School Wars will Rage

The cherry trees are blossoming in Victoria. In Prince George the snowdrifts are finally shrinking rather than growing. And throughout British Columbia the ski slopes are packed, the malls are full of gaggles of adolescent girls, and arcades are doing a booming business all day long. It's spring break for public school students!

While the kids are enjoying some time off, their teachers and the provincial government are not taking a break from the political battle that has raged for the last three years. In fact, the war of words seems to be escalating, as both sides try out the campaign slogans they'll be using in next year's provincial election.

First into the fray was brand new Education Minister Tom Christensen. His predecessor, Christy Clark, had never tired of pointing out shortcomings in BC's schools and blaming the problems on teachers, trustees, unions--anyone but the provincial government. Tired of teachers' complaints, Clark simply refused to meet with them, and she was notorious for announcing government plans without even informing school trustees.

Appointed in January to pour some oil on the troubled waters, Mr. Christensen took a conciliatory tone. According to him, the province's schools are doing great things! Hard-working teachers and dedicated school trustees were to be commended. And the government would help with an $85 million increase in school funding for the coming year.

Ninety schools closed, pink slips coming

That supposed "good news" didn't go over well in the ugly environment that Ms. Clark had created. The BC Teachers' Federation was quick to predict that the funding wouldn't even stop, let alone reverse the decline in education services. Ninety schools have been closed in the last two years; more closures could be expected. Nearly 3,000 teachers have been laid off; more pink slips would be coming.

Caught between the government that funds them and the teachers they employ, the school trustees gently pointed out the reality. The funding increase was certainly welcome, but a government mandated change in accounting practices would consume $35 million without benefiting classroom education at all. The remaining $50 million wouldn't cover inflation, salary increases, rising MSP premiums, and a host of other costs. Add it up; more cuts are coming.

Who are parents and voters supposed to believe? Well, it's clear that schools have closed and teachers have been laid off. In part that's been due to a 2percent decline in enrolment in the last two years--and another projected 1 percent decline in the coming year. However, the number of special education teachers has fallen by 17 percent, librarians by 23 percent, and ESL specialists by 20 percent.

The battles between the province's teachers and the government don't end with funding. Over the last three years, the Liberal government has walked away from contract negotiations and imposed a settlement, passed legislation to rip up collective agreement protections for smaller class sizes, and taken away teachers' rights to license and police their own profession.

$5 million 'war chest'

The BC Teachers' Federation hasn't forgotten. It celebrated spring break with its own funding announcement: the Federation has set aside a $5 million war chest to "defend public education." That ensures education will be a major issue in the 2005 provincial election.

While the BCTF has never been shy about criticizing governments, this level of campaign activity hasn't been seen since the late 1980s. Teachers are, by nature, a rather a-political bunch. Their willingness to spend $5 million to "protect schools and communities from relentless attack by the provincial government" shows what a hornet's nest of angry teachers Christy Clark has stirred up.

Education Minister Christensen promptly accused the teachers of "playing politics." Well, yes, they are, and he'd better get used to it. School boards are considering reducing school weeks to four days, lengthening vacations and shortening school years, closing more schools, and laying off more teachers. Every time that happens, the teachers will be quick to point out who's to blame for the cuts.

Let's hope our children enjoy their spring break. We're going to have no break from education politics for the next fourteen months.

Paul Ramsey is a former NDP MLA and Cabinet Minister. He teaches at CNC and is a Visiting Professor in the Political Science Program at UNBC.