It takes a ton of courage for a student to walk out of school and today these young citizens demonstrated en masse across the province. Every teacher should stand proud as their students stand side by side with one voice. Every parent of these kids should feel the payoff. And the students themselves have to know they make the difference for all of us. This is education (see slide show below).
At the Vancouver Art Gallery, at least 1,500 students convened around 2:00 and stood, spoke, and shouted in solidarity with teachers and the BCTF. Students at Eric Hamber Secondary seem to have been the first group, exiting the school around 11:00 this morning. Despite the typically uncooperative weather (5C and rainy), the students were still protesting through the late afternoon.
It has been quite some time since BC saw a student movement but what struck me most was how many showed up and how well organized the demonstration was. These kids know their politics and how to win hearts. Signs everywhere with the critique of the BC government’s decision-making loud and clear, a young woman kicked things off: “BC” she shouted and 1,500 hollered back “students”… “BC” she shouted and 1,500 screamed “teachers.” That’s a solid show of force.
As post-secondary students in BC deal with compounding challenges that seem relentless, let’s hope the high school students spark this from grass roots to an all out BC student movement. Quebec post-secondary students are putting everything on the line right now. Time to take inspiration from the younger crowd to stand up and be heard BC post-secondary students!
BC Students Walk Out March 2012 Slide Show (photos by S. Petrina)
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BC Teachers Plan Strike Vote, Gov’t Prepares Bill
CTV: B.C. teachers plan strike vote, gov’t prepares bill
The ongoing contract dispute between British Columbia teachers and the provincial government is promising to heat up before it cools down, as each side prepares its next move. Teachers have been on a limited strike since September, and while they can’t legally walk off the job, they’ve been refusing to perform administrative duties like filling out report cards.
On Friday, the BC Teachers’ Federation, which represent 41,000 members, announced it will hold strike votes province wide, asking educators Tuesday and Wednesday whether they want to escalate limited teach-only action to a full-scale walkout.
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