It was instructive to visit the many teachers on the stick-it line in front of many of the schools recently. Two bones of contention regarding the ongoing negotiations with the
ministry include class composition and seniority or bumping rights. The former refers to the lack of funding for special needs students.
The mainstreaming of these students originated with the demands of [a parent] who, at
the time, was a member of the local school board who insisted that his disabled daughter should be mainstreamed as to possibly afford a favourable academic outcome.
Lets be reasonable as to the definition of special needs.
I am not a teacher but I think that an ESL student with mild autism should be mainstreamed; a child who is in a wheelchair requiring three diaper changes a day should be separated.
It would save the taxpayers money, lower the blood pressure of the attending teacher and create a more positive learning environment. As one teacher told me, "at times I am not teaching, I'm triaging."
I know that for PC reasons, teachers can't speak up, but maybe its time to redefine special needs.
With regard to bumping rights, the language in the collective agreement calls for seniority to be the only determinant of who gets bumped in the event of school closures or declining enrolments. Why the employers would allow such language is beyond me. I have two relatives in the school system. One now retired, one actively participating in the life of her students.
The first spent the past three years filling in time and attending his favourite watering hole within 10 minutes of the final bell ringing. He would be joined by three others who had similar qualifications, BED degrees, more than 35 years experience in the district and at the top of their pay scale. The latter has taught for eight years, coaches girls volleyball, arrives to work at 7 a.m. and often doesn't leave until 5 p.m. She receives 85 per cent of his pay.
I would ask all of the teachers, parents and taxpayers, which one would you rather have in the classroom?
Doug Strachan
Prince George
