A 33% reduction in funding? That's absolutely ridiculous. Especially considering that well...populations increase, thus resulting in more students, which in turn requires more teachers. 

Too bad about union seniority.. they should get rid of all the jaded old fossils who are burned out.  

If I took even a small percentage of the sick days that I have personally seen teacher's take in the past 10 years I would most likely not have a job. Get rid of the dead wood!

The funding cuts are a disgrace.  

More goverment union busting (expletive deleted). 

the government has no problem funding 6billion for a 2 week party. when are the people of bc ever gonna unite and try to take back our province from the dictators in power. like him or not Gorden has to go, if you like a government that is in power for decades then move to North Korea. 

I think the ten votes for rollin sam's opinion says something about the majority opinion among Straight readers. Whatever the clientele may be, it's not labour.

More likely, it's made up of right-wing, pro-business, Hedy Fry/Joyce Murray Liberals for whom the carbon tax was red meat, a chance to celebrate urban chic and denounce suburban tackiness and rural backwardness at little or no cost to oneself. Similary, the contempt for unions had been a part of right-wing Canadian Liberalism for decades.


Rod Smelser 

It is a shame that the government seems to value sporting events much more than the education of our citizens. I have always felt that education is undervalued in our society, and this just proves my point. While other countries are pouring their money into education to make their nations more competitive in a global market, we will fall further behind. I hope our priorities change before it is too late.... 

Tough choice... 800 newly-qualified teachers (i.e. within 1-5 years), with relevant training, enthusiasm, and the ability to teach kids with disabilities, ADHD, ESL needs, technology, P.E., music, French!...

Or, 500 teachers that have been in the school system for 20-30 years, haven't updated their qualifications, have lost their enthusiasm, are ignoring the school curriculum, are still teaching using "alternative" styles from the 70s and 80s, and know nothing about the needs of kids with such diverse requirements. In fact, they are heavily critical of both the kids and the parents, because they don't fit the needs of old white middle-class ideals.

The school board should offer these older teachers early retirement or lay them off. But the elderly union leaders and school board won't lay off people like themselves. After all, they've probably got old buddies who fit the profile I've just described! Better to lay off the 800 younger teachers and put the expertise of our schools back 5 years. 

I am confused as to why the VSB just made BCESIS (a computer program for attendance and grading) mandatory for all schools this year, and was able to fund new monitors to support this program but is failing to fund something actually necessary to education such as teachers. why? WHY!?

This is OUTRAGEOUS. The public and teachers should be disgusted at the priorities of our provincial government.  

I just learned another 50 in Chilliwack will also be laid off. 

I am currently a 2nd year teacher with the VSB and I am pretty discouraged with the whole system. When I started as a teacher I was perhaps hopeful and excited to get a class, but with the current way that the system operates (i.e. seniority based, which I am not totally opposed to) there isn't much chance of me finding a permanent job without a good deal of luck. Currently Vancouver's system does not encourage or support new teachers in their search for a classroom. In order to really start thinking about applying to any job one has to fall into a temporay subbing position for 3 months and 1 day in order for ones seniority to increase, otherwise your application is pretty much discarded the moment someone of higher seniority applies, even if they do not have the experience.

I thought that when I started my 3 years of previous experience as a support worker with the VSB in special needs and alternative programs would be quite a desirable asset. Well, they are desirable for the programs and these staff in those programs, but I have yet to be hired because of my lack of seniority. Oh well, that's life, I'll survive, but I do think that the school system is loosing out on alot of qualified new teachers with alot of energy and passion. I say loosing out because there are many that, after a few years of subbing, decide not to waste anymore time with the proffession and change jobs, myself included. I don't blame them as it doesn't seem like too much respect is given to teachers.

One way our schools system could save money would be to lay off the some of the teachers who are near retirement and bring in some of the more inspired new teachers. These new teachers will most likely be with the board for a number of years thus saving money on hiring costs. As it stands now many of these new teachers leave the profession pretty quick because of the lack of support, or they find private schools to work at.

If the near retired teachers were to be layed off then we'd save on salary costs, as new teachers get paid nearly half that of those near retirement. My father was recently laid off from his job of 35 years to make room for the young guns, he wasn't upset, partly because of his great severance package, but also because, as he said, "it just makes sense".