Little Lies and Political Spin

I listen to the radio and I hear them. I open my local newspaper and I read them. I can't get away from them. What am I talking about? I am of course talking about the BC Governments facts about Bill 22 and their "Education Plan."  Why would the BC government bother with the truth when they have their "facts."  I have already posted the BCTF's rebuttal to these facts, but I am finding it increasingly alarming how often these little lies are being repeated. One of the most ridiculous of these lies they call facts is that class size limits are going to remain in effect. Last week Education Minister George Abott incredulously announced that School Boards would be paying teachers who have classes over 30 more money ( money would be paid for each student over 30).  Please explain to me how there can be class size limits if they are already planning for classes over 30. Apparently George Abbot has not heard about my husband's idea of putting all Grade 4 students in the province in  BC PLACE and hire one teacher. THINK of the cost savings!!!!!!

 If the government was truly being honest they would have to say that the entire motivation behind Bill 22 and the non- attempt at contract negotiations was to control teachers and discredit the BCTF. Now, I am sure that wouldn't make them sound as good as making the teachers sound like unreasonable, greedy, lazy people who CLEARLY don't know what it takes to make a sound education plan. Why would a group of people who spend a minimum of 5 years in University with one of those years entirely dedicated to learning sound educational principles know anything about education?  Not to mention the fact that many of us ( myself included) have spent 2  or more years further studying research and theories behind educational principles.  But of course how many years we all went to school is a moot point because the motivation for all of these ads is clearly not to make a better public education system. The motivation is control. They want to be able to change things as they see fit. They don't want to have to deal with contracts and the rights teachers have collectively bargained in the past. I wonder what would happen if we gave private sector businesses who deal with unions the right to strip contracts as they see fit.

Clearly the BC governments budget for advertising is large. Obviously, it is bigger than what they intend to spend on raises.  It is almost like they are campaigning against the BCTF. Instead of campaigning against the NDP and BC Conservatives they are wasting our valuable tax dollars trying to convince, me, you and everyone else that teachers are the problem in our education system.  If they could only convince everyone in BC, they would surely be elected for yet another term.  Here is some news for you BC Liberals. WE DON'T WANT YOUR JOB.  We WANT YOU TO DO YOURS.  And your job, by the way, is NOT to contradict labour laws, ignore Supreme Court Rulings and basically attempt to crush unions in BC as a means to get the conservative vote that  may be switching to supporting the BC Conservative Party.
The irony of these ads is that the government presents them as "the truth." I am saddened that many will believe them, and many won't even care to read into the political spin. Mostly, though, I am sad that my children will be entering school at a time when our government's priorities are controlling teachers  instead of enhancing education.

Ministry of Education "Facts"

Get your facts straight—BCTF rebuttal to Ministry of Education ‘Facts’

The left column of the table shows the statements made by the Ministry of Education in the Information Bulletin, March 3, 2012 titled BCTF Claims and Facts.

The right column of the table shows the BCTF response to each of the ministry ‘fact’ statements. Ministry of Education statements from Information Bulletin March 3, 2012	BCTF Response to ministry ‘facts’
Claim: 700 fewer Special Needs teachers FACT: 2,100 additional special needs teaching assistants in B.C. classrooms.	BCTF analysis of ministry data shows that since 2001-02 there are: 2,601 fewer FTE teachers, including a loss of 752 FTE Special Education teachers 2,029 more FTE Education Assistants in all programs, including Special Education Education assistants replacing teachers is not adequate for special needs students.
Claim: Ninth-best paid in Canada FACT: B.C. teachers' salary plus benefits is fourth-best among provinces.	BCTF uses current salary figures (2011-12) for Category 5 and Category 6 from salary grids in teacher collective agreements across Canada. Based on this comparison: The maximum salary for a BC teacher with Category 5 qualifications ranks 9th in Canada, including the provinces and territories. Based on provinces only, the rank shifts to 6th among the ten provinces. BCPSEA uses out-dated data and manipulates the rankings by comparing a teacher at Category 4 salary with fewer qualifications, in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec, to a BC teacher with Category 5 qualifications.
Claim: Seniority eroded under Bill 22—Education Improvement Act FACT: Seniority remains key factor but qualifications also considered. Math teachers teaching Math; Science teachers teaching Science.	Existing contracts already provide for qualifications and experience to be considered first, before seniority.
Claim: Contract demands are reasonable FACT: A 15 per cent wage increase at a cost of $2 billion is completely unreasonable, given the current economic reality.	The ministry is exaggerating the cost of a salary increase by five times the actual cost. Even BCPSEA estimates the cost of a 15% salary increase over 3 years at $431 million, according to their February 27, 2012 Information Sheet. Teachers across Canada have negotiated salary increases to cover the cost of inflation. Why is it only the BC government that claims they cannot afford a cost of living increase for teachers?

Get your facts straight—BCTF rebuttal to Ministry of Education ‘Facts’

The left column of the table shows the statements made by the Ministry of Education in the Information Bulletin, March 3, 2012 titled BCTF Claims and Facts.

The right column of the table shows the BCTF response to each of the ministry ‘fact’ statements. Ministry of Education statements from Information Bulletin March 3, 2012	BCTF Response to ministry ‘facts’
Claim: Eliminated class sizes FACT: Class-size caps on all grades with exceptions made by principals and superintendents.	Bill 22: Removes the involvement of teachers in the organization of their classes by repealing the requirement for teacher consultation. Ensures larger classes in Grades 4 to 7 because it removes the previous requirement of teacher consent. Removes parent involvement in the organization of classes by repealing the requirement that the principal consult with parent councils about class size at the beginning of the school year. Eliminates public transparency and accountability by repealing the requirement that the superintendent provide a report to school trustees in a public meeting about class sizes in the district.
Claim: Reject net-zero wage mandate FACT: 130 net-zero contracts signed. 25,000 CUPE employees signed net zero contracts.	Between November 2010 and July 2011, BC Bargaining Settlements Bulletins shows 36 municipal and federal public sector settlements in BC with annual wage and salary increases ranging from 1% to 3% for 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Claim: Teachers have not been fairly compensated FACT: Teachers received a 16 per cent wage increase; $3,700 signing bonus for their last contract.	If BC teachers do not receive a salary increase for 2011–12, a Vancouver teacher at maximum salary (Cat. 5) will earn: $13,529 less than an elementary teacher in Toronto, $14,463 less than a secondary teacher in Ottawa, $21,001 less than a teacher in Edmonton
Claim: 12,000 overcrowded classes FACT: Of 65,000 classes, fewer than 1,500 have more than 31 students. Fewer than 600 have more than 33 - most of these are band, choir and theatre.	Bill 22 removes: The limit of three students designated with special needs per class. The right of teachers to be consulted about classes with more than 30 students. Class size issues need to put in the context of class composition – the more complex the needs of students, the more difficult it is to meet the needs of all students, especially when classes are over-crowded. Ministry statistics show: 3,627 Grade 4 to 12 classes with more than 30 students in 2010-11. 12,240 classes exceeded the legislated limit of 3 designated special needs students in 2010-11.