Dear Editor:
As a parent of two students in secondary school, I have been appalled by the "information" being shared with my children regarding the teachers' current job action.
On three separate occasions, and from three separate teachers, my kids have been "taught" what the job action is all about.
This information has ranged anywhere from an overview of the planned actions by the teachers and the three stages, as well as when they will be implemented, to the idea that the teachers are "simply trying to make the principals' lives hell" - yes, that is a direct quote - so that they will, in turn, advocate to their own superiors that the teachers' demands should be met, to filling the students' heads with much propaganda regarding why the teachers should have everything that they are currently asking for. These are being billed as such things as "current events discussions."
One thing that really bothers me is this: As it currently sits, the teachers are only teaching, and since it's the only thing they are doing anyway, why aren't they sticking to the facts in their curriculum?
Since few other workers in any field, union or non-union, are entitled to many of the benefits/ perks that BCTF is requesting, I have a hard time feeling sympathy.
I value the job that teachers do, and have worked with children at a preschool level (one adult to 16 children ages three to five, so I do understand such things as class size limitations, etc., and would support that if a feasible solution could be found).
But to me, this feels much more like teachers attempting to gain sympathy of students, to gain support of parents, and I find this inexcusable. This kind of manoeuvre simply makes it even harder for me to support anything related to this job action. And it has been even tougher now to refrain from saying anything negative or disrespectful about these teachers to my children. (Our family policy is that no matter how we may personally feel about this matter, the teachers do deserve their students' respect, and therefore we had not been discussing our feelings on the matter, and rarely even the "news" regarding the strike. Unfortunately, we had to do a little more talking about it, including the feeling that this really was an attempt at spreading propaganda.)
Please, teachers, leave the negotiations where they belong, and stop bringing the bargaining into your classes.
While you are in class, administering your very essential service to our children, please stick to the material, and leave your own opinions on the strike at the door.
As it is, my respect is waning . please do not give me cause to reduce it further.
Tammy Chabot, Burnaby
