Public Opinion Survey Makes Headlines

Read our Chair’s comments on the state of education in Vancouver.

Public education in jeopardy in Vancouver
Some say that potential budget cuts to Vancouver’s public schools will stretch the system to a breaking point.
By Carlito Pablo
The Georgia Straight | April 29, 2010

Since its release on April 21, 2010 our Public Education Public Opinion Survey has been making headlines across BC.

Here are a few links:

The message is clear: Public education matters
Victoria should increase funding as local boards struggle to fund vital programs like music
Op ed by Catherine Evans
The Vancouver Sun | April 28, 2010

Province should boost public-school funding
The B.C. Society for Public Education recently commissioned a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion to find out what people think about public school funding.
Letter by Catherine Evans
Times Colonist | April 24, 2010

British Columbians back school trustees in fight for more funding
Almost 80 per cent of residents want more money for public schools, poll shows
By Janet Steffenhagen
The Vancouver Sun | April 23, 2010

People want more public school funding: poll
Non-profit parent group paid for survey
By Naoibh O’Connor
Vancouver Courier | April 23, 2010

Poll finds most want more funding for public schools
B.C. Society for Public Education asks whether private schools should receive public funding
By Evan Kelly
News 1130 | Apr 23, 2010

Education funding sparks widespread protests
By Crawford Kilian
The Tyee Online | April 22, 2010

Permalink | April 28, 2010

BC Education Coalition

The BC Education Coalition is an ad hoc website run by public education advocate, Dawn Steele, with assistance from BCSPE board member, Helesia Luke.

This website is a repository of information about the funding shortfalls facing school districts throughout BC in 2010-2011. It is also a source of information about citizen-led advocacy and strategies.

You can also find the BC Education Coalition on Twitter at ’stopk12cuts’ and on Facebook. Over 4,000 people have joined this Facebook group to date.

Permalink | April 20, 2010

Join the Call for Education Funding

February 2010

The BC public school system is facing an unprecedented funding crisis. Much of this funding crisis is caused by costs that have been mandated, but not paid for, by the provincial government.

These cost include

• increases for teacher salaries and benefits under contracts that the province negotiated;
• new provincial carbon tax and carbon offset charges;
• increases to provincial MSP and WCB premiums;
• implementation costs of new provincial requirements like Bill 33 and all-day kindergarten; and
• general inflation, which the provincial funding formula also does not cover.

The BC school district secretary-treasurers anticipate a $300 million funding shortfall for BC school districts this year to maintain status quo. In Vancouver, this year’s budget shortfall is estimated to be between 19 and 33 million dollars.

BC Budget Day is March 2, so it’s urgent that BC MLAs hear from as many people as possible before that date if we want to avert unprecedented cuts to our public schools! The BC Society for Public Education is urging citizens to take action and write to your MLA about cuts to public education.

Visit www.stopeducationcuts.org to find a sample letter and more information about how funding cuts will effect schools throughout BC.

Permalink | February 15, 2010

October 28 Provincial Day of Action

18 locations are now confirmed for MOMs October 28 Provincial Day of Action.

There are 18 actions planned across the province, from Sooke to Prince George, and from Mayne Island to Invermere, with many stops in between. But some local groups are very small and they urgently need your support!  Please help send a strong message to Victoria!

We must send a strong message to Premier Campbell about reversing childrens cuts and honouring his promises to build the best system of supports in Canada for BC’s children with special needs.

Visit the MOMs Website for information and find the protest location in your community.

Get the word out

Share this notice widely and contact MomsOnTheMove(at)telus.net if you wish to add another location or join one listed !

See you on the 18th!

Permalink | October 26, 2009

Lost in the Shuffle — A New Report Released on October 1, 2007

A groundbreaking new report on the state of homeless children in the education system was released by the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto and Aisling Discoveries Child and Family Centre. Lost in the Shuffle shows how thousands of homeless children each year are needlessly slipping through the cracks of Toronto’s education system — and how to prevent this from happening.

http://www.socialplanningtoronto.org/

Permalink | October 1, 2007

When Should a Kid Start Kindergarten?

By ELIZABETH WEIL
Published: June 3, 2007
New York Times

This article examines the implications of a child’s school start age on achievement as measured by standardized testing. The author includes some interesting information about education trends in the U.S. resulting from the pressure on children and schools to ‘perform’.

…when the 22 kindergartners entered Jane Andersen’s class at the Glen Arden Elementary School near Asheville, N.C., one warm April morning, each brought with her or him a snack and a unique set of gifts and challenges, which included for some what’s referred to in education circles as “the gift of time”.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/magazine/03kindergarten-t.html

Permalink | October 1, 2007