….. and the public only hears what they want to hear
It’s never been about the money or more PD time or discontinuing extracurricular activities. It is about taking away years of negotiated benefits at a moments notice, no discussion, no vote….just a quick passage of Bill 115. The ability to negotiate a fair and equitable contract between teachers and their boards has been removed.
The media has been brutal with the teachers. According to them we are to blame for the province’s entire financial mess. Radio talk show hosts clearly have a ‘hate-on’ for teachers. The scenarios and misinformation that they broadcast to the public is shameful and unprofessional. They whip up a frenzy of hate calls from their like-minded listeners and anyone who supports the teachers is quickly dismissed and their calls are cut short.
At our school we have continued with most of our normal, daily activities, including extracurricular activities. The students and community, up until this past Monday, probably haven’t witnessed any strike action by the teachers and yet according to the media all teachers have stopped offering extracurricular activities, extra help and refuse to write report cards. Not true!
As of Monday we have gone on work to rule and every board across the province is participating in rotating one day strikes for the next two weeks. Of course the media is trying to create a crisis by making it all about the ‘poor’ students. Why then is it all right for parents to take their children out of school regularly for extended holidays, competitions and tournaments? I don’t hear the media chastising the parents for doing irreparable damage to their child’s education when they miss days and sometimes weeks of school.
Don’t get me wrong; I know that for some parents finding daycare for their children will be difficult. Tomorrow the parents in my board will be given 72 hours notice so that they can make alternate arrangements for their children. We as teachers, however, have to take a stand, not just for us but for everyone. If the government is allowed to violate the charter of rights and freedoms act and the right to negotiate fairly under the labour relations act who will they target next?
I know that the media will be highly critical when we walk, especially since we are the largest school board in Canada. I need to stop listening to the radio for a few days. I find myself yelling at the box in the corner when ‘they’ get it wrong. They don’t want to hear the truth. It doesn’t make for ‘good radio’.
Mama Cormier 
I don’t know anything about the situation you’re describing but yeah, this does sound a little bit provocative. 😉 But you have to say what you need to say.
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😦
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I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this. We, as teachers, are experiencing some of the same things here in the US. People are blaming us for the financial mess here, too. We never reaped the millions of dollars from the elaborate Ponzi schemes that started all this. Yet somehow it’s our fault? Never have we made much money but we are required to have as much education as a doctor. We all put in many many extra hours and go the extra mile for the kids.
Our local newspaper called the teachers selfish because we wouldn’t work for free to help us out of the financial crisis. Well, as soon as the doctors, lawyers, and journalists would work and donate their paychecks to the government, too, then perhaps, we’d consider it.
In Idaho and a few other states they lost their collective bargaining rights last year. You are so right about needing support right now, because who will be targeted next? My thoughts and prayers will be with you in the next few weeks. Keep your head up high, you have the most important job in the world… educating our children.
Hugs from a fellow educator,
Beth
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