Vancouver Sun
May 25, 2012
Kit Krieger, a long-time educator who was once president of the B.C. Teachers' Federation (BCTF), has been appointed executive director of the B.C. Principals' and Vice-Principals' Association (BCPVPA).
Krieger, registrar for the B.C. College of Teachers from 2009 until it was disbanded last year, begins his new job July 1.
"Kit brings to the BCPVPA team a long and distinguished history as an educator in British Columbia," the association said in announcing his appointment.
Krieger began his teaching career in West Vancouver in 1974 and was president of the West Vancouver Teachers' Federation for many years - before and after his 1997-99 term as the BCTF leader.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Krieger+appointed+executive+director+principals+association/6680484/story.html#ixzz1vvf9UlnB
Friday, May 25, 2012
Province will not allow another year of teacher job act
News 1130
Dave White
May 25, 2012
SURREY (NEWS1130) - Your kids may not have to worry about another year with job action by teachers.
Education Minister George Abbottsays he will bring the teachers' job action to an end in time for the 2012/2013 school year, if a resolution has not been found by the end of the cooling-off period.
"We'll need to have some kind of an agreement in the absence of a mediator agreement, of course we have to look at legislating a solution, it's been done many times over the past 30 years, but it's not something I want to do at all. If it's absolutely necessary to do it, then we would of course do it."
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Dave White
May 25, 2012
SURREY (NEWS1130) - Your kids may not have to worry about another year with job action by teachers.
Education Minister George Abbottsays he will bring the teachers' job action to an end in time for the 2012/2013 school year, if a resolution has not been found by the end of the cooling-off period.
"We'll need to have some kind of an agreement in the absence of a mediator agreement, of course we have to look at legislating a solution, it's been done many times over the past 30 years, but it's not something I want to do at all. If it's absolutely necessary to do it, then we would of course do it."
To view the rest of the article, click here.
Sexism Tinges Criticism of Teachers' Job Action
The Tyee.ca
Charles Bingham
May 25, 2012
Charles Bingham
May 25, 2012
I am highly supportive of the current teacher actions, but I must say that I cringe whenever a teacher strike, or teacher limited actions, are called.
Why do I cringe? Because I know that my social life will become unbearable for a few weeks or even a few months. It's about to be "let's talk about how I feel toward those striking teachers" time. When the neighbours get together for dinner or drinks, everyone (everyone!) has an opinion about those striking teachers.
I can't think of another single profession that resides so clearly under the magnifying glass of public opinion. Even when it comes to general elections, people are reserved about talking politics. You know, keep religion and politics off the table if you want to have a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Yet everybody has something to say about teachers, and especially in times like these. People say things like, "These teacher actions are not good for children," or, "The extra daycare costs are not fair to parents."
To view the rest of the article, click here.
How B.C. tuition fees compare
Vancouver Sun
May 25, 2012
Students in Quebec have been striking for more than 100 days over increases to post-secondary tuition; this week in B.C. only several dozen students appeared at a rally in support.
Yet, as Sun reporter Janet Steffenhagen reported, B.C. students pay higher tuition than Quebecers attending post-secondary schools in their province, a yearly average of $4,852 compared with $2,519. Quebec's fees are the lowest in the country, where the national aver-age for tuition at public post-secondary institutions is $5,366.
Tuition for an under-graduate arts student at the University of B.C. has quintupled over the past 30 years, rising from about $900 a year to about $4,600. At the same time, the minimum wage has increased threefold over the same period, to $10.25 an hour this year from $3.65.
B.C. fees have been climbing steadily since 2002, when the newly elected Liberal government killed a six-year tuition freeze introduced by the previous NDP administration. Tuition soared as post-secondary schools tried to cover lost revenue: the University of B.C. boosted undergraduate fees by an average of 22 per cent, while the hike at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria was about 30 per cent.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/tuition+fees+compare/6677126/story.html#ixzz1vtxHoNyz
May 25, 2012
Students in Quebec have been striking for more than 100 days over increases to post-secondary tuition; this week in B.C. only several dozen students appeared at a rally in support.
Yet, as Sun reporter Janet Steffenhagen reported, B.C. students pay higher tuition than Quebecers attending post-secondary schools in their province, a yearly average of $4,852 compared with $2,519. Quebec's fees are the lowest in the country, where the national aver-age for tuition at public post-secondary institutions is $5,366.
Tuition for an under-graduate arts student at the University of B.C. has quintupled over the past 30 years, rising from about $900 a year to about $4,600. At the same time, the minimum wage has increased threefold over the same period, to $10.25 an hour this year from $3.65.
B.C. fees have been climbing steadily since 2002, when the newly elected Liberal government killed a six-year tuition freeze introduced by the previous NDP administration. Tuition soared as post-secondary schools tried to cover lost revenue: the University of B.C. boosted undergraduate fees by an average of 22 per cent, while the hike at Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria was about 30 per cent.
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/tuition+fees+compare/6677126/story.html#ixzz1vtxHoNyz
Thursday, May 24, 2012
PEN Canada on Bill 78 and freedom of expression
PEN Canada statement on Bill 78
TORONTO, May 23, 2012
PEN Canada is carefully monitoring student unrest in Québec and response to that unrest by different levels of government. PEN’s particular concern is any threat to freedom of expression.
PEN Canada condemns violence and other forms of intimidation, by students or police, as antithetical to freedom of expression.
PEN Canada considers Bill 78 to be overreaching, containing provisions that go beyond what is necessary to ensure that assemblies and demonstrations by students and others are peaceful. As such, PEN believes the Bill indirectly limits freedom of expression and asks the Government of Québec to reconsider this legislation.
PEN Canada fights censorship and defends the right to freedom of expression.
For more information: Brendan de Caires: 416 703 8448 ext 21 | bdecaires@pencanada.ca
PEN Canada is an association of writers and supporters formed in 1926 to defend freedom of expression and raise awareness of that right.
PEN Canada is an association of writers and supporters formed in 1926 to defend freedom of expression and raise awareness of that right.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
B.C. law to ban information on farm outbreaks - Bill 37 Animal Health Act 2012
Overrides Freedom of Information law, carries stiff penalty
Vancouver Province
Ethan Baron
May 22, 2012
B.C.'s Liberal government is poised to further choke off the flow of public information, this time with respect to disease outbreaks. The Animal Health Act, expected to be passed into law by month's end, expressly over-rides B.C.'s Freedom of Information Act, duct-taping shut the mouths of any citizens - or journalists - who would publicly identify the location of an outbreak of agriculture-related disease such as the deadly bird flu.
"A person must refuse, despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to disclose . . . information that would reveal that a notifiable or reportable disease is or may be present in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle," Section 16 of the Act reads.
It is quite conceivable that the provincial government, in the event of a disease outbreak at a farm, would delay releasing a warning in order to protect the farm in question or the industry it's part of.
In that event, should you as a citizen hear about the outbreak, or if you were an employee at an affected farm, you would be breaking the law by speaking publicly about it or bringing concerns to the media.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/information+farm+outbreaks/6657194/story.html#ixzz1vl2RzvRV
Vancouver Province
Ethan Baron
May 22, 2012
B.C.'s Liberal government is poised to further choke off the flow of public information, this time with respect to disease outbreaks. The Animal Health Act, expected to be passed into law by month's end, expressly over-rides B.C.'s Freedom of Information Act, duct-taping shut the mouths of any citizens - or journalists - who would publicly identify the location of an outbreak of agriculture-related disease such as the deadly bird flu.
"A person must refuse, despite the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, to disclose . . . information that would reveal that a notifiable or reportable disease is or may be present in a specific place or on or in a specific vehicle," Section 16 of the Act reads.
It is quite conceivable that the provincial government, in the event of a disease outbreak at a farm, would delay releasing a warning in order to protect the farm in question or the industry it's part of.
In that event, should you as a citizen hear about the outbreak, or if you were an employee at an affected farm, you would be breaking the law by speaking publicly about it or bringing concerns to the media.
Read more: http://www.theprovince.com/news/information+farm+outbreaks/6657194/story.html#ixzz1vl2RzvRV
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