BC Teachers strike

[eclipse1966]

So the BC teachers are going on strike starting Monday for 3 days to protest their demands (dont get me started on that). My daughter who is in grade 7 told me that her teachers have been taking time from class to preach their cause to them. I am sooooo pi$$ed as they have no right to take time from teaching to sell their propaganda to our kids. Grrrrr

 

[Bnorth]

So the BC teachers are going on strike starting Monday for 3 days to protest their demands (dont get me started on that). My daughter who is in grade 7 told me that her teachers have been taking time from class to preach their cause to them. I am sooooo pi$$ed as they have no right to take time from teaching to sell their propaganda to our kids. Grrrrr

You mean a 15% raise isn't reasonable LOL.

 

[eclipse1966]

You mean a 15% raise isn't reasonable LOL.

yeah that raise they so conveniently forget to mention on the TV commercials. I am all for smaller classes etc etc but this smoke screen to go on strike for none other than benefiting our kids is a load of BS.

 

[Free Rider]

Gotta love Unions. The only place you can not show up for work for 3 days and still have a job. Apparently teachers think 45 grand a year for a first year teacher is below the poverty line. Such BS

 

[PowMower]

Yep pretty sick of these whiners! "But it's all about smaller classes, more schools etc" Bullsh*t it is! It's about this ridiculous pay raise they want!

 

[eclipse1966]

Gotta love Unions. The only place you can not show up for work for 3 days and still have a job. Apparently teachers think 45 grand a year for a first year teacher is below the poverty line. Such BS

you forgot the guaranteed pension, full benefits and summers off, xmas and spring breaks etc. After 5 years they are over $75,000 bucks based on max 10 month work calendar.

 

[Free Rider]

They talk about class sizes being to big at 30 kids per class. I remember 20 years ago when I was in school we had up to 30 kids per class.

 

[JaySimon]

you forgot the guaranteed pension, full benefits and summers off, xmas and spring breaks etc. After 5 years they are over $75,000 bucks based on max 10 month work calendar.

Maybe so, but they also deal with 25-30 kids at a time, all day, every day.
And they can't effectively punish them.

And you want them to work for peanuts?

I wouldn't take that job for 100,000 a year. Frankly, we should be investing in our future, which is our kids educations.

Just one man's opinion.

 

[Steve D]

Welcome to the discussion, glad you, as a parent, have been paying attention to an important issue that's been going on for the last 6 months that will affect your child's future. "THEY WANT MONEY? SH!T JUST GOT REAL!"

Yeah, they do want more money so they can be in line with other teachers in the country, but it's not the root of it. These PEOPLE who we've put in charge of our children's futures want to be treated with respect. They put in as many hours, deal with as much BS as anyone, and you want to throw them under a fuggin' bus? You have no idea.

The advertising is to point out that they want more than money. They want job security (not fired or relocated on a whim) and teachable classes (you try and make 30 teenagers "learn" something. I bet you couldn't either.)

You think being a teacher is just something you can do? Like a job at McDonalds or something? They went to college for 6 years, probably have student loans... I'm still paying off my 4 year program and I get paid more than a teacher with equivalent years of experience.

Their employer will not negotiate on their terms, so the teachers have been working without a contract for the last couple years. Teachers I know love their jobs. They spend their own money on supplies. They spend evenings and weekends marking and preparing for the days ahead.

So here's two points for you to think on: Your daughters teacher is a human, probably stressed out about the measly strike pay they're about to get, and you think they're horrible evil for "spreading propaganda"? Second, maybe you should think about how much you value your kids education a bit.

 

[LID]

"back 20 years ago" the teacher was allowed to fail you if you were "behind" not so much anymore so they have to deal with all these kids that are too far behind to learn, or pay attention.

The best line for all these people who constantly WHINE about how "great" teachers have it: "If it's so unfairly great that it gets you so worked up, keep in mind that they are still giving out Bachelor of Education degrees. Go get one yourself if you are smart enough and have 6 years to burn."

 

[DRD]

I think Joe Taxpayer is tired of being held hostage by public sector unions.
I wouldn't want to be a teacher but then again no one is forcing them to take that career path. If they don't like it, lot's of jobs in the patch.

 

[eclipse1966]

sorry guys but a teacher knew what was involved when they got into the teaching field. Did they expect to teach 30 kids (+/-) that would be sitting like robots without distractions etc etc. I personally did not choose to be a teacher because I would not want that for all the tea in China. I am self employed and went to school and paid for it myself so they get no sympathy from this guy. If they dont like it then go and work in the private sector and see how well they have it (I have worked for Parks Canada years ago and would never do it again). There are 2 teachers here in town in their early 50's retired. Good on them but only a pipe dream for many. Again if you read my first post I said that I agree that we need to address class sizes etc but I dont agree with the size of the salary requested at this time.

Anyway, regardless of individuals personal views on the subject, the teacher steps out of line when they preach my child about their cause during class time. There are two sides of the story and if they want to have a debate about it in class then kids should have arguments from both sides.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[Polarblu]

I was listening to the cbc on this and the 3 day walk-out is about as far as this can go. There was legislation put in place from the last strike that the government can force them to either resign there post or get back to work.

 

[JaySimon]

Anyway, regardless of individuals personal views on the subject, the teacher steps out of line when they preach my child about their cause during class time. There are two sides of the story and if they want to have a debate about it in class then kids should have arguments from both sides.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Don't think anyone is going to argue with that.

 

[malibumama]

Being a teacher isn't as easy as a lot of you think. Budgets were cut along time ago and the cost of materials have gone way up. A lot of teachers are buying the kids in their class the supplies necessary needed to learn because there isn't enough $$ in the budget. Even the extra little things we buy the kids in our classes adds up (we are even beginning to buy our own class libraries)...I'm not complaining about what I make but I am definately not bringing home bags of cash every 2 weeks. but I can tell you that a lot of teachers out there are not being paid well. (In some divisions they are only making 40k a year and this is with 4-6 years of post secondary education)


Not to mention class sizes. Yes they have been raised to 30 in a lot of cases but now schools offer an all inclusive environment which often means writing IPP's
Meeting therapists, councillors, slps, ots. Principals, etc...it also means home visits outside of school hours, parent meetings all while trying to figure out what strategies will be best used in the class so ALL of the kids can learn. Not to mention trying to meet physical, social, emotional, psychological and cultural needs of all the kids in the class because if we don't, we will more than likely hear from an angry parent.


Which brings me to parents who don't think we are doing a good job teaching their children...there is so much stress and pressure from so many different groups (parents, administrators, school boards, the government) that at times it can be so overwhelming. There are many a days I see teachers crying on the way out the door because of all the stress and workload.

This is only a few of the issues we face on a daily basis.


Yes there is 2 sides to every story.Should the teacher be presenting this in class? Maybe, maybe not? Were they told to present it to students? Maybe the teachers were simply telling the students what was going on and questions were asked......


I can definately tell you that a happy teacher makes for a WAY better learning environment.




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[PowMower]

Maybe forget about teachers and schools?
I know six people that are in there 20's and 30's now that did home schooling and they seemed to learn more than most people that attended school........

 

[eclipse1966]

Being a teacher isn't as easy as a lot of you think. Budgets were cut along time ago and the cost of materials have gone way up. A lot of teachers are buying the kids in their class the supplies necessary needed to learn because there isn't enough $$ in the budget. Even the extra little things we buy the kids in our classes adds up (we are even beginning to buy our own class libraries)...I'm not complaining about what I make but I am definately not bringing home bags of cash every 2 weeks. but I can tell you that a lot of teachers out there are not being paid well. (In some divisions they are only making 40k a year and this is with 4-6 years of post secondary education)


Not to mention class sizes. Yes they have been raised to 30 in a lot of cases but now schools offer an all inclusive environment which often means writing IPP's
Meeting therapists, councillors, slps, ots. Principals, etc...it also means home visits outside of school hours, parent meetings all while trying to figure out what strategies will be best used in the class so ALL of the kids can learn. Not to mention trying to meet physical, social, emotional, psychological and cultural needs of all the kids in the class because if we don't, we will more than likely hear from an angry parent.


Which brings me to parents who don't think we are doing a good job teaching their children...there is so much stress and pressure from so many different groups (parents, administrators, school boards, the government) that at times it can be so overwhelming. There are many a days I see teachers crying on the way out the door because of all the stress and workload.

This is only a few of the issues we face on a daily basis.






Yes there is 2 sides to every story.Should the teacher be presenting this in class? Maybe, maybe not? Were they told to present it to students? Maybe the teachers were simply telling the students what was going on and questions were asked......


I can definately tell you that a happy teacher makes for a WAY better learning environment.




Posted from my BlackBerry using BerryBlab

I can definitely appreciate a teachers job and like I said earlier I could not do it. But, you have to understand that with any career there are good, bad and ugly things that come along. I own a company with staff and there are a lot of days I would like to put my hands up in frustration/anger. Unfortunately no one will listen. Same goes in the private sector working for others. I am sure they have major frustrations too. The biggest frustration I guess I have towards the teachers is the poor kids attitude but no mention about their quest for higher pay/better benefits they are asking for. Why dont they simply come out and say it but they know there will be limited sympathy from most people as everyone is struggling out there not just the teachers. Even myself, business was so much easier 5 years ago compared to now. Anyway, I am not trying to deny teachers have their struggles but we all do. Also, for work I get to see some poor places on this globe. Two years ago we donated $22,000 to a school in Peru to run power to the building. So, at the end of the day, compared to them we ALL have it pretty good in this country as I dont see too many schools without power.

 

[JaySimon]

So, at the end of the day, compared to them we ALL have it pretty good in this country as I dont see too many schools without power.

I think we should be aiming a bit higher than the bottom of the barrel here. We have (what I would argue) the best country in the world. That is, in part, due to the education system.

I just think the education system should be well funded. Perhaps the teachers get paid too much, but they should at least have a classroom full of supplies, books and learning materials.

Again, all one man's opinion.

 

[shan]

So the BC teachers are going on strike starting Monday for 3 days to protest their demands (dont get me started on that). My daughter who is in grade 7 told me that her teachers have been taking time from class to preach their cause to them. I am sooooo pi$$ed as they have no right to take time from teaching to sell their propaganda to our kids. Grrrrr

Should the teacher be presenting this in class? Maybe, maybe not? Were they told to present it to students? Maybe the teachers were simply telling the students what was going on and questions were asked......

I have to agree with malibu on this... kids were asking questions on why there is a strike and the teacher answered (not preaching). I know I did, when I was in high school and there was a month long strike.

As for teachers having it easy.. I say BS.

I used to think the same thing, that teachers had it easy until I helped out in my kids' school - hot lunch programs, PTA, school ground supervision, lunchroom supervision, field trips, office help etc.... and the things I have witnessed and seen that the teachers go through with parents and students, I don't envy them on bit. When we leave work, we leave it. Teachers don't... someone has to mark the kids' homework and test papers, etc... and teachers do it at home, so where is their "me" time.

Also, didn't teachers take a roll back in wages not too long ago?? I don't remember them getting it back after the Government said they would. I could be wrong, but why shouldn't they get a raise? I am sure everyone else does.

Oh, and for the person that said they have summers off, Christmas breaks, and spring breaks..... these are teachers NOT babysitters.

 

[catinthehat]

I used to think teachers were overpaid as well, given how much time off they have versus actual hours worked. Nowadays you couldn't pay me enough to go head to head with some of the kids they get to deal with, not saying there are a lot of bad ones but all it takes is one to take offense at something you say or do and lay accusations that ruin your career as well as your life. No thanks.
At least education is one place we can actually see a return on our tax dollars, watch your children and grandchildren grow into intelligent humans before your very eyes. Teachers are the ones responsible for that.