This post continues the dialogue about the crisis in BC Education. If you want to read more posts on this topic, please click HERE.
I am a learning support teacher and retired last year, the truth being that the underfunded educational environment had started to affect my health. It was the best move for me at that time. However, I do miss teaching and tutor whenever I can. I have worked (34 years) as a classroom teacher and a special education or resource teacher as my Master’s is in reading remediation and special ed.
Throughout the years of bargaining, I have been actively involved in my union but above all else in advocating for the learning conditions of students and many of my letters to the (online publications) editor have been published. I attended the parent rally in Victoria this week and was delighted to see that finally many parents are understanding what is at stake is the future of the next generation and the principles of a fully funded, excellent public education, in a democratic society. So, I was very happy to come across your support.
Even though retired, I am involved more than ever, having the time and I will be running for trustee in Surrey. Very few trustees, administrators and PACs have spoken out about what is going on and it would take too long to discuss the whys. My passion for education is that if we are going to have excellence we need everyone to get on board and we need dialogue, devoid of fear or superiority or top down models of administration and interaction.
No more standing on the sidelines by parties, no more disrespect towards or between, students, teachers and parents. If I can accomplish this in my district, I will be happy.
You may have heard that in Finland, the country with top scores, teachers are in charge of the curriculum and administrators and the ministry are there to “assist” them. How interesting, is it not, that here we have things backwards?
What motivates me is the endless hard work of my colleagues despite the impossible situations they have lived through in the last decade and their resolve to make things right for students despite personal hardship. We need to retain our good teachers and not lose them to sickness or other provinces. What motivates me is my love of children including my own who as a “gifted” child had no supports or special programs but survived her K-12 thanks to teachers.
I don’t want our children to just “survive”, so I urge you and other parents to, stay active and fight for a well funded public education, our kids deserve it.
Niovi Patsicakis
RUNNING FOR EXCELLENCE in OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
On November 15,2014
Vote for me as SURREY Trustee
Thank you Niovi for sending in this letter. If we had more people with your point of view and attitude in decision-making positions we’d all be in a much better place.
Are you a specialist teacher, parent or concerned citizen that cares about the state of the BC public school system? If you’d like to submit a story to be considered for publication please email me at [email protected] or [email protected].
You can also read more articles about what’s going on in our education system in BC including Maple Ridge School District cuts and the post that went viral and breaks down class size and composition HERE. And please contact your MLA to get your voice heard! Here’s the MLA finder to make it easy.
Thank you for reading.
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