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Letters
Editor: GlEnn MitchEll
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PhonE: 550-7920
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Sunday, September 14, 2014 - The Morning Star A9
E-Mail: letters@vernonmorningstar.com
I just want to go to school
s I write this letter, I am sitting in my school. My school that is one of my favourite places, is now strangely eerie with no kids, teenagers, or teachers inside. The sight of the countless empty halls and classrooms makes me feel abandoned by all of the leaders. Leaders who I thought were supposed to be looking out for me. Those leaders say they care but actions speak louder than words, and their actions scream, “Students are expendable.” In Canada, we pride ourselves on our systems of government, education, health, and standards of living. Why are you not living up to your responsibilities to provide our education? B.C. students are being held hostage during negotiations. When students have a con-
money trouble Recently we have been reading many entries in the letters to the editor concerning the current dispute between the government and the B.C. Teachers Federation. The BCTF is referred to as if it were dictating to the teachers what they should do. The BCTF is a collective representing teachers' interests. It is made up of teachers who have been elected by their colleagues to represent them as a collective group. They do not dictate to the membership what they should do. In my 30-plus years of teaching, I attended many meetings of the BCTF as a representative of Vernon teachers. The BCTF is a professional organization made up of well educated, intelligent people who are there to represent the best interests of the members. The current attitude of the critics who write to the paper seem to miss the point of what is really happening in our society. When one analyzes the criticism, it basically all comes down to money. This is actually only a reflection of the current trend in society where the final arbiter of
flict, they do not get to leave the principals' office until it is resolved. Once resolved they continue to do their job, go to school and learn. Our leaders, who are our role models, are not doing a very good job. They are acting like arguing children by not coming to an agreement. Their behaviour reflects poorly on themselves, it turns them into hypocrites. They are all acting the complete opposite way they teach us to act. The strike and why it is happening can be confusing. We, the students, want an education. We want to go to school. Stop treating us like a bargaining chip in your negotiations. The sooner our leaders live up to their responsibilities, the sooner we can exercise our right to learn. A student
most decisions is money. Unfortunately, this will be the demise of our western society as we know it. Do you remember the riots in New York? The Occupy movement was just the tip of the iceberg of unrest that is building in western society. Our so called free democratic society is being dominated and manipulated by money. Our so called free elections are no longer free because the party with the largest advertising budget can flood the airwaves with propaganda and influence the results. The person who pays the piper calls the tune. As a society, we seem to have become obsessed with money and that has overridden the human values that so often are held up as the shining light of our society. We need to set out our priorities in a clearer fashion and be sure that they are in the correct order for the long-term survival of the human society in which we have such a personal interest. r. David Atkins holD the line This letter is in response to Bjorn Meyer. Thank you to Mr. Meyer for a most informative, well
researched letter concerning the B.C. Teachers Federation and the teachers' strike. When I read your letter, I was delighted that you go back to the days of W.A.C. Bennett. Bennett insisted on paying off our provincial debt and he did. Unlike today, our provincial debt is huge — $65 to $70 billion and growing. And the BCTF and teachers are asking for more? The teachers claim they are on strike for the children's sake, and yes, they would appreciate a raise. I wonder if the teachers accepted, for the children, smaller-sized classrooms and extra help from aids for learning assistance with no increase in salary or benefits, would they? Ten years ago, I retired from a health care facility, working mostly part-time for 20 years. I had no choice but to join the union. During that period of time, there were a few strikes strongly encouraged by the union. After a time, the union and Mr. Campbell, the then-premier, encouraged the staff to settle. In housekeeping, my salary was $16.73 per hour, plus $4 per hour for benefits. Most of the staff were
happy with those wages. But a strike was called for by the powers-that-be in the union. Long story short, the union settled with the government for a $3 per hour less wage cut plus 15 minutes a day added on to our eight hour shifts, unpaid. The moral of this story is to be thankful for what you have. You are very fortunate with your wages, benefits, pensions and holiday time with your own children. I for one want the government to hold the line. Be thankful and let the children praise you for doing what you love to do, teach children by example. r. ellen Condrat fAith restoreD My thanks goes out to all of the people who aided my brother Aug. 1 at Ellison Provincial Park in Vernon. He collapsed as a result of very high blood sugar levels due to diabetes. Thank you to all of the caring, compassionate people who stayed at his side. Thanks to the trained, efficient paramedics who arrived at the scene.
I am grateful to Vernon Jubilee Hospital's competent and caring medical staff. My brother was released from hospital Aug. 4. A huge thank you. Pauline horrock
■ The Morning Star is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, P.O. Box 1356, Ladysmith, B.C. V9G 1A9. For information, phone 888687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org
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