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PGDTA Takes Class Size Issue to Board Meeting

By 250 News

Former Vice President of the Prince George and District Teachers Association,  Matt Pierce has presented the issue of class size to the meeting of  School District 57 Board of Trustees.

Pierce says if you want someone to paint your house, you might offer to pay them $2,000 but if the painter asks "Is that for one room, two rooms or the whole house?" you can't expect the painter to agree to paint not knowing the scope of the job.

According to Pierce, that is not unlike what is happening at the current bargaining session.  He says at one table there is discussion of wages,  while at the other there  is discussion of class size, and teachers are being told that Trustees do not support class size protection . He says  negotiating wages  for scenarios that don't specify  how many children will be in the classroom is not unlike the painter and price scenario.

Pierce plans to lead a protest outside the Civic Centre this Saturday as the BCTrustees hold their Annual General Meeting in Prince George.

Meantime, talks  between the teachers and the government's bargaining agency resume tomorrow morning.  

Pierce told the Board class size was the issue that pushed teachers on to the picket lines last fall "None of us want to go back there."

Prince George and District Teachers Association President Karen McKay called  on the Board to take an open stand and support the call for class limits.  She says she doesn't believe local Trustees are among those the Government  claims do not support class size limits.
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