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Hartley Miller's Slap Shots - September 16th Edition

By Hartley Miller

It's a given, teachers in Prince George, and around the province, will vote overwhelming this month (Sept 20-22) for job action. After all, they have been without a contract for 15 months, and deserve better. 

On September 23rd, the official results of the vote will be known leaving many questions including: what happens to extracurricular or volunteer activities? 

I am in full support of the teachers, but it is my sincere hope that job action does not adversely effect sports. Teachers need to take a stand, but when all is said and done, they need to make their point without using the students as "pawns". 

Many students are trying to earn scholarships. A number of Grade 12's are "banking" on their final high school year to propel them into a post secondary institution. Do you think basketball standout (College Heights) Christine Kennedy, would have received a scholarship to McGill University (Montreal) had last season been wiped out? 

Turning the clock back many years, would Randy Wagner, former PGSS Volleyball star and Canadian Olympian, have fulfilled his dreams if teachers had withdrawn services in his final season? These are just two of many examples of students needing their final year to excel in sports. 

There's no question that school sports create a strong sense of spirit, camaraderie and develop a positive culture, with an overwhelming sense of pride. This builds a strong school community. Why would teachers want to eliminate that? 

Generally, the public has a "jaded" perception of teachers. A good portion believes that teachers’ work schedules consist of a Monday to Friday week, with limited hours, ranging from 9am to 3pm. Furthermore, they also have two weeks vacation at Christmas, two more weeks off during the Spring break and then two months recovery period during the summer. Shutting down extra curricular activities would just reinforce the public's perception. 

I realize teachers have to stand up to the non sympathetic government. Perhaps short (less than a week) rotating strikes around the province might be an answer. Matt Pearce (Vice-President of Prince George District Teacher’s Association) admits that is "one of wide range of possibilities". 

Yes, it would be inconvenient to us parents, but at least the education process would continue and volleyball, basketball and up start hockey programs, to name a few, could remain in tact.

Go ahead teachers. Vote 90 plus per cent if favor of job action. Do what you must do, but put students first and don't strike out the "volunteer activities".




--Vanderhoof's loss is College Heights' gain. While it appeared the departure of Christine Kennedy would significantly hurt the Cougars Senior Girl's Basketball team, this may not necessarily be the case. The triplets, Ashley, Brittany and Caitlin Heit, all impact players, have left Nechako Valley and are now in their final year of high school at College Heights Secondary.


--Both UNBC basketball teams will have more rookies than veterans this season, but interim women's coach, Dave Holmes, got a big boost when he talked post Christina Neufeld into returning to the team, for a final year of eligibility. Neufeld took the past two years off to concentrate on her medical studies. She is continuing to pursue her goal of becoming a doctor, but the six-foot-one former academic all Canadian player, couldn't resist the opportunity for a leadership role and one last chance to compete at this level.


--From Elliott Harris of the Chicago Sun-Times, on the whiz kid, Sidney Crosby:
"Can't wait for him to win the NHL's trophy for most sportsmanlike player which would make it the Lady Byng Crosby Trophy."


--The St. Paul Pioneer Press asked 78-year-old St. John's (Minn.) football coach John Gagliardi, what he would like engraved on his tombstone. His response: "I'd rather be coaching."



And, how is your week?


--Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97FM. He also writes for the PG Free Press, and is author of You Don't Say (Andrews-Mcmeel, 2005).

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