Editor:
The Cariboo‐Chilcotin Teachers’ Association would like to thank the parents and students of School District 27 for their continued support and understanding as we work through phase one of our job action.
Teachers fully understand that parents are concerned about their child’s education.
Because of this, we have structured phase one so that it is all about teaching and not about the administrative duties and paper work that take far too much time. That time is better devoted to students.
Education Minister George Abbott is considering legislation to end the current strike. His rationale for this government interference is his concern that you, the parents, are not being given the details of your child’s progress.
There are two points that need to be made clear immediately so that both parents and students have accurate information.
Formal report cards, those referred to by Minister Abbott, would not be organized in most schools until November if we were not in job action so his presumption that parents are uninformed about their child’s progress is premature at best.
In the meantime, teachers are conducting informal parent‐teacher interviews this week and their doors are open for your questions.
These communications may include informal meetings, phone calls, assignments sent home to be signed and returned, comments in agendas, notes home, or e-mails depending on the usual method employed by an individual teacher.
Second, phase one does not stop teachers from providing students and their parents with informal progress reports at any time.
In fact, the Cariboo‐Chilcotin Teachers’ Association and the BC Teachers’ Federation expect that informal reporting is occurring on an ongoing basis be it teacher, student or parent initiated and if there are any concerns, that these concerns are discussed with parents at the earliest possible date.
The intent of phase one is for teachers to get back to the basics of teaching by eliminating administrative duties with as few disruptions as possible for students.
For the minister to suggest legislation this early in the process, for reasons that are unfounded, is not only insincere but also appears to be based on misinformation.
If you have any questions about the progress of your child please contact the teacher. Teachers are happy to discuss your child’s progress with you.
Joan Erb
President, Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers Association