To read the Press Release, click on the image below.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Premier earns a failing grade on education announcements
Premier Gordon Campbell has clearly not been listening to the thousands of teachers and parents across BC who, for years, have been calling for the resources and support necessary to meet the diverse needs of students at all levels.
BC Teachers' Federation President Susan Lambert said teachers will be disappointed with the lack of substance in Campbell's speech to British Columbians Wednesday evening.
"The premier's address lacked depth and demonstrates he doesn't really understand how children learn," Lambert said. "Teachers and parents know that children learn at their own pace, and we need to support them according to their own learning needs and skill levels."
His announcement of "voluntary early childhood learning assessment" for children entering full-day Kindergarten is meaningless without additional funding to meet those children's needs once they are identified, Lambert said. "Kindergarten teachers already assess all of the children coming into their classes, but we no longer have the specialist teachers in schools to work with them. More testing doesn't help children learn."
She pointed out that this is the premier who has cut almost 700 special education teachers, and 250 English as a Second Language and Aboriginal education teachers.
"We need to restore that level of service that has been robbed from the public education system over the past ten years of this government," she said.
Campbell also stated that about 20% of children in Grade 4 are not reading, writing, or doing math at grade level. "This approach is typical of this government's drive to standardize education and not recognize the uniqueness of each learner. The statement demonstrates that the premier doesn't understand how children learn and it does a disservice to the children who are struggling and those whose pace is far beyond grade level."
Lambert also noted that 20% of children in BC are growing up in poverty, the highest rate in Canada for the last seven years. "There is a direct correlation between poverty and school success. Hungry kids can't learn. This government needs to look at a comprehensive poverty reduction plan and assistance for low-income families."
Lambert said teachers were hoping to hear of some relief for the teachers struggling to provide high quality education within a context of large class sizes and high caseloads of learning support teachers.
"This government has done much damage to public education in BC, and this speech won't help reverse that," she said, pointing to 191 schools closed, 3,000 fewer teachers, and significant loss of services to students with special needs.
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For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at 604-871-1881 (office) or 604-340-1959 (cell).
News Release October 27, 2010
BC Teachers' Federation President Susan Lambert said teachers will be disappointed with the lack of substance in Campbell's speech to British Columbians Wednesday evening.
"The premier's address lacked depth and demonstrates he doesn't really understand how children learn," Lambert said. "Teachers and parents know that children learn at their own pace, and we need to support them according to their own learning needs and skill levels."
His announcement of "voluntary early childhood learning assessment" for children entering full-day Kindergarten is meaningless without additional funding to meet those children's needs once they are identified, Lambert said. "Kindergarten teachers already assess all of the children coming into their classes, but we no longer have the specialist teachers in schools to work with them. More testing doesn't help children learn."
She pointed out that this is the premier who has cut almost 700 special education teachers, and 250 English as a Second Language and Aboriginal education teachers.
"We need to restore that level of service that has been robbed from the public education system over the past ten years of this government," she said.
Campbell also stated that about 20% of children in Grade 4 are not reading, writing, or doing math at grade level. "This approach is typical of this government's drive to standardize education and not recognize the uniqueness of each learner. The statement demonstrates that the premier doesn't understand how children learn and it does a disservice to the children who are struggling and those whose pace is far beyond grade level."
Lambert also noted that 20% of children in BC are growing up in poverty, the highest rate in Canada for the last seven years. "There is a direct correlation between poverty and school success. Hungry kids can't learn. This government needs to look at a comprehensive poverty reduction plan and assistance for low-income families."
Lambert said teachers were hoping to hear of some relief for the teachers struggling to provide high quality education within a context of large class sizes and high caseloads of learning support teachers.
"This government has done much damage to public education in BC, and this speech won't help reverse that," she said, pointing to 191 schools closed, 3,000 fewer teachers, and significant loss of services to students with special needs.
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For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at 604-871-1881 (office) or 604-340-1959 (cell).
News Release October 27, 2010
B.C. school trustees should advocate for better education funding
CUPE.ca
Angus Reid Opinion Poll
October 20, 2010
BURNABY, BC—An Angus Reid survey shows that 75 per cent of B.C. residents believe that public education in the province is strengthened when locally elected school trustees advocate for their school districts and challenge the provincial government.
The poll, commissioned by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), also finds that 85 per cent believe that the provincial government should do more to protect public education, given added costs downloaded onto school districts from the province.
CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill says that it is clear that the public understands that funding is inadequate and wants elected trustees to continue to make the case for strong public schools.
“Families, staff and trustees across B.C. have struggled with school closures and program and service cuts. And they have set that against the provincial government’s claim that funding is adequate. I think they understand who is standing up for their communities.”
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
We'll take 20 per cent, too, teachers say
Vancouver Sun Blog - Report Card - An in-depth look at the BC school system
Janet Steffenhagen
October 26, 2010
After school trustees on the Sunshine Coast voted for a 20 per cent increase in their stipend, the president of the Sunshine Coast Teachers' Association (SCTA) sent the following letter to board of education chairman Silas White and the Coast Reporter newspaper:
Teachers of the Sunshine Coast are surprised and angry at hearing that trustees voted themselves a 20 per cent increase to their honorariums at last Tuesday’s board meeting.
Last spring, we heard at meeting after meeting of the dire school budget situation and that some tough decisions had to be made. At that time, teachers were upset to see many cuts to services to children, such as the adapted physical education program, guided reading programs, some special education support and drastic cuts (up to 50 per cent) to teacher librarian time in our larger secondary schools. Those tough decisions were made and, as this school year began, teachers did what they do best. They rolled up their sleeves and tried to do more with even less than the year before, trying their best to maintain services to children.
To view the rest of the blog posting, click here.
Understanding is key to casting an informed vote
Langley Times - Letter to the Editor
Tracie Northway
October 26, 2010
Editor: I am choosing to reply to a letter written by Hattie Hogeterp (The Times, Oct. 15), in response to an earlier letter I had written.
In light of her reply, I am addressing my reply to you, the editor, and the citizens of Langley. In my opinion, her reply shows little insight into what happened to cause board of education chair Joan Bech to resign, and the implications of the cause.
I am used to being accused of being inflammatory or one-sided by certain members of the past board of education, including Hogeterp. In fact, it was common for anyone who spoke out against the past board of education to be put down by certain members.
I suppose the solace that we have is that many of the Auditor General’s recommendations were points we asked about during the past board of education’s term.
To view the rest of the Letter to the Editor, click here.
January school byelection looks likely
Langley Times
Monique Tamminga
October 26, 2010
With Premier Gordon Campbell shuffling in a new Minister of Education on Monday, it’s looking more and more like a Jan. 15 byelection is going to take place in Langley.
Township council had hoped to hear from the minister by Monday to find out if an earlier election date of Dec. 4 or 11 could be approved.
“We have not yet received any response from the Ministry and now the minister has changed,” said Township administrator Mark Bakken on Monday evening.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Monday, October 25, 2010
BCTF Press Release - BCTF welcomes new education minister
The BC Teachers' Federation welcomes the appointment of a new minister of education-Shuswap MLA George Abbott.
"We are heartened by this development and look forward to building a productive working relationship with Mr. Abbott," said BCTF President Susan Lambert. "The teaching profession needs to be involved and engaged in shaping education policy, and we expect that the new minister will want to work with the BCTF to address the many challenges in schools across our province."
Lambert identified underfunding as the most critical issue affecting all aspects of public education. Over the past decade, relative spending on K-12 education has fallen steadily as a percentage of the provincial budget. It has resulted in the closure of 191 public schools, the loss of about 3,000 teaching positions, 12,000 overcrowded classes, and a decline in services to students with special needs.
"Coming up to an important round of collective bargaining for 41,000 teachers and amidst rumours of a significant top-down policy shift in public education, Mr. Abbott's appointment to this portfolio takes place at a critical time," Lambert said. "The cause of quality public education for every student is best served in a context of respectful collaboration between government and the professionals in the schools. We expect to begin a new dialogue with the new minister very soon."
Lambert said she would be contacting Mr. Abbott to offer congratulations and to seek a meeting at the earliest possible date.
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For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at 604-871-1881 (office) or 604-340-1959 (cell).
News Release October 25, 2010
"We are heartened by this development and look forward to building a productive working relationship with Mr. Abbott," said BCTF President Susan Lambert. "The teaching profession needs to be involved and engaged in shaping education policy, and we expect that the new minister will want to work with the BCTF to address the many challenges in schools across our province."
Lambert identified underfunding as the most critical issue affecting all aspects of public education. Over the past decade, relative spending on K-12 education has fallen steadily as a percentage of the provincial budget. It has resulted in the closure of 191 public schools, the loss of about 3,000 teaching positions, 12,000 overcrowded classes, and a decline in services to students with special needs.
"Coming up to an important round of collective bargaining for 41,000 teachers and amidst rumours of a significant top-down policy shift in public education, Mr. Abbott's appointment to this portfolio takes place at a critical time," Lambert said. "The cause of quality public education for every student is best served in a context of respectful collaboration between government and the professionals in the schools. We expect to begin a new dialogue with the new minister very soon."
Lambert said she would be contacting Mr. Abbott to offer congratulations and to seek a meeting at the earliest possible date.
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For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at 604-871-1881 (office) or 604-340-1959 (cell).
News Release October 25, 2010
BCTF Press Release - New Minister of Education
George Abbott has been appointed Education Minister. Margaret MacDairmid goes to Tourism, Trade and Investment.
You can find the full list of the reshuffled cabinet on the provincial government web site – top item under the photo of Campbell and the Olympic flame under News:
Nancy Knickerbocker
Media Relations Officer
BC Teachers' Federation
Office: 604-871-1881
Cell: 604-340-1959
www.bctf.ca
His official bio on the government web site:
http://www.georgeabbottmla.bc.ca/index.php?section_id=1134&
He is one of eight MLAs considered most at risk from the HST recall campaign:
Friday, October 22, 2010
Sshhh. It's an election
Canadian Centre for Policy Initiatives (CCPA)
BC Office
October 5, 2010
Speech rights are one of our most precious freedoms, and never are they more vital than during an election. Yet in the lead-up to the 2009 provincial election in British Columbia, a significant number of non-profits, charities and other small groups censored their public communication efforts.
That's the central finding of a new study released today by the CCPA's BC Office, the BC Civil Liberties Association, and BC's Freedom of Information and Privacy Association. The study follows up on controversial "third party election advertising rules" introduced in 2008.
To read the rest of the blog posting, click here.
School computer system crash bordered on disaster - LTA
Langley times
Natasha Jones
October 21, 2010
A computer system that crashed at the beginning of the school year created a challenge for teachers that bordered on disastrous, a teacher told the Langley board of education on Oct. 12.
All 59 school districts have signed on to the B.C. enterprise Student Information System (BCeSIS) which is used to track attendance and grades, and compile data relating to time tables and report cards. Crashing at the beginning of the school year, it prevented schools from making course changes, leaving dozens of students in limbo.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Fewer teachers, more online classes in 21 century?
Vancouver Sun blog - Report Card - An in-depth look at the BC education system
Janet Steffenhagen
October 21, 2010
A follow to my last post about 21st century learning . . . while speaking at an event in Duncan last weekend, Vancouver board chairwoman Patti Bacchus said there have been suggestions that "personalized learning" will mean fewer teachers in high-school classrooms and more students either in apprenticeships or taking courses online.
She urged everyone with an interest in public education to pay close attention.
To view the rest of the blog posting, click here.
Teachers endorse all-day Kindergarten
Langley Times
Natasha Jones
October 21, 2010
They start school at a crucial time in their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development, and by all accounts, Kindergarten children are thriving when they spend the day at school.
September marked the start of all-day Kindergarten for 535 children, and in a verbal report to the Langley board of education on Oct. 12, three Gordon Greenwood Elementary School Kindergarten teachers gave a ringing endorsement of the change.
“Full-day Kindergarten has given us the gift of time and the gift of community,” said Bonnie McCaw.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Students benefit from teachers’ professional development
Langley Times
Letter to the Editor
Susan Fonseca
President
Langley Teachers' Association
October 19, 2010
To view this Letter to the Editor, click here.
Editor: This Friday, Oct. 22, is the first provincial professional development day for B.C. teachers for this school year.
This is a day off school for B.C. students, but not for teachers. Teachers will be participating in professional development workshops offered by 26 provincial specialists’ associations around the province, as well as attending local district offerings.
All around the province, teachers will be giving workshops to each other and attending workshops with keynote speakers such as Stephen Lewis, former UN Ambassador, who will be presenting on Thursday evening in Surrey at their district offering called The Future Lives Here — Uniting Schools and Communities.
I will be attending this Thursday evening’s keynote address by Mr. Lewis and invite teachers and parents to register for workshops open to parents at this exciting conference, by going to www.communityschoolspartnership.surrey.ca Some PSA conference offerings extend to Saturday as well.
B.C. students score among the highest in the world on international achievement tests, and this is due to the very high standards for entry into the teaching profession in British Columbia, the high level of professional qualification required to practice in British Columbia, and the ongoing commitment by B.C. teachers to lifelong professional development.
Teachers exercise their professional autonomy in determining which conferences they will attend and which offerings could best improve their practice on this province-wide Pro-D Day.
PSAs provide opportunities for teachers within a wide range of teaching and curriculum areas to share ideas, strategies, and the latest research findings and expertise.
The Langley Teachers’ Association encourages every parent to speak to your child’s teacher and ask questions about the professional development conferences they’ve attended and what new insights and professional resources they have accessed as a result of their professional development day.
Teachers want to work together with parents for every student’s success in the Langley School District and we are both individually and collectively committed to ongoing professional development and dialogue with parents.
School trustees pledge to shape up
Members of the Langley School Board make public their plan to improve the district.
Heather Colpitts
October 19, 2010
The Langley School Board is pledging to do a better job in overseeing local public education.
The district released its seven-page action plan outlining how it plans to implement the recommendations from the Auditor General's report.
The plan points to steps the district has already taken to improve trustee governance, such as the creation of the audit committee to provide more fiscal information more often to the board.
The action plan also says the board will do a better job long-term planning as well as communicating within the district and with the community.
Read more: http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/School+trustees+pledges+shape/3693767/story.html#ixzz12wVNwpNj
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
School board by-election still waiting on MoE go-ahead
Langley Times
Monique Tamminga
October 19, 2010
The Township hasn’t heard from the Ministry of Education yet on whether it can hold the Langley school board by-election earlier, instead of the alloted mid-January timeline.
“We are still on schedule for a January election but we could hear from the minister this week to see if those times could be waived,” said Township administrator Mark Bakken.
Township council, which is responsible for holding the by-election, has requested that the Ministry of Education allow for an earlier election of Dec. 4 or 11.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Written question period raises Langley Teachers Association's suspicions
Tyee Online - Education Blog - The Hook
Katie Hyslop
October 14, 2010
The Langley School Board released their Board Action Plan today in response to the auditor general’s report, pledging to work hard at getting along, monitoring their finances, and planning long-term for the future. But the Langley Teachers Association says the board is already displaying bad governance with its “anti-social” behaviour towards the public and partner organizations during question period.
“They insisted that all questions had to be given in writing to the Assistant Superintendent Charlie Etchell and then he would read them aloud for people,” Gail Chaddock-Costello, first vice-president of the Langley Teachers Association (LTA), told The Tyee. “We weren’t informed of this until two minutes before question period, and people were quite annoyed, to put it politely, that they were not given the courtesy to be able to speak for themselves as adults at a public meeting with an elected board.”
Chaddock-Costello says not all the questions are read, and when the LTA asked for their written questions to be returned to them, they received an email with their questions instead.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Bureaucracy goes nowhere fast
Langley Advance - Editoral
Bob Groenveld
October 12, 2010
This is how bureaucracy works... or doesn't work, depending on your point of view.
Joan Bech resigned from her trusteeship on Langley School Board on Sept. 16.
Read more: http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/Bureaucracy+goes+nowhere+fast/3657537/story.html#ixzz12Ie7HCWjThursday, October 7, 2010
Who hounded Bech to resign?
Langley Times - Letter to the Editor
Tracie Northway - Langley City
October 7, 2010
Editor: It was with mixed emotions that I read of board of education chair Joan Bech’s resignation. Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the fact that Bech urged “the community not to allow certain trustees to delay implementation of the recommendations” of the Auditor General’s report.
The fact that Bech cited the “foreshadowing of another needless conflict that would take away from the board’s ability to serve students” by “individual trustees” calling for her resignation suggests to me that those unnamed trustees have no intention of meeting the Auditor General’s first recommendation, which focused on the board of education working together.
To view the rest of the letter to the editor, click here.
Richter blasts Langley board of education
Langley Times - Letter to the Editor
Councillor Kim Richter, Langley Township
October 7, 2010
"It’s very wrong that elected officials, especially on the board of education, continually hide behind closed doors, or use closed doors as a self-serving political smokescreen.
Where do they get off with closed doors on an issue like this? Who on this publicly- elected board forced the previous chair to resign her seat? Who forced this totally unnecessary and expensive board byelection, especially when the school district faces a significant financial deficit? And, why don’t these publicly-elected trustees stand up in the open to be counted? Why don’t they own up to what they have caused? Why are their individual decisions hidden?
For that matter, who caused the $13 million school district shortfall? Where was the board? Why didn’t trustees do the appropriate financial oversight for which they were elected? Why hasn’t publicly-reviewed and accepted action been taken to rectify this situation? And why have school administrative contracts been renewed, given this $13 million debt?"
To see the rest of the letter to the editor, click here.
Council speeds up education board byelection
Langley Times
Monique Tamminga
October 5, 2010
If Langley Township council follows normal byelection procedures, voters won’t go to the polls until mid-January to elect a replacement for former school trustee Joan Bech.
Township administrator Mark Bakken told council that it won’t be until late March that the new trustee can take office.
Late March is unacceptable, saidTownship council.
To see the rest of the article, click here.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Trustee by-election too slow for council
Langley Advance
Bob Groenveld
October 5, 2010
A by-election to fill the school trusteeship vacated by Joan Bech can’t happen soon enough for Langley Township council.
Under normal time lines, to avoid opening polling booths at Christmas, the by-election will have to be held in early to mid-January, with the new trustee taking his or her seat at the board table in mid-March.
“That is not satisfactory,” declared Councillor Charlie Fox, a retired Langley School District teacher and principal. “We need to get this done.”
Read more: http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/Trustee+election+slow+council/3627096/story.html#ixzz11WHXpNcbMonday, October 4, 2010
BCTF Press Release - World Teachers’ Day: A time to celebrate quality public education
For Immediate Release - October 4, 2010
On October 5, World Teachers’ Day, people in many countries gather to celebrate the enormous contribution of the world’s 55 million teachers to nurturing students, building communities, and creating a better future.
Declared by UNESCO and first commemorated in 1994, World Teachers’ Day is a national holiday in some African nations. Although education is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
72 million children around the world are still denied that fundamental right.
By contrast, British Columbians are fortunate to benefit from one of the world’s finest, most inclusive public education systems, with some of the most highly qualified teachers anywhere.
“Despite our many challenges and the numerous aspects we would still like to see improved, the fact remains that our public school system is the envy of the world,” said BCTF President Susan Lambert.
“Of course, the quality and commitment of the teachers in our system are central to that achievement.”
Recent research by the BCTF into the working lives of BC teachers shows them to be highly trained, hardworking, and committed to ongoing professional development.
All BC teachers have a minimum of five years’ post-secondary education, but the survey found that more than half have undertaken significant additional professional training beyond that. One-quarter of BC teachers have completed their Masters degrees, and one percent have earned PhDs.
The comprehensive survey, with returns from more than 560 teachers across the province, also found that BC teachers are devoting long hours to their professional duties. On average, full-time teachers worked
47.8 hours per week. Almost one-quarter of teachers work between 50 and 59 hours per week, and almost 10% work 60 or more hours per week.
“These research findings reflect the deep commitment of BC’s teachers to doing their very best to meet the individual needs of all students,” Lambert said. “We really mean it when we say kids matter, and teachers care.”
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For more information, contact Nancy Knickerbocker, BCTF media relations officer, at 604-871-1881 (office) or 604-340-1959 (cell).
Friday, October 1, 2010
Bullies' explanation wanted
Langley Advance - Letter to the Editor
E. Barrett
October 1, 2010
Like others, I was deeply saddened by the resignation of Joan Bech. She always demonstrated sound judgment and did her due diligence in asking questions about issues before making decisions.
She was always clear as to why she made those decisions, and expressed her concern when she hadn’t been able to obtain all the facts she wanted.
We wish her all the best.
At the same time, I am also enraged that other trustees pressured her into resigning. How dare they take democracy into their own hands?
Read more: http://www.langleyadvance.com/opinion/editorials/Bullies+explanation+wanted/3608589/story.html#ixzz119YgZPVBLTA backs board of education byelection option
Langley Times
Natasha Jones
September 30, 2010
While it understands the frustration of the District Parents Advisory Council, whose executive called for the ouster of the Langley board of education, Langley Teachers Association doesn’t agree the board should be sacked.
At a meeting Wednesday night, DPAC members disagreed with the executive and defeated a motion asking that the ministry of education replace the board with an official trustee.
To view the rest of the story, click here.
Auditor-General's report back online
Langley Times
Natasha Jones
September 30, 2010
A technical hitch was responsible for the disappearance from the Langley School District’s website of the Auditor General’s report which examined the district’s governance and internal controls.
The Langley Teachers Association had condemned the removal of the report, and asked who authorized its removal.
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Parent groups at schools get $11 million for extracurriculars
Vancouver Sun Blog - Report Card - An in-depth look at the BC education system
Janet Steffenhagen
September 30, 2010
The government announced gaming grants for parent advisory councils (PACs) on Wednesday, boasting a significant increase in the per-pupil allotment.
"To recognize the value of parents' involvement in their children's education, this year we have doubled the grant to $20 for every student enrolled in B.C.," Social Development Minister Rich Coleman said in a release.
In fact, that increase simply returns the grant to where it was prior to 2009, when the Liberals chopped it in half as part of a deficit-reducing effort.
To view the rest of the blog posting, click here.
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