“Maybe if our schools were convention centres, they’d get the resources they need”
And with that, the opening salvo in a new drive to educate the public by the British Columbia Teacher’s Federation is underway.
The BCTF has launched a new advertising campaign, capitalizing on the recent troubles over the Vancouver Convention Centre which as recent news headlines have screamed is running increasingly over budget.
The Teacher’s union targets the convention centre and other mega projects for the seemingly elastic nature of their funding, while the province’s schools continue to suffer further and further cuts.
The province continues to chip away at the educational system in its bid to “make the best with the budgets provided”. But one would suspect that the prospect of closing schools, combining class rooms and increasing class sizes makes that kind of cost effectiveness a false goal, if the actual final result is less instructional time and attention for the provinces students.
It’s even more questionable when the province is busy crowing about a 4 billion dollar budget surplus.
There does appear to be a bit of a double standard when it comes to government edicts, one wonders what the convention centres and other mega projects might look like if they were told to “make the best with the budgets provided.”
The BCTF may be onto a successful strategy on this one, as it’s always a bonus when you can trip up the other side of the debate with their very own words and policies.
The Monday Daily News provided some local background on the issue, with numerous quotes and contributions from the local MLA for the North Coast, Gary Coons.
Teachers say B.C. 'could do better'
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, December 03, 2007
And with that, the opening salvo in a new drive to educate the public by the British Columbia Teacher’s Federation is underway.
The BCTF has launched a new advertising campaign, capitalizing on the recent troubles over the Vancouver Convention Centre which as recent news headlines have screamed is running increasingly over budget.
The Teacher’s union targets the convention centre and other mega projects for the seemingly elastic nature of their funding, while the province’s schools continue to suffer further and further cuts.
The province continues to chip away at the educational system in its bid to “make the best with the budgets provided”. But one would suspect that the prospect of closing schools, combining class rooms and increasing class sizes makes that kind of cost effectiveness a false goal, if the actual final result is less instructional time and attention for the provinces students.
It’s even more questionable when the province is busy crowing about a 4 billion dollar budget surplus.
There does appear to be a bit of a double standard when it comes to government edicts, one wonders what the convention centres and other mega projects might look like if they were told to “make the best with the budgets provided.”
The BCTF may be onto a successful strategy on this one, as it’s always a bonus when you can trip up the other side of the debate with their very own words and policies.
The Monday Daily News provided some local background on the issue, with numerous quotes and contributions from the local MLA for the North Coast, Gary Coons.
Teachers say B.C. 'could do better'
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Monday, December 03, 2007
Pages one and three
Teachers in British Columbia are launching an ad campaign this week, challenging the provincial government to justify its spending priorities.
Teachers in British Columbia are launching an ad campaign this week, challenging the provincial government to justify its spending priorities.
The ads compare the casual acceptance of cost overruns at the new convention centre with the "mean-spirited" cuts to funding for public education, demonstrating what teachers see as mismanagement.
"Why is our government continuing to under-fund a quality public education system like we have in Prince Rupert, yet turning a blind eye to huge cost overruns for megaprojects in the Lower Mainland?" said Joanna Larson, president of the Prince Rupert District Teachers' Union.
"They continue to take money away from schools and break the promises they made to students on class size and composition."
The headline of the print ads that will run throughout B.C. states ‘Maybe if our schools were convention centres they’d get the resources they need.”
In School District 52, there are six classes with more students than what the government promised in legislation, and 123 of the district’s classrooms have four or more students with special needs.
The teachers union says that in addition to larger-than-promised class sizes and composition concerns, overall support for students has been severely reduced. The union says specialist teachers spend most of their time completing paperwork and rarely provide direct services to students, and point out that in elementary schools, libraries are given less than 10 hours a week in the library.
“This uncaring government has their priorities all wrong,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “Instead of investing in our students and ensuring they have their needs met, they continue to underfund and put our quality education system at risk.”
School districts across the province are still reeling from the October announcement of cuts to student funding in secondary schools, through which the B. C. government is taking back up to $50 million from Grade 10, 11 and 12 students enrolled in fewer than eight courses.
“The $50 million clawback is another prime example Minister Bond’s mismanagement, incompetence and total disregard for those in rural and vulnerable districts,” said Coons.
“After many months of local consultation with parents, teachers, support staff and other stakeholders, the rug gets pulled out from under local budgets.”
The final message in the teacher’s new ad asks the question. With a $4 billion surplus, why is Gordon Campbell’s government shortchanging our kids?”
Larson said she finds it incredible that the provincial government appears intent on compromising public education in the province while it is sitting on such a big windfall, and Coons agrees.
“Premier Campbell attacked public education in his first term by ripping up negotiated contracts dealing with class size limits and strict guidelines for students with special needs, and he continues his assault through the minister responsible,” Coons said.
“Many school boards and trustees are angry and frustrated, as they should be, while this government basks in multi-million dollar surpluses and a minimum $400 million convention overrun.”
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