I am a teacher. I phrase it that way because teaching is not "what I do," it's who I am.
As a teacher, my life's work is to help my students understand the world around them. I want to help you understand why I continue to strike.
If this strike action were simply about wages, I would have accepted the contract that the B.C. government offered in June. I want to help you understand that I am not striking simply for better wages.
I didn't become a teacher for the wages. I became a teacher because I had fantastic educators here in Prince George like Patricia Yu, Gerry Chidiac, Mike Carson, Chris Molcak, Rob Forgeron, Arlene Ackerman, Andrew McFayden, Barb Kelly, Kim Rutherford, Tom Makowsky, and Brian Hatcher who dedicated themselves to ensuring that I had the best education they could give. I became a teacher because I could see those fantastic educators not be able to give enough to help those students who needed more. I became a teacher because every day I heard things like "I'm not strong in math," or "I'm not a good reader." It is acceptable in our society to graduate high school with below average math and reading skills. I do not accept this! I refuse to accept this! I am striking because if your child needs more support to understand mainstream public curriculum, I want them to get that support. You want the very best that you can give your child. As your child's teacher, I want the very best that I can give your child.
The B.C. government has invested millions of dollars into trades and apprenticeships education. I believe that this is because the B.C. government makes billions of dollars from the resource-based industries that employ these trades. Yet we recruit our doctors, engineers, pharmacists, lawyers, and other highly educated professionals from other provinces and countries. I believe that this is because public education is under-funded and thus underachieves, and this is why I'm striking.
If the B.C. government were to invest the $40/day that they are offering to parents into public education, it would amount to approximately $7,400 per student annually. If the B.C. government were to offer that exact $7,400 per student for their education (not my wages), I would not be able to sign that contract fast enough.
If your child ever needs extra support, chances are that you will not be able to get it (unless he/she has a diagnosable disability). I am striking because together, teachers are fighting for that support that you do not have the power to fight for as a parent/caregiver alone.
I am striking for a better education for your children.
Teachers across the province are forfeiting their paycheques, missing their mortgage payments, living off their savings and cashing in their RRSPs because your children deserve a better education. Would you do the same for my son?
Melissa Dillman
Prince George
