby Teachers Association put a full page ad in the Burnaby Now advising parents that principals have to excuse a student from writing an FSA test in the event of a family emergency, lengthy illness or other extenuating circumstances.
The ad included a cut out that parents could use to select one of these three reasons by ticking one off and signing the coupon like piece to send to their children’s principal. What they were urging parents do is lie to get their kids out of writing this test which is not liked by teachers.
With tactics like this coming from teachers is it any wonder what kind of product we have “graduating” from pubic schools these days?
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Excellent. The simple answer, of course, is that you needn’t wonder since the public school system is represented by despicable shrews like Patti Bacchus and Susan Lambert
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Well you can thank your luck stars that I’m not Premier because private school funding would be immediately cut off. No if ands or buts. If you want to send your child to private school then pay for it. Public education suffers enough from underfunding as it is.
As for the teachers protesting wearing black, more power to them!
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It is demonstrably absurd, in fact, idiotic, to suggest that while my tax dollar is going to public school education without an iota of opinion from me how it should be spent, that the best schools in the province–who are funded by BC taxpaying parents, should have the minuscule amount of money they receive cut off.
Each of my three children cost me about the same to send them to private school. The total bill is challenging. The “grant” given by the govt, doesn’t even come close to equaling the amount of my tax contribution to public education. And I don’t see the money, it goes to the school as it should for consistently producing some of the brightest minds in BC–which helps the economy and contributes to a better society. My kids should be different because a group of hard line haters in the NDP have a stick up their ass about segregating and HATING those with a couple of extra dollars.
It’s one thing to be politically doctrinaire but quite another to be unfair and mean-spirited.
You’re an NDPer, they can do no wrong, we all get that. Yawn.
And yes, we’re quite lucky you’re not the Education Minister. Christy was that for quite some time. One jerk that believes in destroying any part of a child’s educational experience, public or private, is enough.
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Private Schools receive about half of the per student grant that a public school receives. The number for the public school is about $7000 and the number for the private school is about $3500. Private schools normally charge the parents more than $3500 per student. I am not sure why that is.
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That’s not correct.
I don’t know about others, but St. George’s and Crofton House receive $2500.00 student. This is DOES NOT offset the average $18,000 per student is costs parents to send them there.
Those schools provide services well beyond the money they charge. They barely break even but are committed to better education. No question about it. You rarely see problems–although problems exist everywhere, because as soon as that’s an issue, either the offending boy, girl or staff member is gone.
There are no tribunals or committees of fancy. They follow the BC curriculum but push students to be better–CONSTANTLY. The ethos is totally different from most public schools. My son and his class, for example, are doing end of Gr. 6 level maths and he’s in the middle of Gr. 5 and not considered anything special. Most of his classmates are plugging away too.
What I don’t understand is the breathtaking discrimination against private schools by some of the far left in the NDP. Those children’s parents are not taxpayers? We don’t contribute to better BC? our children don’t deserve the support?
I know you might not feel that way but Ron’s comment was a disgrace.
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As of 1989 Private Schools received 50% of the public school student grant per student. This is from the Ministry of Education website…
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/independentschools/geninfo.pdf
I find it difficult to believe that teachers anywhere wouldn’t push students to do their best. Our schools are not like peanut butter on bread with every school and every classroom exactly the same. Some gifted students in our public schools have special programs. Some of the high schools offer international baccalaureate programs The Distance Education Schools (there are 9 that are part of the public school system in BC) often have options for individual programs for their students as well. I am sure that there are more students with problems in some schools than others, but that is the way the world has always been. It has always been my belief that, in the long run, that a family has more influence over their children than any school does.
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I don’t disagree at all on this last point.
But in the info from the Ministry, I used to sit on te Board at Saints and know quite a few members of Crofton’s Board. Those two schools do not receive half the funding of what public schools get.
Well below. Regardless, even I’d it was half, it’s still a pittance considering the enormous tax burden of EVERY British Columbian where education funding is concerned.
The Govt should be ashamed. And the union should stop playing ridiculous games.
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I have three sons who went through the public system and one is now a teacher and one other is in the process. my sons are far from NDP material. As mentioned by others, the things allowed by the Gov’t and the BCTF ( because they are in this together) anger a lot of the younger teachers who can not get ahead in the system thats now in place. Also not all blame rests with the teachers and Gov’t. One of my sons said you can generally tell why a student is the way they are as soon as you meet or don’t meet the parents. My wife and I were actively involved in our childrens education and believe it made a difference. I realize that there is alot of pressure on working parents but the one of the most important things is you childs education and you have to be involved. The school system is not a baby sitting service.
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BRILLIANT! Complete agreement. I think it’s extremely important for people to re-read this comment.
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Alex, couldn’t agree with you more!
In a general discussion with my sister this weekend the schooling of my children came up. In particular how teachers have abdicated their role of educator/community leader and have attempted to adopt the role of surrogate parent (and failing in that role). We reminsced about how teachers would sit in the classroom and make us eat our lunches then send us outside for half an hour of playground terror now they leave the classroom at lunch (at my daughter’s elementary school) and hallway monitors check in on each class. Instead of hammering home time tables, grammar and english skills they have put an emphasis on field trips to such nonsense as ‘Me to We’. Seriously what pearls of wisdom can Mikhail Gorbachev give to young children outside of how not to run a communist state? And I won’t get started on the non-report card issue as that makes my blood boil. My point is that parents have to wake up and realize that the BCTF is not interested in educating their children they are solely interested in expanding their own political power base. This means parents have to stop looking at their local school as a state sponsored baby sitter and actually take the time each day and go over what they were and were not taught that day.
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Thank you.
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Then those “dozens of teachers” that e-mailed you and praised you for your article need to do the right thing and report an infraction of either the BCTF Code of Ethics or the BC College of Teachers Standards. It is their responsibility to report and respond. I will challenge , no, implore those teachers who are not responding to do so first chance you get. Here is a link to the BCTF Code of Ethics:
http://bctf.ca/ProfessionalResponsibility.aspx?id=4292
Once a teacher has started the process in reporting an incompetent colleague has begun, the only interrest the BCTF has is to see that due process is being followed. To do otherwise, feeds the narrative portrayed by lazy journalists and lying politicians that the BCTF “protects” incompetent teachers.
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No argument from me pal. Don’t think all people walk around with your principles.
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There are a lot of mixed up issues here. Is the teachers union wrong to bargain for its members. Full discosure: I have a teacher in my family. What I hear from him and other teachers is that the BCTF is the most democratic union they can imagine. Tons of support for it. But like the lone supporter of Enbridge at the hearings the other week, the media will find someone within the teaching ranks who opposes this or that.
Fair enough. That’s part of the game. I think most of us are onside with a fair disciplinary process, and the upholding of the highest possible standards. But when it comes to bargaining, we must admit the government side is not being realistic or speaking in good faith. Binding arbitration? Bring it on, since both sides entrench themselves every time there is a problem.
If we mesh all the issues into being pro or anti BCTF, we oversimplify the multiple dilemmas. There’s a fair balance and I hope we find it.
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