September 2024
The start of a new school year is always a time of renewal and possibility. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with students, inspire new minds, and continue the important work we do every day.
As we head into the fall, many of you will be guiding your students through lessons and discussions about democracy that are centred around our upcoming provincial election. These lessons are vital in helping our students understand the impact of an election and the importance of everyone exercising their right to vote.
Last month’s news of the BC United party pausing their campaign means there is a lot at stake in the upcoming election. John Rustad and the BC Conservatives have made some extremely concerning promises related to public education. For example, Rustad promised to scrap SOGI 123, which will make schools more hostile for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and parents. He has also voiced that he is in favour of ditching portables for larger class sizes, showing a complete disregard for collective agreements.
Teachers are already feeling the burden of underfunding and understaffing in public education. The recent BCTF membership survey found that 55% of teachers believe their workload is unmanageable, with more than 58% of members reporting that their overall workload increased last school year from the year before. Read more about the results of the membership survey here.
The larger class sizes proposed by the BC Conservatives will only exacerbate workload issues and worsen the staffing shortages in BC public schools. This is a path we can’t afford to go down.
Students, families, and teachers need politicians to make BC public schools a clear priority.
Heading into the election, I encourage each of you to engage your local candidates. Attend candidate town halls or meet-and-greet events and stay up to date on the education platforms. Ask your local candidates to give you a reason to vote for them and ask them how they will improve public education in our province.
Public schools are cornerstones of our communities. Teachers’ dedication and hard work ensure that our schools are safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces for all students. But we need meaningful investment from politicians to address the staffing shortages that make it hard to ensure every child has access to the supports they need.
I look forward to advocating for teachers throughout the school year and ensuring teachers’ voices are heard.
I hope the school year ahead brings inspiration, accomplishment, and the satisfaction of making a lasting impact. Thank you for all that you do to support your students and colleagues.
In solidarity,
Clint Johnston
BCTF President