Twitter Chat Had Hundreds of Tweets
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 @ 1:11 PM
Prince George, B.C.- Education Minister George Abbott had invited parents and teachers to a “Twitter Chat” over the past hour to talk about Bill 22, the legislation which will end a job action by teachers and provide for a mediator. But as one Tweet remarked, “his ratio of answers to questions is in line with the teacher to student ratio”.
In other words, far more questions than answers.
That may be because Abbott , or his staff, may not be able to tweet fast enough to keep up with the flood of comments and questions that were being tweeted to #bced
The hour long session was successful in allowing many to blow off some steam, but provided little in the way of answers.
Tweeters asked
Why are you and your senior bureaucrats worth 30% more but our teachers are not?
Abbott: everyone in the public service including senior level held at 0% Cabinet Ministers 10% pay cut
why does the mandate for the mediator only deal with items the employer had on the table?
Abbott: it doesn’t, it also includes mediation on local/provincial items as requested by the BCTF
I challenge u Mr Abbott to teach a class of 30 or more kids for one week.
This Chat is nothing more than a publicity stunt
After hundreds of tweets, Minister Abbott tired to sign off:
georgeabbottbc Thank you for participating. Enjoyed opportunity to communicate with so many teachers today about Education Improvement Act
To which another tweet appeared:
If you really enjoyed communicating with teachers you wouldn’t be forcibly legislating them back to work
The overall tone of the “chat” was one of anger, with one tweeter remarking:
lots of hate going around, occasionally losing sight through anger… –
Which was followed by:
This debate is scary. Teachers are supposed to rely on facts, not rhetoric. This is a very chilling thread, BC parents will notice.
To which a parent responded:
Yes…this parent took notice!
Comments
The Minister didn’t answer questions directly. Bills 28/29 were ruled illegal. Bill 22 now states that the Supreme Court ruling will be disregarded.
The government actions are illegal.
What is at stake is much more than a raise. It’s illegal, unconstitutional government activity.
Citizens need to take notice. Teachers are fighting the good fight. The BC Liberals get to set their own mediator within a tight mandate to strip teachers contracts.
Would mill workers put up with that? Would the nurses? 30 years of contract gains lost in one bill which is unconstitutional?
I think not.
If this keeps up we may see solidarity marches and wildcats in BC again!! When governments get too heavy handed working people have a right to stand up and strike.
You gotta fight for your rights!
Political unrest, FIGHT!
IMO about a hundred or more, less than 140 character contained capsulated insults and comments and opinions by a hunnert or so nobodies is a lot better than face to face chats with voters or the “honourable” opposition. Maybe next time every one can text him. Just don’t use the word “gunna”.
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