Dear editor;
My name is Josh Burneau and I am a Grade 11 student in Courtenay, B.C.
Recently, I learned that due to recent government budget cuts, school districts have had to find ways to save money. My school district has laid off over 270 teachers, all teachers hired from 2001-2014. They then posted approximately 150 jobs, meaning that next year, we will be short nearly 120 teachers. With fewer teachers, that means less courses and larger class sizes. Larger class sizes and fewer students mean less learning for the students of B.C. But, you have to remember that both the government and the BC Teachers Union have stated that they are “For the students”.
With fewer classes, it means that it will be more difficult for students to get into post-secondary education. The youth of today are fighting to get into required courses so that we can find careers in the future. With approximately 4,000 students in the Comox Valley, how can we all get into the required classes if we have less of them??
Rumours say that we will have to pay for all paper usage, meaning that all things will have to be handed in electronically. However, as the Internet has shown time and time again, it fails. Computers aren’t perfect, things can get lost a lot easier on a network drive than they can in a file on a teacher’s desk. But keep in mind, this is all for the students.
Fewer teachers, and fewer classes, means more stress on the teachers. With the teachers already on a Phase 1 job action, not preforming any administrative duties, or supervising at recess, I fear a Phase 2 or even a Phase 3 job action. A job action, that to the current Grade 11s, casts a dark cloud over the certainty of their Grade 12 academics, sports, extra-curricular activities, and our grad ceremony. But remember, the B.C. government has said time and time again, that they are “For the Students.”
Josh Burneau
Courtenay