If they were unpopular before, public school teachers are really walking around with targets on them now.
After the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) members voted 73 per cent in favour of withdrawing all extracurricular activities, the uproar from students, parents and the general public was loud and clear.
People are madder than hornets, as they realized this placed graduation ceremonies, school sports and field trips in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, the only people who will suffer directly are the children from kindergarten to Grade 12.
They will lose events that form memories for the rest of their lives if this isn’t resolved.
Losing the field trips will be especially difficult for the elementary school children. It is those end-of-the-school-year outings that are so much fun, and for many, they are trips they may not otherwise have the opportunity to take.
However, it’s the older students and the grads who may see their formal education end with a sour taste in their mouths.
School administrators may be able to rearrange cap-and-gown ceremonies during school hours, but there is bound to be disappointment if parents and family are unable to attend the graduation ceremonies because of work commitments.
There are senior secondary students who will not be able to compete with their peers throughout the region and the province because they cannot play if they do not have a teacher/sponsor and that won’t happen because of the BCTF dictate.
Yes, it hurts the children, but we also have to consider there were 27 per cent of the teachers who voted against the motion.
These are the ones who would rather volunteer, so “their students” can have those lifetime memories.
Undoubtedly, there are teachers who feel the same way, but voted to make a statement to the B.C. Liberal government.
This is where we have to put things into perspective because it takes two to tangle.
Teachers feel they are being backed into a corner and are losing all their rights to have a say on what’s going on in provincial education and their workplaces.
The B.C. Liberals have been mean-spirited in their non-negotiation with the teachers and have definitely played a role in what we are faced with today.
Perhaps, this is their last hurrah before they are kicked to the curb next year.