Despite what I know was a herculean effort on the part of our bargaining team, I very much hope that BC teachers will vote no to the tentative agreement. After five weeks of strike, and twelve years of legal battles, this is not the deal that will restore sanity to
Continue readingAuthor: Tara Ehrcke
Staffroom Confidential: Tentative agreement – Yes or No?
Despite what I know was a herculean effort on the part of our bargaining team, I very much hope that BC teachers will vote no to the tentative agreement. After five weeks of strike, and twelve years of legal battles, this is not the deal that will restore sanity to
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Class composition: a human rights perspective
Christy Clark enraged teachers and surprised many when she tweeted that class composition was one of her primary concerns. Those of us working in schools who have for twelve long years been trying to bring this issue into the public discourse thought: well, it’s about time. It was over twenty
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Class composition: a human rights perspective
Christy Clark enraged teachers and surprised many when she tweeted that class composition was one of her primary concerns. Those of us working in schools who have for twelve long years been trying to bring this issue into the public discourse thought: …
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Class composition: a human rights perspective
Christy Clark enraged teachers and surprised many when she tweeted that class composition was one of her primary concerns. Those of us working in schools who have for twelve long years been trying to bring this issue into the public discourse thought: well, it’s about time. It was over twenty
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Class size and composition – a short visual history
I put this table together today to share with parents and community members at our information forum this evening, but please feel free to share.It is a slight simplification as it doesn’t deal with exempted classes like music, classes in distributed l…
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Class size and composition – a short visual history
I put this table together today to share with parents and community members at our information forum this evening, but please feel free to share. It is a slight simplification as it doesn’t deal with exempted classes like music, classes in distributed learning, special education class, the “fudge factor” allowing
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Class size and composition – a short visual history
I put this table together today to share with parents and community members at our information forum this evening, but please feel free to share. It is a slight simplification as it doesn’t deal with exempted classes like music, classes in distributed learning, special education class, the “fudge factor” allowing
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Guest post – I WILL HOLD THE LINE
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Hi. My name is Dana Bjornson. I’ve been teaching Math and Physics at Esquimalt for 15 years and I’m a teach-aholic.
I am at this mic to PROUDLY say that I WILL HOLD THE LINE.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE because I am sick and tired of the children of this province being treated like crap by their government.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE for those students who need the extra help, the extra time, the extra resources because life didn’t deal them the same hand as the rest of their classmates.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE because I only have time to put out the fires and help the squeaky wheel kids and I often wonder how many of my amazingly talented introverts are falling through the cracks because I don’t have time to ask them how they are doing that week.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE for the parents on my Facebook that have practically begged me to hold the line.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE because I shouldn’t have to send my kids to private school to receive the same education I had in public school.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE because when you read the fine print on Christy Clark’s winning campaign mantra, “Families First”, it turns out she actually meant “Wealthy Families First”.
I WILL HOLD THE LINE because I have accepted “The Duct Tape Challenge.” This challenge requires teachers to stop allowing themselves to be treated as the duct tape holding this system together, then to share videos of themselves on social media actually having a life outside of school.
Now I don’t know about you, but I am pretty busy these days… raising kids, maintaining a cleanish household, usually working, binge watching on Netflix… I don’t have time to build a school in Ecuador. <but I will donate to those who do.> I don’t have the energy to paddle/cycle/run/moonwalk to raise money for social causes. <but I will donate to those who do.>
What I can do, though, is HOLD THE FREAKING LINE. We need to hold this government accountable! No more band aid approaches! No more Mrs. Nice Bjornson and NO MORE DUCT TAPE! Thank you.
staffroom confidential: Guest post – I WILL HOLD THE LINE
This guest post is from a Victoria teacher explaining to her colleagues why she is willing to hold the line in our strike. —Hi. My name is Dana Bjornson. I’ve been teaching Math and Physics at Esquimalt for 15 years and I’m a teach-aholic.I am at this mic to PROUDLY
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Guest post – I WILL HOLD THE LINE
This guest post is from a Victoria teacher explaining to her colleagues why she is willing to hold the line in our strike. —Hi. My name is Dana Bjornson. I’ve been teaching Math and Physics at Esquimalt for 15 years and I’m a teach-aholic.I am at this mic to PROUDLY
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Teachers – let your leadership know it is time to hold the line
As teachers return to picket lines in BC there is considerable discussion as to strategy and tactics for the coming weeks. I argued in my last blog post that now is the time to hold the line. Should teachers return, the pressure on government would immediately evaporate and their program
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Teachers – let your leadership know it is time to hold the line
As teachers return to picket lines in BC there is considerable discussion as to strategy and tactics for the coming weeks. I argued in my last blog post that now is the time to hold the line. Should teachers return, the pressure on government would immediately evaporate and their program
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Teachers – let your leadership know it is time to hold the line
As teachers return to picket lines in BC there is considerable discussion as to strategy and tactics for the coming weeks. I argued in my last blog post that now is the time to hold the line. Should teachers return, the pressure on government would imm…
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Protecting public eduction: As long as it takes…
As long as it takes. This should be the disposition of not just teachers, but also parents, students and citizens who care about public education. With the latest failed talks between the BCTF and government, it is clearer than ever that the government objective during this round of bargaining is
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Protecting public education: Hold the line for as long as it takes…
Holding the line for as long as it takes. This should be the disposition of not just teachers, but also parents, students and citizens who care about public education. With the latest failed talks between the BCTF and government, it is clearer than eve…
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Protecting public education: Hold the line for as long as it takes…
Holding the line for as long as it takes. This should be the disposition of not just teachers, but also parents, students and citizens who care about public education. With the latest failed talks between the BCTF and government, it is clearer than ever that the government objective during this
Continue readingStaffroom Confidential: Ranking & Sorting – An Essential Service
What is schooling for? In the midst of a teacher strike that is now entering its second week, the BC Labour Relations Board provided an answer – to rank and sort students. Upon application from the BC government, they declared that providing Grade 12 student marks was an essential service,
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Ranking & Sorting – An Essential Service
What is schooling for? In the midst of a teacher strike that is now entering its second week, the BC Labour Relations Board provided an answer – to rank and sort students. Upon application from the BC government, they declared that providing Grade 12 student marks was an essential service,
Continue readingstaffroom confidential: Ranking & Sorting – An Essential Service
What is schooling for? In the midst of a teacher strike that is now entering its second week, the BC Labour Relations Board provided an answer – to rank and sort students. Upon application from the BC government, they declared that providing Grade 12 student marks was an essential service,
Continue reading