Letter to the Trustees by Martina Wikison

Dear Trustees of the Board of Education:

Thank you for writing a letter to Minister Fassbender and Mr. Iker regarding the current state of negotiations. Public education is suffering and the situation has become very difficult for all who are involved. I also sincerely hope that a mediator will be found to help resolve this dispute.

I have taken some time to read through Successful Governance to gain a better understanding of a school trustee's role and of the guiding principles. Under the "Provincial Context" section, it states the following principle that "Public education in Canada has been the great equalizer. Public education has been the means by which people of diverse languages, cultures and social and economic circumstance have been integrated into Canadian society with some reasonable aspirations to equality of opportunity." Furthermore, it states that "our commitment to public education - open and available to all members of our society - is the key element in shaping the way our society has evolved and will continue to change." It also states that "Public education in Canada is a provincial responsibility."

Keeping these principles in mind, I submit to you that public education in British Columbia is being threatened by government policies that have illegally reduced funding, increased class sizes and decreased support for all students, whether they are average, gifted, or in need of specialized support. When a family must wait two or more years for their child to receive psychoeducational testing because they cannot afford to pay for it privately, their child suffers greatly. When children do not receive adequate support from their classroom teacher because there are too many students and needs, those children suffer. Public education as "the great equalizer" is under threat. The current government has distanced itself from its "provincial responsibility" for public education.

According to Successful Governance, I understand the challenging role of school trustees to maintain constructive working relationships with the district, community, and government. However, the very principles upon which your jobs are founded, public education for all, are at risk. I challenge you to stand up for public education! I challenge you to speak to the media regarding the inadequate funding you must allocate every year. I challenge you to visit teachers on the picket lines to show that you also believe in education as "the great equalizer."

Yes, our students are worth it! I believe a negotiated agreement will be obtained much faster if groups such as yours stand up for better funding for public education. I look forward to your response.

Respectfully submitted,

Martina Wilkison