News Bulletin
For Immediate Release

August 10, 2005

BCSPE encourages parents to join teachers in speaking out on public education issues

VANCOUVER — The recent BC Court of Appeal decision reinstating the right of teachers to communicate with parents about public education issues should serve as a reminder to parents that they too should be advocating for a fully funded, quality public education system, according to the BC Society for Public Education (www.bcspe.ca).

Patricia Fahrni, a director of the Vancouver-based, parent-run BCSPE, says issues such as class sizes, support services and learning resources should concern all parents. “We encourage parents to speak out on education issues and make their voices heard to their school boards, their MLAs and the news media,” says Fahrni.

Fahrni adds that the BC Court of Appeal ruling can be viewed as an excellent opportunity for parents and teachers to work together to ensure the learning needs of every child are met in the public school system.

“Our society benefits when children are supported in school, and we all pay the costs when the needs of our students aren’t met,” adds Fahrni.

For more information on the public education advocacy work of the BCSPE, go to www.bcspe.ca.

BCSPE is a not-for-profit society of parents concerned about the effects of underfunding on public education.