The B.C. Govt is trying to remove teachers' right to fair contract negotiations and is continuing to cut funding for public education - in particular, special education support.
We need your help to protect the children and teachers of British Columbia.
Your approach to contract negotiations is not in keeping with the will of the families of British Columbia, nor is Bill 22.
The parents of this province want their children to receive the best education our tax dollars can provide, and we pay plenty, more than 60% of our incomes go to taxes in one form or another. Yet, the outrageous cuts to our education system increase every year, amounting to negligence and violation our children's right to a proper education.
Cutting 648 special education assistants from BC schools is negligent management of the B.C. education system.
The percentage of children with special needs is skyrocketing, not diminishing, so why are you cutting when you should be adding staff to meet the demand?
1985: The prevalence of Autism is 1 in 2500 births
2000: Autism rates rise to 1 in 500
2004: 1 in 166 children are affected with Autism
2009: An astounding 1 in 91 births result in an
Autism diagnosis
Research estimates by 2025 nearly 50% of children will have some degree of autism.
Autism is only one of many conditions Special Education Assistants are trained to manage in our classrooms.
We need more help to educate these children and you must provide the support necessary to do so, or you will fail all the children.
The teachers need the necessary support so they are able to focus on teaching the entire class.
Your administrative decisions confirm your Ministry does not value the education of our children which is evidenced in Bill 22 and the horrendous cuts to education over the last ten years.
Bill 22 must not pass!
We are not fooled by it's misleading label, it is obviously not an "Education Improvement".
It is legislated union busting and takes away the rights of teachers to speak out against the government without fear of retribution and to legally negotiate contracts.
This is a violation of freedom of speech and of democracy in Canada.
If it were not for the B.C.T.F. fighting for our children's right to education our public school system would have been destroyed long ago by officials with distorted priorities.
Everyone affected by your cuts is outraged by your malicious attack on our education system.
I guarantee you that we will organize and protest as long as it takes to make you live up to your responsibility of properly educating the children of British Columbia and fairly compensating the teachers.
I guarantee we will protest Bill 22 and you too will find yourself unemployed, following the next election, if you choose to neglect your duty to the children and teachers of British Columbia.
