Dear Editor:
I was reading a letter to the editor about the teacher’s strike in the May 30 edition (re: Teachers show disrespect, The Record, Letters to the Editor.)
The writer said something like “(teachers are) entrusted with the welfare and development of our future generations.”
I thought that was the job of the parents and family.
When has all this ‘child raising’ been transferred to teachers? Educational development of children happens at home, in the community, on television, on a sports team and more. Teachers are a part of it.
The government has done some mean moves. Imagine that you are told that you cannot go to work early, have to leave the school property at lunch time, and you will be getting a 10 per cent cut on your next pay.
Imagine that you, as the boss, will be making one million a day, saving on wages and $4 million-plus a week, due to support services not going to work.
And imagine that the pay cut is illegal and has not been approved through the proper channels or systems.
As an educator, working at a variety of public and private institutions, I do not get paid for preparation work. So each class I do four hours of free labour.
If I chose to stay and tutor or help a student, again, it is free labour. My contract is for 6 hours a day and I work 10-plus hours.
Yes, let us be ‘grown-up’ and settle this so the individual, the family and the community can continue with a positive experience.
Kimberley Hayek,
New Westminster
