Prince George, B.C. – The Prince George School Board unanimously passed a motion criticizing the way the government utilized it’s social media platforms during the teachers strike at last night’s meeting.

It was brought forward by Trustee Tim Bennett and concerned the government’s use of the BC Education Plan Facebook and Twitter accounts which he says were really used to “advertise the bargaining position of BCPSEA and the government.”

Trustee Tim Bennett

He adds while both sides have the right to share their information and to let their points be made in public, “there were many other avenues that could have been used that weren’t explored.”

For example Bennett says BCPSEA could have used their own Twitter handle to get their points across or could have used the Ministry of Education’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“It was odd that a plan that is tied around curriculum and the development of educational programs was used in such a negative way and it’s just disappointing they weren’t explored,” says Bennett.

“The BC Education Plan should have stayed neutral. It’s an account that has such a following of teachers and so much money and time has gone into the plan over the last couple of years. In my opinion all the time and money has gone down the drain.”

He says the Board will now write a letter to the Minister of Education outlining its concerns.

Bennett says Trustee Brenda Hooker will also be taking the motion to the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) provincial council and will ask the BCSTA and all school boards across the province to send the same letter.