DEAR EDITOR:
My name is Luke McAndless-Davis, and I am a Grade 11 International Baccalaureate student from New Westminster Secondary School.
B.C. government, I am deeply concerned by your recent decision to attempt to end the teachers' job action by legislating against it.
You have claimed that this must be done because the government and the B.C. Teachers' Federation are too divided on the issue: that you are doing this because "it is always students who pay the price when adults can't co-operate."
I am writing to inform you that this has not been my experience of the job action. I am a motivated student who engages in many extracurricular activities that require the intensive involvement of my teachers.
I am in my school's chamber and jazz choirs that tour, compete in festivals, perform regularly, and have rehearsals every day. These amazing opportunities would not be possible without my committed teachers, who continue to run these groups while job action continues.
Furthermore, I am also completely aware of all of my grades, can count on extra help from my amazing teachers, and continue to attend rewarding field trips. I am clearly not suffering from the job action of my teachers. In fact, I feel that seeing my teachers participate in Canada's grand tradition of peaceful protest and democracy has given me a valuable lesson: that individuals can make a difference. So it is clear that the job action of the teachers is not causing my education, or that of my peers, to suffer.
However, what will cause me and my peers to suffer is if your government forces the BCTF into a corner that forces them into a full strike.
The demands of the BCTF are not unreasonable. They are fighting for the rights of students and for the integrity of our education system. These are goals that should be shared by your government. I call on you not to legislate an end to job action.
Job action is an effective means of keeping some bargaining power, while minimally affecting students.
Your legislation would only lead to an escalation of tensions, which would take a terrible toll on students. You claim that we suffer when adults cannot co-operate. I call on you to to do simply this: co-operate. Continue to negotiate with the BCTF, come to the table with open arms, and come to an agreement that will benefit all parties involved.
Show us students that negotiation and compromise is possible, and that it is not the bully with the big stick (or legislative powers) that wins the day.
Thank you very much for your time, and I urgently await your reply.
Luke McAndless-Davis, New Westminster
