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Don’t Polarize Parents During Labor Strife

August 15, 2014 by Tunya

TWO sides bargain in secret during contract negotiations — teacher union and employer (the government). Public opinion seems to be a big part of the "bargaining", thus both sides COURT parents, especially, to take sides.  Increasingly in this turmoil of Teacher Strike/Gov Lockout 2014 parents usually come out 50/50 split, whether for or against the $40 per diem payout to parents if the strike continues into Sept, or for or against either party in the dispute. But Surprise FOLKS ! — We are see more and more parents now saying they are taking sides FOR THEIR KIDS and want a solution, often tossing out an exclamation — "POX ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES!"   Below are two comments I posted on the Parent Group site.]

 

To BCCPAC before their Summit (16 Aug) to discuss teacher strike (https://www.facebook.com/YOURBCCPAC in Posts to Page)

WITHHOLDING REPORT CARDS IS ILLEGAL     Aug 13'14

If a doctor withheld medical information from a patient and the patient died the doctor could be sued for wrongful death. 

What happens when the school system, because of teacher job action, causes Progress Report Cards to be withheld? This happened twice in the last two disputes. The first time the teacher union asked the LRB (Labor Relations Board) — not a court, but a legal entity nonetheless — to be excused from Report Card writing. Most were withheld. But in some dubious wisdom, some were sent home BLANK.

The School Act says the parents are to receive these Report Cards 3 times in a school year. What purpose do they serve?

One — By legally sending the RCs to parents, this very act validates the fact that it is the parents who are ultimately responsible, and they are to be kept informed of progress or not.

Two — Parents are to use that information in their ongoing planning for that child — keep him in that school, find another school, advocate for more services, home educate, get tutoring, etc. — precisely to be on top of the child’s educational development and to step in when intervention is called for.

The above essay talks about the “disabling” of parent rights through the courts. I’m adding that withholding Progress Report Cards from parents via LRB decisions further disables parent rights and actually serves to “deskill” parents from their duty to their children.

Here is another issue BCCPAC should examine — the illegal withholding of Progress Report Cards

 

 DON'T POLARIZE INTO CAMPS                          Aug 15

I have seen where both the BCCPAC President (Nicole) and VP (John) are trying to establish a strong position for the group, quite outside of the camps of the two bargaining parties. Nicole has said on CKNW that a survey was taken. She said, “People complain that BCCPAC sits on the fence, but our members are so divided, that’s where we are right now . . . but we are trying to get off that fence to create a position of our own, and to be out there loud and proud.” John said on Facebook that he’s not interested in fences, but a separate pasture for parents. 

The calling of an emergency Summit meeting of provincial representative parents bodes well for the future of a Parent Voice in education in BC. Finally! For too long parents have been taken for granted by the system. And, with the parents speaking out, this means parents are themselves now more assertive.

The Finance Ministry $40 payout to parents also bodes well for the acknowledgement that it is parents — ultimately — who are responsible for their children’s education — that money from the taxpayer-dedicated Education Account should follow the child. This payout will happen if the teacher strike continues.

The Summit is a great opportunity for parents to focus on what would help them, as individuals, and as a collective, to promote parent rights and student rights in education. For example, I would hope a strong statement could be made about the withholding of Report Cards during the last two job actions. This is illegal, in my opinion, and should never, ever, be a bargaining chip in negotiations.

Also, shouldn't BCCPAC want to see some accountability for present special needs money — does it really reach the child with specially trained teachers? Is a forensic audit of that money called for? 

Furthermore, the discussion of alternatives and choices is long overdue in this province. In this 21st Century so much is known and available that a veritable paradise of diverse and effective approaches can be obtained for each and every student in BC. Go, parents, go!

 


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