A8 TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2010 THE TIMES
Opinion
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Celebrate grad safely T
The Abbotsford/Mission Times newspaper is a division of Canwest Publishing Inc.We’re published Tuesdays and Fridays from 30887 Peardonville Rd., Abbotsford, B.C. ◗ PUBLISHER
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◗ Opinion
What’s next in our schools?
A
re big changes to our public education system just around the corner? Speculation is growing in the wake of the B.C. Liberal government’s fight with the Vancouver school board that something new is coming. Certainly, the B.C. Liberals have spent years talking about the need for change in the K-12 system. Pretty well every throne speech contains language suggesting significant change is on the way. But aside from the introduction of all-day kindergarten, nothing particularly revolutionary has occurred in the education system. The Liberals made a big fuss unveiling such things as the “learning roundtable” and “teachers’ congress” but they don’t seem to have had much lasting impact on things. For possible clues on what may be coming, I dusted off this year’s throne speech and re-read the section on public education. Certainly, the language in that speech does suggest something is in the works. “Government will take steps to renew and revitalize education,” the speech stated, adding that a “new emphasis will be placed on parental involvement.” The speech also stated that “new forms of schools will be developed to provide greater choice and diversity.” I suppose these promises can be read as so much empty government rhetoric. On the
KEITH BALDREY
From the Ledge other hand, given the evident frustration over the conduct of the Vancouver school board the language can also be seen as suggesting provocative change. Part of the backdrop here is the often testy relationship between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. Liberal government. Gordon Campbell is married to a long-time former school principal, and anyone who knows a school principal knows the frustrations many of them feel when it comes to dealing with teachers (in terms of the rigid control the BCTF exerts over the workplace). So he’s had years to become familiar on that front. Another important factor to consider here is the recent report by the province’s comptroller-general on the Vancouver school board’s financial situation. Comptroller-general Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland portrays the Vancouver school board as operating within a governance model that is largely controlled by the employees who work for it (i.e. teachers and CUPE support staff workers). As a result, flexibility and the ability to change policies are greatly hampered. While there has been a lot
of attention paid to the war of words between Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and VSB chair Patti Bacchus, a key phrase from the minister has been overlooked. She has talked about the need for a new “governance model” and how she will develop one soon. A new model is going to have a more profound impact on our system than closing a few schools or squabbling over a school board’s budget. So what, exactly, is the B.C. Liberal government up to? It can be argued that the B.C. Liberals, given their very low standing in the polls, do not have the political credibility or muscle to carry out big changes on any front. But they wouldn’t be the first government to go down swinging over an issue it considers important enough. Oh, and have I mentioned the BCTF will soon enter negotiations for a new contract? The teachers’ union has said it won’t accept a wage freeze like other public sector unions, so a fight is brewing on that front as well. Perhaps that’s the one thing – a contract battle with teachers — that won’t change in education. But it sure seems likely that “21st century learning” means other changes are on the way. ■ Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC. Contact him at KBaldrey@globaltv.com.
his can be a tough time of year for young drivers. There are many dangerous temptations around graduation time. Spirits are high at the “coming of age” that graduation represents, creating a heady atmosphere that tends to weigh down on gas pedals and push toward exuberant speeds. It’s also tempting to fortify those high spirits with alcohol – something that was not long ago considered a natural rite of passage. Statistics show that teens still represent a significant portion of alcohol-related problems on our roadways. While less than seven per cent of drivers are between 16 and 20 years of age, they were responsible for 15 per cent of all alcohol-related crashes in 2007, and the vast majority of those were 17 and 18 years old – prime graduating age. Only the 21 to 25 age group had a higher representation within the crash statistics that year. And as we’re pointing to the graduation theme, it probably will be no surprise to learn that June is the worst month of the year for alcohol-related crashes. We don’t want to be a drag on graduation celebrations. Quite the contrary, we’d like to see every last grad make it through the month, through the summer, and deep into the rich and interesting future that should await them. That’s why we applaud any and all students who work towards dry grads and safe celebrations. By all means celebrate – graduation is an important milestone along the road through life. But there are many more and possibly greater milestones ahead for those who have the sense to temper their celebrations with a bit of responsibility.
■ To comment on this editorial, e-mail us at letters@abbotsfordtimes.com.
◗ Your view Last week’s question: Should Abbotsford’s board of education explain why they lost secretary-treasurer Mark Lee a week after the budget, and only 10 months after his hiring? 8% a.] No – their relationship with staff is none of our business.
61 % b.] Yes – a huge amount of taxpayer money is involved.
31%
c.] They should but they won’t. This board hides too much.
This week’s question: Is the G8/G20 summit a huge waste of Canadian taxpayer dollars? a.] No. It’s vital to global economic stability. b.] Yes. Why should we be on the hook for this political party? c.] Don’t know, don’t care. Still: a fake lake? That’s a bit much.
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