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Strike teaching students to fight for what’s right

B.C. students are learning from teachers not to bow to government mandates

Why does virtually every jurisdiction in this country seemingly relish the taking of a strip of hide off of its teachers? It has happened from east to west, more times in some less in others but nowhere as often and as enthusiastically as here in B.C.

I notice even in your editorial, you say “Strike hurting no one but kids.” What tripe. Don’t you think this is hurting teachers?

These professional people have taken the gut wrenchingly difficult decision to defy their government. They have become targets of the right wing and suffer egregiously punitive threats, read neo-conservative hogwash from a government booster like Tom Fletcher and they know, deep down, that all most of the public and business want is inexpensive, quality teachers and public employees that submissively go about their role.

The only one hurting is kids? What happens when parents blithely decide to take their kid out of school for a fortnight Hawaiian winter break? Do the kids get hurt then? It’s a few days for God’s sake.

The teachers are in fact teaching these young people a valuable and hard lesson, namely, sometimes you have to fight for what you believe is right and just, and not to meekly bow down because a bunch of overpaid politicians have decided a net-zero mandate is reason enough for public employees to sit down and shut up. Remember, the stadium cost us $600 million and the convention centre was grossly overbudget, and they are both still losing money.

If I was a young person and wanted a career in education, I would get the B.C. government to subsidize my degree and upon graduation, apply for teaching positions anywhere but here.

This government does not want good teachers, because good teachers teach young people to be analytical and ask questions, anathema to any political system.

Geoff Chislett

Sidney