Dear parents,
The BC Teachers’ Federation is committed to communicating with parents about our public education system. By sharing the stories of teaching and learning about the work we do every day, we hope to highlight important issues facing BC’s schools. We value the insights that parents provide about the learning needs of their children. Many teachers are parents themselves, and all teachers understand how important communication between school and home is to help the students we all care so much about.
Education funding
IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE: The numbers tell
the story
This booklet provides facts about underfunding of public education and other services for BC’s children and youth over the past 15 years. Among the issues addressed are the ever-increasing demands made on parents, including childcare costs, school fees, and constant
fundraising. The message of hope is that together we can make a positive change by supporting candidates in the May provincial election who will commit to the increased, stable investment in quality public education that all BC students and their families deserve.
Privatization of Education in Canada: Funding and Enrollment Trends (May 2016)
This presentation gives an overview of the current state of public funding for private schools in five Canadian provinces, with a focus on funding and enrolment trends in British Columbia.
BCTF Education Funding Brief (Sept 2016)
On September 21 the BCTF submitted a brief with nine recommendations to the Legislative Assembly's Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. In recent years, this committee has recommended significant and stable increases to public education funding in BC. It's
time for the provincial government to address the concerns of many parents, teachers, and students by following the committee’s recommendations.
Fraser Institute, provincial government swing and miss again on education funding (September 2016)
Effectively deals with the myths of “large increases” and “highest funding ever” put forward by the Fraser Institute and the Ministry of Education.
What’s the real story behind BC’s education funding crisis?
(August 2016)
Shows how BC’s public education funding has declined because of deliberate government choices, while more public tax dollars are going to private schools. The article confirms that BC can afford to invest in public education now.
Local school trustees are elected to serve and be responsible to their communities. When provincial governments fire entire school boards, replace them with appointees, and don’t even hold timely elections to allow local voters to have their say, our democratic traditions are undermined.
This short online
resource details the top 10 reasons to maintain local, elected school boards in BC, the challenges that school boards face, and what can you do to help preserve school boards.
This campaign highlights the need for BC to invest in public education. The
brochure (available in 5 languages) explains the major funding challenges faced by BC’s students, teachers, and school districts. Solutions for these issues are offered, as well as suggestions for how everyone concerned about this issue can work together.
Curriculum change
Major changes are currently happening to curriculum in British Columbia’s education system. The BCTF believes that many of these changes are positive, although there remain outstanding concerns.
Read more...
The BCTF has recently created a presentation for parents called "
So We Have a Revised Curriculum: What Does This Mean for My Child?" which can help answer questions such as "Will all learning be personalized?" and "Will this way of learning suit my child?"
Please see the Parent Presentations section below for details on booking procedures.
Parent Presentations
Last year we gave
presentations to about 2,000 parents across the province. These workshops are short—approximately one-hour long. Presentations are available in English and in French. Some are specifically intended for Aboriginal parents. To have one of our trained presenters visit your school, please
fill out the
Parent Presentation Request form.
All BC students and school staff deserve to learn and work in healthy, safe environments. A new
brochure highlights important ongoing health and safety issues in our schools including water and air quality, seismic upgrades, and winter conditions. It provides ideas for those concerned to work together to ensure the ongoing health and safety of our children.
What BC parents need to know about student data and privacy
Concerns and Questions about BC’s Student Information
System and Student Privacy
MyEducation BC is the new $100 million student information system of the Ministry of Education. Its introduction in this school year has seen huge problems, especially with its extremely slow operation. There are also a number of important questions about
what information on students is being collected, and why.
Read more...