We must do better, not just for our kids but for the whole of society
Posted by editor on September 2, 2011 · 2 Comments
MLA Norm Macdonald
This week, more than half a million children will return to a classroom in BC’s public school system.
Public education in this country has a long history as early settlers pooled their resources to build schoolhouses and hire teachers.
These pioneers understood the value of education and they knew that the only way their new society would flourish was through providing educational opportunities to everyone.
A quality public education system provides a shared educational experience, building social cohesion and tolerance, giving every child the chance to succeed and grow.
But maintaining a quality public education system takes effort and resources. It is not something that we can take for granted, yet the BC Liberals seem to be doing just that.
Premier Clark and the Minister of Education seem determined to approach bargaining with teachers with threats and conflict. Instead of talking, listening and putting students first, the government insists on continuing to underfund the system that is critical to our society.
Before being elected as your MLA I was a teacher and a principal. I am passionate about education. I’ve taught here and in Africa, and I’ve seen first-hand the value of education.
I can even say that the cuts to education that I witnessed during my last years teaching were instrumental in my decisions to run for MLA. I believe we must do better, not just for our kids but for the whole of society.
It is time for the government to roll up its sleeves and get to work on making our public school system the best it can be. That means working positively with teachers, who are absolutely key in the success of our system thus far. The government must address the teachers’ concerns around class size and composition because these inadequate learning conditions are having a detrimental effect on children’s learning across the province. In fact, more than 12,000 BC classrooms do not meet legislated minimum standards for size and composition.
People in this area want the government to protect our public education system, but instead this government is just trying to pick a fight.
We all agree. It’s time for the government to put our kids’ education ahead of political opportunity.
Norm Macdonald is the New Democratic Party MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke
Well said, thank you for this message.
No Norm, I don’t think that the government is looking for a fight. I think they do however realize that with a huge deficit, partly being caused by your own actions, in defeating the HST ( $ 4 1.6 Billion pay back ), there is simply NO monies left in the kitty. When you advocate for the reduction of taxes or the returning to an old and antiquated system like the PST / GST, some thing has to give.
This time, the consequences of your actions is that there is even less funds available for teachers, nurses, paramedics, and and and.
And now, there is a government in Victoria that is not willing to put my kids deeper into debt as you would have the government accomplish.
No, I don’t think the BC Liberals are looking for a fight Norm, I think they are trying to balance the books so that my kids, and my grand kids don’t keep paying and paying and paying.
I also happen to think that as well, defined benefits which the teacher’s union is looking for are, through out North America and Europe are declining in added benefits. Why? because society is going towards people looking after themselves rather than having society look after the teachers.
And that is partly the reason why the government is not caving into the more benefits pls attitude of the union.