Dear Peter Fassbender,
I am writing to you on behalf of my daughter because at this time she isn't articulate enough or aware of what this strike means to her.
I have told her that the teachers are fighting for her. I have told her that they are doing what they are doing because of children like her. I don't elaborate because she, already at a young age, has a mountain to carry on her shoulders.
Around her 6th birthday, she received her diagnosis. She was diagnosed ADHD/ODD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/Oppositional Defiant Disorder). This meant she was unfocused, hyperactive and incredibly willful and defiant towards authority. Add in a bright mind, large vocabulary, and an explosive temper and some days she was almost too much for me, her mother. I saw her debate adults and win. I saw her confuse and confound her counsellor. My daughter was suspended in Kindergarten for explosive behaviour. She had trouble completing a full week in Grade 1 without being asked to leave due to her unmanageable behaviour.
My daughter deserved an Educational Assistant, one dedicated to her and her class. My daughter's class deserved an E.A. for my daughter. Even though every staff member who worked with her agreed that's what she needed, my daughter was deemed not severe enough for an E.A.
This is not just about one child. This is a letter explaining what it is like to teach one child on an Individual Education Plan (I.E.P.)
My daughter is highly distracted and a distraction in class, she pulls valuable teaching time away due to her issues, questions, the inability to listen and the need to debate.
My daughter is now in Grade 4. She has come a long way and I attribute that to the teachers and staff at her school. She has come a long way because of the extra time and effort put into my daughter at her school. Despite the resources our schools lack, despite the fact she never had an E.A., despite the lack of much needed support from our government
My daughter is one of 28 children in her class. I know she is not the only one on an I.E.P. I know other students in that class without diagnosis are struggling with content. But yet again my daughter has an amazing teacher, who works and tries so hard to provide an education for her students.
We are supposed to be teaching inclusivity, we are supposed to be teaching camaraderie. Because of the extra attention my daughter needed; wouldn't that make other students in the class angry with her? Yes, it did. Was she bullied because of her behavior? Yes, she was. Do I think that if she had an E.A. that it would have been as much of an issue? NO, I do not believe it would have been.
It is time to realize that the field of teaching is changing. More and more children need help, less and less help is there. One teacher in a full class cannot teach such various degrees of needs.
If we look strictly at statistics, my daughter is high risk, which means she could easily slip through the cracks of society. My daughter is luckier than most, she has a strong supportive family, strong relationships with her school, and never has to worry where her next meal will come from. Other children like her are not always so lucky.
So when your government suggests that our teachers only want more money, it makes me furious. They want more support, they want a thriving education system that churns out amazing minds, no matter their original advantage or disadvantage. Where will that system be if you burn out all the amazing hardworking teachers?
Class size and composition are important, vital to our system.
In order for B.C. to be a successful province, we need successful children. To hold our teachers down, to tie their hands with too many disruptive children, too much red tape to get any help, how will any of our children thrive? We will only widen the gap of the have and the have nots. Some of the world's most brilliant minds came from disadvantaged homes. Our public schools can find them. Maybe, if we have good teachers left to recognize them.
I have a strong belief that my daughter will graduate from grade 12. It won't ever be because of this system of less, it will be despite this system of less, and many incredible teachers and school staff members.
Mr. Fassbender, in conclusion, I thought I would let you know that you have met my daughter. My daughter remembers meeting you. My daughter sang to you with her choir. A choir done out of love on the music teacher's lunch hour. When we meet again, will you be the Education Minister that saved B.C. schools, or known as just another Minister that let them down.
Fund our schools, fund our teachers, fund our future.
With respect,
Kristin Hilder
