Christy Clark did not make any announcements today because she is shell shocked from all the B.C.Rail flak, which by the way,she did not expect!
With an ego as big as her's,it must be quite a shock!
When last seen,she was hiding under a desk, reciting nursery rhymes and drooling.
Moira Stillwell didn't make any announcements because she doesn't have anything to say worth listening to.
Never mind Moira...that makes you just like the rest of the trained seals running for the job!

FALCON SAID WHAT!!??

“Government needs to recognize and reward those teachers, and encourage them to share their expertise and methods with their peers.”

I just spewed my coffee all over the screen....is he forgetting teachers are union members?? LOL The more I hear the more I marvel.

Jim13135

Teachers are union members, but at what point does this big change in ideology take place. When do teachers acquire these big bad negative union ideals?

Are these types naturally drawn into teaching?
Is it when they enter University?
Is it when they get their certification?
Is it at the end of their 1st year teaching?

Please tell me just how this all comes about.

“The criteria could include peer evaluation" Is that the peers that like you or don't like you?

How about merit pay for politicians?

Where do you get the idea that teachers develope "big bad negative union ideals", Smooth?

Sounds pretty bigotted to me.

Three cheers to a person who dares to post something positive here, like some constructive criticism!

(It's not very likely going to happen).

On the topic of merit pay, study after study indicate the same comclusion: it does not improve student scores. If it doesn't help our kids, why should we consider it? This policy is poorly thought out, but gets Falcon the press and exposure. Our students deserve better.

Both these guys have been part of the problem. Why should we think they are going to behave differently now? Opportunists or what? They should have been yelling from the roof tops long before now. To little, too late. Sorry.

I agree Chester!
A bunch of political opportunists, banking on voters having short memories.
That may have been true in the past,but hopefully people have learned a few lessons this time around!

Anyone hear how the first recall on Ida Chong is going?

Taxed out

I think you missed my sarcasm.

You know all of these perks, bonuses, incentives, cash for being liked etct. all throw a wrench into the pay scale. Why not just pay the teacher or whoever that does his/her job well a pat on the back. After all they are just doing their job and doing it to the best of their ability.

"Constructive criticism" would only be appropriate if ANY of these people running for Campbell's job first made a "constructive" proposal that could then be fleshed out 'constructively' by further suggested improvements, Prince George.

It would be very difficult to do that with the "merit pay" idea.

How would such a scheme ever be practically administered, given all the variables, and constrictions on discipline, etc., our modern education system now possesses?

Some of those variables that immediately come to mind are class sizes, the number of special needs students in classes, whether the school was located in an affluent or a poor area, the age of the facility itself and how well it was equipped, the number of single parent or working parent families in an area, the ethnic background of the students themselves, and a probably a great many more similar considerations.

I won't go into the issue of 'discipline' here, except to say from what I've seen in our schools it leaves much to be desired. And I don't just mean teacher control over students, but the personal discipline that now seems so lacking in the professional appearance and standards of many teachers themselves.

To me, and I do openly admit having a negative bias towards the Liberal Party in general based on its past actions, Falcons's proposal seems more "destructive" than "constructive" in purpose.

It is a "divide and conquer" idea that really has nothing to do with encouraging excellence in education, and everything to do with discouraging a united front from developing amongst teachers themselves in presenting what's actually needed to improve education.

And that is often other things than just higher pay for already well paid schoolteachers. (Though, just like the rest of us, the continuing "hits" on their incomes, won't go passively unnoticed forever.)

Rather they are ones for other necessaries to improve the delivery of a better education. Ones that might embarrass a government determined to keep its financial overlords happy by subjecting the citizenry to the fallacy of a "balanced Budget" under the rules of finance as they now stand. And therefore won't be delivered.

Now if Kevin, or any of his Liberal leadership cohorts, showed they had the slightest understanding of THAT 'fallacy', and how it might be corrected, THAT WOULD be something 'CONSTRUCTIVE'. I won't hold my breath. So far as I'm aware, there's currently only ONE person mentioned as a possible future Premier who's ever indicated some understanding of the 'real' problem of government finances, and that's the NDP's Corky Evans.

This is constructive: He is a Liberal, Don't believe anything they have to say! Unless they reverse everything Campbell implemented and started with a clean slate, which is unlikely! LIEberals are d**d!

How come Mr. Falcon brings up the merit pay idea now? Why not last year? It's just a big game to get ink, folks. Try getting suckered in with yer eyes open this time.