Abbott Says Schools Will be Open, but No Instruction During Strike
Thursday, March 1, 2012 @ 12:38 PM
Prince George, B.C.- Minister of Education, George Abbott says schools will be open during the teachers job action next week, but parents are being encouraged to make other arrangements for their children if that is at all possible.
“We are concerned, disappointed by the union’s decision to hold a three day strike next week” says Abbott.
In terms of the challenges ahead, schools will be open Monday Tuesday Wednesday. “ Where it is possible we are encouraging parents to find alternates, depending on the ages of the children, the availability of child care, the availability of child minding or other alternate arrangements, or the parents taking care at home themselves. We encourage parents to do so.”
Abbott says there will be no instruction given to students who do attend during those days. “Children will be safe and they will be watched over, but there will be no instruction so we encourage alternate arrangements where that is possible.”
Schools will be staffed by non union school and district personnel. As for buses, Abbott believes that in most instances, buses will be running, “and school based day care centres will be open as well, they will not be affected by the strike.”
This access is permitted because of the terms of the Labour Relations Board order which prevents teachers from blocking access to the schools.
Abbott says he expects to introduce Bill 22 for second reading today, and debate will begin. “This is a complex bill, and I expect second reading will go on for a few days” . He anticipates that, at the earliest, the bill could become law by the end of next week, and in the worst case scenario, late into the following week.
Abbott says the strike won’t result in any cost savings, that there will be time that will have to be made up either by adding days on to the end of the school year, or possibly shorten the spring break.
BCTF president Susan Lambert says she is open to hearing from Minister Abbott at any time. Abbott says he is also willing to hear from Lambert “I have always told her I am willing to sit down and talk with them, all she has to do is call me.”
Teachers will be off the job Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Comments
Good, you have my full support in this teachers! This fight isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about the kids and their right to a proper publicly funded education. I believe it’s also about BC workers in general and treating contractual agreements and the law with respect.
The BC Liberal government is such a corrupt and bankrupt institution and they need to be stopped. They only have a year left in power and quite possibly as a party, but we need to hold them to account for everything now.
Unfortunately this will have to get a lot uglier before its settled. BCs labour unions may have to flex their muscles again as this govt seems to think working people are doormats. BC Liberals can wipe their feet somewhere else in my opinion.
Teachers deserve fairness? Let’s see what the BCTF has to say about this.
http://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Parents/FairDealFlyer.pdf
How was $3.3 billion eliminated? Oh yeah, the last time teachers got a pay increase it wasn’t funded, so school boards had to rob Peter to pay Paul, while Paul already received 90% of the budget to start with, but wanted more.
Giving teachers more money won’t allow school boards to hire more SSA’s (Special Services Assistants) to look after growing numbers of special needs students, because SSA’s are not teachers. An SSA costs about 1/3 what a teacher does.
If BC teachers are ranked 9th in wages in Canada, so what? I’m sure the teachers in Fort Mac in Alberta earn more than teachers in Prince George, for pretty obvious reasons.
If BC Teachers are doing this for kids and parents as they say, they should ask them what they want instead of using them as human shields against government.
How many parents or students are represented in the BC College of Teachers?
Look at the standards teachers are held to.
http://www.bcteacherregulation.ca/Standards/StandardsDevelopment.aspx
Parents are only mentioned once. “Educators communicate effectively and in a timely manner with parents and consider their advice on matters pertaining to their children.” In other words, Teachers are free to completely ignore anything parents say.
Of course, I’ve opened the floodgates for people who will remind us how teachers work so many extra hours doing extracurricular activities and spend their own money on stickers and so forth and are worth as much money as they want because they have a degree or two. Kind of like how politicians will tell us how hard they work and tirelessly labour for their constituents without any extra pay. I’m certain some do go above and beyond, but as a group, I trust teachers and politicians about equal. It’s hard to trust anyone who constantly tells you how selfless and overworked they are without ever having performance measured.
This only makes sense. The BC Government doesn’t care about students getting a good education. They already treat the schools like daycares anyway, just a place to stick kids so they don’t inconvenience their parents. That’s why they don’t care if the class sizes are beyond what is manageable. Stick as many special needs students into a class as possible, just as long as mom and dad don’t need to worry about it or take an active role in their children’s education. Just push them through the system and get them out.
We’re going to see our schools turning out under-educated worker drones with just enough education to push a broom and be labourers. Though there is nothing wrong with those jobs and they are necessary, our youth deserve to choose that career path for themselves, not have it forced on them by a government who doesn’t care about giving them an education.
Yes, I agree that our kids deserve a good education with managed class sizes and a fair compensation to the teachers for a living wage, including increases for the cost of inflation. It is very important for kids, teachers, and parents that the government stop their net zero approach and repeal Bill 22, which bans the BCTF from striking more than 1 day/week lest they want a $1.3 billion/day fine, as well as a $475/day fine per teacher! Bill 22 also makes any limit on class sizes a mute point. It’s wrong, wrong, wrong, and I support the BCTF and other unions to put their power to good use in this case.
“I trust teachers and politicians about equal.” Sounds to me like Pojeb_sa is exorcising some past demons…were you treated badly as a student? Got an axe to grind?
“Parents are only mentioned once. “Educators communicate effectively and in a timely manner with parents and consider their advice on matters pertaining to their children.” In other words, Teachers are free to completely ignore anything parents say.”
Every parent deserves to be consulted about his or her child’s education, and the teacher really should listen to what each parent can say about his or her child…BUT…being a parent makes you an expert about YOUR OWN child, but it sure doen’t make you an expert about teaching and learning…no more than the fact that I can drive doesn’t make me a mechanic.
He’s a pretty smart guy. Who’s going to instruct with no teachers there?
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