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May 30
th
, 2014
Dear Public School Parents in BC,
Im a mom and Im writing to ask for your help. Im a very concerned parent of three
children in the public school system. Im also a teacher. As a parent with some inside
knowledge of the system, I am wanting to share my thoughts and observations with you, and ask
that you join me in defending our kids education if you share my concerns. Im a support
teacher in a public middle school, so Im in multiple classrooms every day. I have enough
seniority that my job is secure... I have nothing to loose or gain personally, other than the quality
of education that our kids will be receiving. I dont care that Im receiving 10% less now. I
dont care that I too, have to arrange childcare for our districts strike day next week, or that Ill
have essentially no income for those days. In my mind, this is an infinitely small price to pay to
defend the quality of education that my kids are going to receive over the next 10 years. I know
the wonderful sides of BC public schools, which is why Ive decided to have my own kids
educated within them. I also know the challenges and the impact that the current issues within
the labour dispute are having on our system.
Ill start by telling you what I think we can do as parents NOW to make a huge
difference, then explain why. Next week, media will be paying attention to the sidewalks in
front of our schools. IF those sidewalks are filled with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles,
youth, and caring citizens who can afford a couple of hours to defend public education, the
government will pay attention. IF those sidewalks are filled with people wearing signs that say
basic messages such as Im a Parent Protecting Public Education and Class size and
Composition Matters to Me, the government will listen. You dont have to take sides. You dont
have to support the greedy teachers, as weve so often been described lately. You simply need
to stand together with others who care about the quality of our kids education, on the public
sidewalks, in front of our public schools, and send a message to the government that the current
under-funding of public education in our province isnt ok. The media is paying attention.
Our opportunity to stand up and have our parent voices heard is NOW... literally in the
next 7 days.
As a support teacher, Im in and out of classes all day, supporting a broad range of
students in multiple grades. I teach in a very average, urban district. I know the class size and
composition as it is today, and Ive been involved in building classes for next year. Its scary
and discouraging. Why dont we talk more openly about our concerns in the media? I think its
because a) we dont want you to loose confidence in our ability to provide your child with an
amazing education, b) were worried that well say the wrong thing and get in trouble (which is
why Im not using my real email or name, and havent disclosed which district Im in), and c) the
current funding situation is so dysfunctional that the more students who transfer to private
schools, the less funding our public schools will have. Im going to provide you with some
insight, though, because Im confident that if you had any idea how important the issues of class
size, composition and specialized support teachers are, youd be speaking out, loudly.
At the Liberal Convention last weekend, Peter Fassbender (our Minister of Education) is
quoted as saying, The class size issue is an oxymoron as far as Im concerned, because all the
research in the world says size does not determine outcomes. Ive learned not to believe
anything I read in the media, so Im desperately hoping that this isnt an accurate quote from the
man whos in charge of my childrens education. Ill paint you a picture of one of the
classrooms I was in today: 29 students, 5 students on an IEP (Individual Education Plan), 7 other
students who have very significant social, emotional, mental/physical health challenges, and/or
learning needs, 15 who Id describe as at standard grade level ability and motivation, and 2 who
are above grade level and needing to be challenged. Among the students in this class are two
who have recently had a close family member pass away (in the last month), one who has a
serious eating disorder, 4 who are more than two grade levels behind in reading, 7 who are more
than two grade levels behind in math, 2 who are struggling daily with anxiety challenges, at least
8 who are gaming more than 4 hours in an average day, and 1 international student whos
English is very limited. This class has an EA (Education Assistant) helping out in it
approximately 40% of each week. This is not an unusual class; some are simpler, some are more
complex. If those 29 students were all healthy, motivated and had relatively similar academic
abilities, perhaps the class size wouldnt be significant. Thats not reality. Nor is class size
staying at 29 or 30, when legislation doesnt guarantee that.
Until 2002, class size and composition limits were in place. There was a maximum of 3
students with an IEP, in each class. In order to adhere to the IEP limits, more teachers were
required which meant classes were smaller. The courts have found that it was illegal for the
government to strip these limits from our contract, but the government is ignoring the court
rulings by simply filing appeals. They cant, however, ignore 1 million + parents who stand up
and say that class size and composition matters, and now is our opportunity to do that. Having
specialist teachers to support our students individual needs is also important. The movement
towards inclusive schools (having our students with special needs integrated into standard
classrooms with their peers), was invaluable. Following that up, however, with larger classes
and less support, is now negatively impacting all learners.
Please stand up for these important issues by us (teachers) in front of the schools during
the rotating strikes next week. If youre too mad at us, stand on the other side of the street with
your signs of support for public education. If you see us as educated, caring, dedicated
professionals, please feel free to walk with us. Challenge us. Ask questions. Share your
thoughts. We appreciate all the waves, honks and cookies, but if you want the government to
hear you, come stand with us.
The government has money and makes choices as to where to spend it. I keep hearing,
Why is it always about dollars and cents... why isnt it about the kids? Quality public
education costs many dollars and cents, and our kids need our government to make their
education a spending priority. British Columbia spends $1000 less per child, than the national
average, on education (only PEI is worse). BC currently has the worst student-teacher ratio in
Canada. Since 2002, 3500 teaching positions have been cut (achieved primarily by taking out
the 3 IEP student/class limit and cutting specialist teachers). While our public education system
is struggling, the government continues to heavily finance private schools. Since 2002 the
quality of public education has significantly decreased in our province, and its time for us, as
parents, to stand up for our kids.
As a teacher, Ill be in front of my school of employment for the morning of our strike
day next week. As a parent, my sons and I will be in front of their school later in the day. This
is our chance to be heard.
Im a mom and Im asking for your help.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Parent in BC