-supporting our BC teachers 100 percent when it comes to the Ministry of Education not providing enough resources for PPE, and not discussing at local level with school boards about protecting teachers and students.
https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/09...s-coronavirus/ https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/09...fear-covid-19/
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – B.C. teachers are already tired, they’re confused, and they’re afraid, according to a former superintendent who says he’s been hearing from educators about their concerns, days into the school year.
This comes after the BC Teachers’ Federation has gone to the Labour Relations Board, trying to force the province to address what it calls “the inequities of working conditions, the haphazard implementation of health and safety measures, and confusing changes in government messages and documents.”
Doug Player, who is a lifelong educator, as well as former professor, says many teachers are already at wits’ end.
“It started with one of my former students calling me and saying she was heartbroken, it’s just so exhausting for her. When I started to talk to other people, I found the new timetable system has things like a five hour philosophy class with the same kids,” he tells NEWS 1130.
“It requires completely different teaching methodologies and the teacher is exhausted after the first day. Or there’s the Grade 8 teacher who has a French class in the afternoon for two hours and 40 minutes. I taught and Grade 8 kids can’t still for 20 minutes.”
A school year like no other
Player says teachers are already feeling the effects of an unusual school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“On top of that, teachers see all these protocols changing, they are getting mixed messages from the ministry and the PHO, within their district they are seeing the breakdown of some of these protocols. It’s wearing them out and we’re not a week in.”
In his blog, Player suggests the “layers of protection” teachers have been promised are already eroded.
“Again the teachers are baffled because, of the four layers indicated by WorksafeBC, number 1: physical distancing has been downgraded; number 2: physical barriers are non-existent; number 3: cleaning protocols vary from place to place; and the fourth: the use of masks is optional for students in the classroom. Is there any wonder why the teachers are baffled?”
How did things get to this point, with students only having been in class less than two full weeks? Player puts the blame squarely on the Ministry of Education.
“The ministry was late to the table in saying you could have remote learning, for example. The local districts could have planned and built that into their programs,” he says. “We didn’t consult with local teachers at the local school level.”
Turn to teachers to help shape protocols
Player feels teachers are the best people to design what will go on in their specific schools.
“They should have been given time in September and they should sure be given some time now because I don’t believe you can keep this system up all year. You’re going to need to make changes, I think, at least in January.”
Player would like to see teachers get the opportunity to sit down in their local schools and provide input on how the system can be improved.
