Brenda McNeill: Why are school administrators silent on B.C. teachers’ strike?

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      Silence has many meanings. One is that silence is golden; there are times when information hurtful to our family and friends is better left unsaid. Then there is silence that speaks volumes. This is a pregnant silence that is heavy and full of unspoken truths or truths that dare not be spoken.

      Then there is the silence of culpability, when in Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

      It seems to me in this present situation between teachers and government that a couple of groups who could be speaking out loudly and clearly for public education are silent. It seems odd to me that the Coalition of B.C. Businesses will speak out about education, offering court intervention, yet two groups who ought to be speaking out in support of public education remain collectively silent.

      These two groups? Superintendents and administrators who are supposed to be educational leaders. But where is the leadership? Why the collective silence as public education is being destroyed? Both groups have had to close libraries, lay off specialist teachers, cut back custodial hours, and much more. Yet, during this crisis, they remain collectively silent. If and when they speak out, they speak out about lack of funding but not about contract stripping or Supreme Court rulings.

      The B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, in their list of standards, uses lofty language such as “moral stewardship”. Under these standards, administrators are expected to “model the moral courage to uphold and foster the values, vision and mission of the school”, and by extension, the public school system as a whole. And yet, collectively they are silent.

      Perhaps the ugly truth is that with no language around class size and composition, these groups are silent because their jobs are made easier. New students in the school? Put them in a class with little or no thought about the size or composition of that class. Seven students with individual education plans? What does one more student in a class matter? And because administrators no longer have to concern themselves with these issues, they don’t. Students have been placed in classes and their job is done. It’s now the teacher’s job to manage and make the class work. And, when the classes don’t work, teachers take the blame for not being able to manage the diversity within their classes.

      It is true during this current job action that some administrators around the province have brought coffee and food to the teachers walking picket lines. The gesture, while appreciated, isn’t enough. To borrow from Dr. King once again, “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

      Brenda McNeill is a retired teacher who spent her first three years of teaching in Long Beach, California, before returning to B.C. She taught for over 20 years in Coquitlam and also worked at the district level in staff development.

      Comments

      61 Comments

      free thinker not politically affiliated

      Sep 15, 2014 at 11:44am

      The BCTF, led by Jim (Str)Iker, voted to go on strike and that is why school is not in session. The writer continues to try to shift blame, he now tries throwing superintendents and administrators, amongst the other things like Bill Vanderzalm, protesters who don't side with BCTF, personal hardships of being on strike, and 1950s public infrastructure replacement from his previous "news commentries" against the wall to see what might stick. Or to see what might cover up the fact that teachers are not in school because they decided to go on strike. It takes two to tango, but the BCTF left the dance floor with their strike. BCTF recent meagre efforts and offers to dance again does not alter the fact that their previous decision is to be on strike, now running well over four weeks of class time, has not in any form been rescinded, and remains in force of their own volition.

      OMG

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:28pm

      Presenting this dispute in the same light as the civil rights movement in the US, as lead by Martin Luther King, is nothing short of disgusting. But what would expect from someone currently lounging around on a big, fat pension.

      Perhaps the reason that these groups are silent while "...public education is being destroyed.." is that it is not being destroyed. If anything is hurting the public education system it is the BCTF, with their obsession with paralyzing the school system with their never-ending job actions - almost none of which has resulted in a negotiated settlement.

      But what is really telling about this ridiculous commentary is that having attacked Christy Clark (and her son) they are now turning on their colleagues in the educational system. If you want to know why they are being quiet then why don't you ask them, instead of insulting them with immature accusations?

      Liberal Troll

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:32pm

      Another Liberal troll strikes first on this board. I hope Clark is paying you well from the money she is saving by not paying teachers.

      get off your high horse

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:37pm

      im tired of teachers comparing themselves to MLK. Its embarrassing.
      If it was really about the kids then wouldnt they be back at work by now??

      concerned parent

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:39pm

      Admin arrive at 815am and leave by 315pm at my children's school - Yes, why would they want to make their jobs any more challenging than that! Unreal!

      nonsense

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:53pm

      @concerned parent. So according to my calculations they are working 7 hours more than teachers.

      @Liberal Troll. Just because someone dares to disagree with the BCTF doesnt make them a troll. Whats the point of having a Comments section if only one side of the argument is acceptable to you?

      frustrated with taking the fall

      Sep 15, 2014 at 12:56pm

      This isn't their strike. BUT, our admin and superintendents and school boards have been silent for too long! Why haven't they spoken up over the last 12 years? Instead they make the cuts and have left the fight up to the teachers. Their raises are tied to ours…so I am fighting for them while they collect their full pay checks and I pay the consequences with more students and more identified students in my class. It is time for them to take a stand!!

      free thinker not politically affiliated

      Sep 15, 2014 at 1:18pm

      To the third commenter, I am not a member of a political org or a union/political org. I am a pensioner living on my 100% self paid rrsp. You are a name calling bully by use of the word troll. You are quick to jump to assumptions and as such make the first three letters of assumptions of yourself. If you want respect, you should give respect, it's Premier Clark to you and me, or a you just a hater. All you wrote are reactions, you did not argue any of the facts I wrote. You say that I strike first, but the BCTF voted and went on strike in June, so they strike first.

      Liberal Troll

      Sep 15, 2014 at 1:28pm

      @nonsense

      Everyone has opinions. The difference is that Clark has hired trolls to spam the boards.

      Your calculation implying the length of time teachers work is nonsense like your moniker and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of how much time teachers put into their jobs before and after school hours. Either you have no clue or you too are just a Liberal troll.