By Marlene Crozier
This Liberal government is at war with teachers. They have gutted their collective agreements and diminished their bargaining power.
The latest attack comes with Bill 51, which will allow political appointees to take over the College of Teachers. This clearly demonstrates the Liberal government does not trust the teachers of British Columbia.
Like many other professionals – lawyers, nurses, physicians and surgeons, teachers have set strict codes of conduct and ethical standards for their profession. The College of Teachers will now be the only professional college that is not self-governing.
The Liberal government trusts teachers with the students of B.C. day after day, but will not trust them with the governance of their own college.
It is time the government and Education Minister Christy Clark addressed the crisis in education. Classrooms overflow, workloads pile up, special needs students survive with minimal support, publicly owned buildings deteriorate without proper maintenance and classrooms are left dirty.
We need to focus on providing quality education for B.C. students instead of attacking the people that provide the service.
CUPE supports the teachers in their opposition to this regressive, undemocratic bill. We request that school trustees do the same.
Marlene Crozier is president of Local 606 (Mid-Island School District) and the Vancouver Island District Council, representing 10,000 members. This commentary was sent to school trustees as an open letter on Oct. 9, 2003. |
Water Watch
Public Employee Fall 2009
Child Care NOW!
