The Premier's Swan Song

November/December 2010 Volume 23, Number 3 TEACHER Newsmagazine of the BC Teachers’ Federation The premier’s swan song By David Denyer The premier’s prime-time television address was aired on October 27 at a cost of $240,000 to BC taxpayers. It was a last desper - ate, and ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to salvage his and the Liberal party’s sagging fortunes. The polling that followed confirmed that Campbell’s credibility was dam - aged, not enhanced, by the broadcast. Contrary to expectations, education issues appeared as an afterthought, filler used to bump up the allotted time to the required 20 minutes. He put the focus primarily on early childhood education, announcing an expansion of Strong Start Centres by 100 at a cost of $3- million a year. They favour those families who are able to spare a family member to accompany and work with the child and, at only three hours a day, they don’t dove - tail with the provision of accessible daycare, which would be of greater benefit to those struggling with limited incomes. Campbell declared that, starting in September 2011, every student entering Kindergarten will be offered an early childhood learning assessment designed to assist teachers in planning for the first years of school. But “voluntary early childhood learning assessment” is of no help identified, said Susan Lambert, bargain taxes are when measured vening in the labour market to mythology propagated by business without additional funding to meet BCTF president. “Kindergarten against the services they provide. ensure that all workers can benefit and corporate interests. those children’s needs once teachers already assess all of the “Middle-income families in from economic growth or on redis - In less than a week following his children coming into their classes, Canada often feel under financial tributing income through more prime-time address, the premier Canada Post Corp. Publications Mail but we no longer have the specialist pressure, but the bargain they get generous transfers, more progres - announced his resignation effective Agreement No. 40062724 teachers in schools to work with from public services is often over - sive taxes, and through investing in the date a new leader is chosen. It Please return undeliverable them. More testing doesn’t help public services that even the playing remains to be seen whether the Canadian addresses to… children learn.” A major disappointment was field... Notice that tax cuts are not goals and general direction given BC Teachers’ Federation These proclamations of programs the complete lack of any on this list.” for education remain the priorities 100-550 West 6th Avenue already in place were capped by a intention to address major The premier’s constant talk of of the new leadership. stunning assertion, that within five Vancouver BC V5Z 4P2 putting more money in peoples’ David Denyer is assistant director and E-mail: [email protected] years (safely beyond the next funding shortfalls, lack of pockets and that consumers know newmagazine editor, BCTF Com - election) every Grade 4 student support for children with better how to spend it is simply part munications and Campaigns would be reading, writing, and special needs, school closures, of the dangerously misleading Division. doing math at grade level. cuts in teaching positions, This approach, said Lambert, “is typical of this government’s drive to and the significant reductions standardize education and not in a wide range of services… On the inside recognize the uniqueness of each This month has been witness to a learner. The statement demon - area of data collection and data number of significant changes in the management. strates that the premier doesn’t looked: they consume an average of provincial government, and probing Two further contributions from the understand how children learn and $41,000 worth of public services.” the impact begins with this edition. BCTF research department look into it does a disservice to the children In a recent opinion piece in The A key part of the settlement another aspect of the worklife study, who are struggling and to those Vancouver Sun, Paul Kershaw of the agreement between residential school and as a follow-up to a feature in the whose pace is far beyond grade Early Learning Partnership at UBC survivors and the Canadian October edition, an account of what level.” had this to say: government is the establishment of a may be done to alleviate the affects of A major disappointment was the “So, British Columbians, it is time commission to document the poverty on students. complete lack of any intention to to recognize that our indignation experiences of survivors, and create a In addition, there are book and DVD address major funding shortfalls, about the HST is costing our kids, permanent record. Representa tives of reviews, and a host of articles on the lack of support for children with cornering our premier to the point the BCTF and teachers were present at many kinds of work and projects that special needs, school closures, cuts that his party’s electoral success an education initiative to further this teachers sponsor and support. in teaching positions, and the depends on issuing another tax cut work, and accounts of the event are As is customary at this time of year, significant reductions in a wide at the expense of the social policy included in this edition. we acknowledge the contribution of range of services that help students investments that will really address The controversial topic of Wi-Fi those teachers who have retired as of and their education. the vulnerability in middle-income receives more coverage, as does the June 30 and wish them well. A major part of the address was families.” devoted to a strenuous defence of “It is time—to do the math. Tax In with the new, out with the old 3 the HST and the controversial cuts cannot grow strong economies announcement of a 15% cut in the in perpetuity if we don’t grow Reconciliation: A work in progress 5 provincial income tax rate as of strong, smart, and innovative popu - Lessons in hope for Tamil refugees 7 January 2011. lations. Put bluntly, strong econo - Ironically, just the day before, the mies require smart family policy.” Student brings hope to homeless youth 8 Canadian Centre for Policy Alterna - Iglika Ivanova of the CCPA in her tives (CCPA) released a report assessment said: “If our Premier Teacher’s worklife research 9 entitled “The Power of Taxes.” The wants to help British Columbians, CCPA report makes clear what a he should focus on directly inter - Manage your digital footprint 16 2 TEACHER Nov./Dec. 2010 born, estimate when she was born classes that far exceed the capacity determined the parameters— Lowe, Boscariol, and Douglas are President’s (they guessed 1863!) and then of the physical space or safety everyone is required to attend PD not the exception. They are the rule. “count by tens” to determine the standards. Students wait endlessly days, everyone is required to They should be supported in their message difference. They began to chorus in line for a chance to use provide progress reports to whole efforts. But when such work is the repetition: 1863, 1873, 1883… equipment. Students with special staff plenaries at the start of each uphill, it is exhausting. In BC, on Suddenly, one little boy excitedly needs are often placed in classes PD day, and collaboration is average, teachers are working close interrupted and insisted that the without adequate supervision. encouraged. Now everyone is to a 50-hour week. Most teachers class stop counting “by tens” and There have been harrowing inci - engaged in a relevant and have five years of basic training; instead count “to tens.” And then he dents of student injuries. The PSA meaningful self-directed action 25% have masters degrees, and a explained his point—count from decided to do something about it research. Douglas’s story is evi - further 26% have diplomas or other 1863 to 1870, that’s easy! Now and this fall they published a dence of the necessity of profes - forms of certification beyond those count by 100s! That’s easier still! All practices and standards guide sional autonomy over professional five years. Yet, professional auton - of a sudden a little boy (whose detailing working and learning development. It is a self-evident omy is not respected, and working parents were worried about his conditions for school shops. These truth that for professional develop - conditions do not reflect profes - numeracy skills) demonstrated a conditions are essential to both ment to be effective it has to be sional standards or provide the sophisticated understanding of student safety and learning. This is relevant to one’s practice, and to be learning conditions for students to place value. It was an amazing the professional voice; it should be relevant it must be reflective and thrive. Susan Lambert moment, a time for him to shine as the authoritative voice. self-designed. For Douglas, the new Students deserve smaller class he led the class down his path of As PD chair of her school, Brooke plan was hugely satisfying: “I feel sizes, and students with special There are many perks to my job. discovery. And it was a joyful Douglas surveyed the staff and like such a weight has been lifted needs deserve more support. All Probably the best is the privilege of moment for Lowe. It illustrated the found the results daunting. There off my shoulders; I couldn’t meet students deserve authentic assess - hearing from teachers. I’d like to power of authentic assessment was such a broad and diverse range and balance their needs; now there ment practices.

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