Professional Rights and Responsibility
Claiming professional rights and responsibilities
Current government directions in education have eroded the professional rights and voices of teachers. The BCTF has developed a model for a PD day to promote professional leadership.
BC College of Teachers
The BC College of Teachers, created in 1987 under the Teaching Profession Act, is responsible for issuing teaching certificates and reviewing conduct and competence matters. The members of the college include teachers, vice-principals, principals, directors and superintendents in the public, independent and First Nations school systems in BC. Our college of teachers web page provides more information.
BCTF-endorsed candidates
Active BCTF members are eligible for BCTF endorsation as candidates in the BC College of Teachers’ elections. More…
Ethical conduct
Freedom of speech
Teachers believe that it is their responsibility to push for improved learning conditions within a strong and stable public education system.
Kinzie Decision 2008: Freedom of expression victory
Cranbrook teachers in the Southeast Kootenay School District have won a significant victory in their dispute with the local school board over FSAs. An arbitrator has found that the board clearly violated the teachers’ and their union’s freedom of expression by denying them the right to communicate with parents about the FSA—a standardized test given to Grades 4 and 7 that teachers oppose.
Munroe Decision 2004
School boards attempted to prevent teachers from using school bulletin boards, parent-teacher interviews, and other means to communicate with parents and the public about class sizes, school closures, and non-enrolling teachers.
The BCTF filed a grievance in 2002 and Arbitrator Don Munroe ruled in favour of the union in 2004. The Munroe decision was upheld by the BC Court of Appeal in August 2005. In February 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada denied the employer's application for leave to appeal. It was a win for teachers.