Much to learn about teacher's dispute

I am writing in response to two letter regarding the teacher's strike; Don't accept civil disobedience and Teacher's math doesn't add up.

At first glance it seems our teachers are being selfish asking for a 15% increase in a time of Worldwide financial trouble.  One of my teacher friends showed me some interesting information that the general public is not aware of due to the fact that the BCTF and our media and Government don't tell us the entire truth.

The truth is not all teachers have asked for this pay raise amount.  It was the BCTF President who chose this figure and she also who chose to use the right to strike immediately.  There is a group within the BCTF who seem to be controlling what happens without the approval of the many.

I have three children in the Okanagan school system.  From the very beginning in Pre-school I was a very involved parent, always helping in class.

My oldest in now in Grade 12 and my youngest in Grade 6.  I have seen all teachers I have been involved with working after school, coming in well before 8 a.m. and working through at least half if not more of their supposed Summer Vacation to either finish work from the year or to prepare for the following year.

A teacher's out of pocket expenses for their classrooms is not well known either.  The schools are underfunded and under staffed.  If anyone was to spend the time and go into a classroom and watch what a teacher actually contends with during the course of regular day they would understand how difficult a job it has become.

There are special needs kids, kids with behavioural problems, kids with learning disabilities, kids with no food who can't learn because they are hungry and disruptive; each school has these issues and our teacher are expected to deal with it.

How can anyone give 100% attention to every child in a class that is crowded and obviously has children that need specially trained educators to work with the children who need extra attention.  Each child suffers in this situation.

No teacher becomes a teacher for the money, that is ridiculous.  I know teachers that do not have their own children but are loving people who have wanted to be a teacher since they were little kids themselves.  These are not selfish people, but the kind of people I want educating my kids.

I would like to urge everyone who has a complaint to find out what the real facts are before slamming our teachers.  Without them our kids will not learn and will not have a chance to be productive members of society.  Remember people, our kids are the future leaders of our World.  Is it not prudent to provide them with the kinds of learning environment that will make them strong and confident?

Most of the teachers I know of just want to see smaller classroom sizes, more learning help in their schools for the kids who really need it.  Look at the amount of education a teacher gets in order to become an educator.

We have people running our Province who have far less education than our teachers.  How much money do they make and what are their benefits?  Maybe it's time our Provincial Government took a pay cut and put some money back where it belongs, in our education system.

To everyone else who complains, get your facts straight before you speak and take the time to go help in a classroom.  The teachers would welcome your help, they need it.

Debbie Fortais