On The Picket Line Once Again

On June 5^th, 2014 the dispute between the provincial government and the British Columbia Teachers Federation continued to go nowhere, as they still have not come together to make an agreement. Headed towards the last few weeks of school, teachers are expected to be voting next week, determining if a full-scale strike should happen. With less than a month left in this school year it is the exams of high school students that are in jeopardy. The B.C. Education Minister, Peter Fassbender assuringly stated that, "We will ensure that every graduate will be able to complete their required exams, they will be marked, as well as the other grades where their exams are critical." The BCTF and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association remain open minded, as they are, “prepared to negotiate 24/7.” Teachers work day in and day out and deserve to stop getting pushed around by the provincial government.

Having been graduated on Monday still seems surreal, as I still have to go to school to write tests and final exams. The dispute between the provincial government and the teachers union, I personally feel is affecting all the students in British Columbia. Due to the strikes, my classes have all been set back a couple days as if we weren’t already behind! I think the provincial government should just give the BCTF what they are asking for so that everything can go back to normal. I remember strikes happening in the past and this isn’t the first time that the BCTF has stricked during my time in the B.C. education system. As much as how everyone wished to not write exams, it is something that is required for everyone to do. Being in the month of June it is already stressful enough that my high school career is coming to and end and that I will be going to university in the fall. I hope that both parties can come to an agreement, much sooner than later as I would like exams to happen and for my teachers to be able to mark them as I know that universities are waiting for most, if not all students final marks in order to make their final decision on our admission. I am hoping that a full-scale strike does not happen as it is my last year of high school and I would really appreciate it to end on a good note.

Article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-teachers-strike-will-students-exams-get-marked-1.2666352
Image: http://images.glaciermedia.ca/polopoly_fs/1.1068001.1400614096!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_563/striking-teachers.jpg