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Some thoughts on the K-12 education section of the @BCNDP platform.
Short version: this section of the platform is underwhelming.
Here's the longer version
Short version: this section of the platform is underwhelming.
Here's the longer version
The preamble for the K-12 section of the @bcndp platform is positively worded, attempting to draw comparison between their record and that of the previous government.
For folks that work in K-12, though, a couple things jump out right away.
For folks that work in K-12, though, a couple things jump out right away.
First of all, the first paragraph of the preamble makes a big claim that doesn't match reality - that K-12 staff in schools are "now getting the resources they need to give students the education they deserve."
This is a big overstatement.
This is a big overstatement.
It also doesn't acknowledge the wide number of needs that many K-12 staff, parents, and organizations continue to identify.
For example by
1. @bccpac https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/CommitteeDocuments/41st-parliament/5th-session/fgs/submissions/1036-06730.pdf
2. @inclusionBC https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/CommitteeDocuments/41st-parliament/5th-session/fgs/submissions/1036-06740.pdf
3. @BCEdAccess
https://www.leg.bc.ca/documents-data/committees-transcripts/20200616am-Finance-Victoria-Blues#118:0940
For example by
1. @bccpac https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/CommitteeDocuments/41st-parliament/5th-session/fgs/submissions/1036-06730.pdf
2. @inclusionBC https://www.leg.bc.ca/content/CommitteeDocuments/41st-parliament/5th-session/fgs/submissions/1036-06740.pdf
3. @BCEdAccess
https://www.leg.bc.ca/documents-data/committees-transcripts/20200616am-Finance-Victoria-Blues#118:0940
Or the large number of unmet needs identified by @bctf in its June 2020 submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance ( https://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Publications/Briefs/2019EdFundingBudget.pdf) and a follow-up one to government specific to COVID-19 ( https://www.bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Publications/Briefs/EducationFundingBrief2021.pdf).
So the @bcndp platform claim that K-12 staff are "now getting the resources they need to give students the education they deserve" is divorced from reality.
The preamble also makes a reference to class size, which has also occurred in some other @bcndp communications of late.
To be clear: the reason why classes are a bit smaller now in BC schools is not because of anything the @bcndp government initiated.
To be clear: the reason why classes are a bit smaller now in BC schools is not because of anything the @bcndp government initiated.
Class sizes now lower because of:
- teachers' 2016 court win ( https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bctf-wins-supreme-court-battle-over-class-size-and-composition-1.3845620); and
- a March 2017 agreement with previous gov't to implement that court win ( https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-teachers-to-vote-on-agreement-between-union-and-provincial-government/article34211285/).
The @bcndp government came to power after these events.
- teachers' 2016 court win ( https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bctf-wins-supreme-court-battle-over-class-size-and-composition-1.3845620); and
- a March 2017 agreement with previous gov't to implement that court win ( https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-teachers-to-vote-on-agreement-between-union-and-provincial-government/article34211285/).
The @bcndp government came to power after these events.
So, this is one of the reasons why the reference to class size in the preamble is disingenuous.
There are three other reasons that I will mention here. One is that the @bcndp government refused to take any steps to improve class size beyond the court win.
There are three other reasons that I will mention here. One is that the @bcndp government refused to take any steps to improve class size beyond the court win.
The second reason, more startling, was that the @bcndp government allowed concessions to be tabled at the bargaining table that (if accepted and implemented) would have a) undone teachers' court win, and b) made classes larger in many districts as a consequence.
Those concessions were tabled by the employers' association (under the @bcndp's watch!) in April 2019, and did not come off the table until March 2020.
Gov't spokespeople denied the concessions existed at first ( https://globalnews.ca/news/5282862/bc-teachers-contract-concessions/), and downplayed what the effect would be.
Gov't spokespeople denied the concessions existed at first ( https://globalnews.ca/news/5282862/bc-teachers-contract-concessions/), and downplayed what the effect would be.
3rd reason why the reference to class size in the preamble is disingenuous is because nowhere in the promises that follow is there any reference to class size (including helping the handful of districts that don't have gr 4-12 protections), or ensuring no class is above 30.
In other words - the preamble does what the @bcndp has done for the past three years: declare the importance of small classes (as it did while in Opposition), but then take no steps to make improvements.
Now to the promises. The first one is pandemic-related.
But this isn't really a promise for something new the @BCNDP government would do - this money has already been given to school districts, and the bulk of it is federal money provided by the Trudeau government.
But this isn't really a promise for something new the @BCNDP government would do - this money has already been given to school districts, and the bulk of it is federal money provided by the Trudeau government.
Okay - we should all support efforts to address mental health of children, youth, and adult students in schools. But what actual commitment is being made here?
There's no mention of more school counsellors. No plan for comprehensive mental health training for all school staff.
There's no mention of more school counsellors. No plan for comprehensive mental health training for all school staff.
Also, why is the platform's only reference to students with special needs contained in a section about mental health.
Why there? And why only there?
Why there? And why only there?
Students with special needs need timely access to a range of supports, specific to their disability and unique profile. SLPs, occupational therapy, specialist teacher support, School Psychologists, Education Assistants, specialized equipment, etc. - none of which are mentioned.
And having a disability does not necessarily mean that one also needs support with mental health.
So I'm not sure why the two are conflated here.
So I'm not sure why the two are conflated here.
It is important, though, to ensure that students have greater access to more School Counsellors and other direct, ongoing mental health supports in schools. But that doesn't seem to be what is meant by this platform commitment.
Specific commitments needed in @bcndp platform about mental health. And specific commitments needed regarding students with disabilities.
Failure to do both is an abdication of responsibility - and ignores the many recommendations from #bced organizations linked earlier above.
Failure to do both is an abdication of responsibility - and ignores the many recommendations from #bced organizations linked earlier above.
This is a short-term, pandemic-related promise. I understand why it's here.
One might question why this route rather than expand opportunities in public Distributed Learning programs, which are best positioned to provide the pedagogical approach for online learning.
One might question why this route rather than expand opportunities in public Distributed Learning programs, which are best positioned to provide the pedagogical approach for online learning.
The @bcndp should be commended for its investments in new schools, seismic upgrades, and building maintenance. This has been a big accomplishment over past few years.
More to do, yes. And area standards for school buildings need updating. But very good progress.
More to do, yes. And area standards for school buildings need updating. But very good progress.
What's not acknowledged here, though, is that 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 funding has not meaningfully improved under @bcndp.
BC continues to have one of the worst per-student funding in Canada. That has consequences for what happens inside schools, limiting students' opportunities.
BC continues to have one of the worst per-student funding in Canada. That has consequences for what happens inside schools, limiting students' opportunities.
Yes, operational funding has gone up in terms of $ total. Enrolment is going up, and therefore so does $ total.
But, @bcndp has taken previous government's "highest funding ever" soundbyte rather than enacting a plan to finally start to catch up with other provinces.
But, @bcndp has taken previous government's "highest funding ever" soundbyte rather than enacting a plan to finally start to catch up with other provinces.
This has been discussed for a while. It will be interesting to see what is done with it. It's definitely a good idea.
This is similar to a commitment in the 2017 @bcndp platform.
It's an important one. They have done some good work here. Clearly a ways to go, though.
It's an important one. They have done some good work here. Clearly a ways to go, though.
This one is also a repeat from the 2017 platform.
Unlike the previous one, though, nothing was ever done with it.
Other @bctf representatives and I brought this up with the Minister of Education and his staff several times on this during 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Unlike the previous one, though, nothing was ever done with it.
Other @bctf representatives and I brought this up with the Minister of Education and his staff several times on this during 2017, 2018, and 2019.
The words "targeted investments" jump out at me in this particular promise, as sometimes those words are used as euphemisms for "we aren't actually going to spend much" or "there's some year-end money, let's spend it."
Without some detailed costing here, it's hard to know.
Without some detailed costing here, it's hard to know.
And that's it for the education platform.
Seven promises, and some value signaling in a preamble that will read differently to different people.
Seven promises, and some value signaling in a preamble that will read differently to different people.
One last part of the platform to mention - and that's the reference to education near the end of the document.
It's a nice statement that sets out an important principle, one that we should expect government to hold.
It's a nice statement that sets out an important principle, one that we should expect government to hold.
Unfortunately, based on the bargaining experience, I can't count on @bcndp not cutting public services - despite what is stated in the platform's conclusion.
And the "whatever it takes" phrase regarding protecting people in the pandemic... I'm sure others have thoughts on that.
And the "whatever it takes" phrase regarding protecting people in the pandemic... I'm sure others have thoughts on that.
Overall, it's a very thin set of commitments for education.
The @bcndp could have included any number of low-cost or no-cost commitments to make it more appealing, but chose not too. That's unfortunate.
The @bcndp could have included any number of low-cost or no-cost commitments to make it more appealing, but chose not too. That's unfortunate.
They could have included, for example:
a) discontinuing the FSA (like @bcndp committed in 2013 platform and in the years that followed);
b) a provincial strategy to address racism in K-12;
c) a commission or some sort of public dialogue on a vision for K-12 over next 20-30 years;
a) discontinuing the FSA (like @bcndp committed in 2013 platform and in the years that followed);
b) a provincial strategy to address racism in K-12;
c) a commission or some sort of public dialogue on a vision for K-12 over next 20-30 years;
d) following-through on various education policy discussions (like any number of things related to inclusion, privacy, or undoing previous govt's Bill 11, which @bcndp criticized while in Opposition https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/news/b-c-to-regulate-teacher-professional-development/)
e) expanding free Adult Education tuition and access;
e) expanding free Adult Education tuition and access;
f) carrying out a plan to ensure more SLPs, OTs, school psychologists, and other important professionals for students with disabilities are available in all 60 school districts;
g) increasing support for Indigenous components of curriculum;
g) increasing support for Indigenous components of curriculum;
h) deepening the K-12 system's efforts in implementing all of the education-related recommendations of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada - including #57, which calls for anti-racism training for all public servants.
