Editor:
Re: District cuts learning-support teachers, May 26.
It was shocking to read that 66 learning-support teaching (LST) positions are being cut.
No matter how complicated the process of reinstating the collective agreement, and despite the superintendent’s explanations, nobody can understand how the Surrey school board cut – rather than increased – service to our most vulnerable.
Children are facing cuts, perhaps due to mismanagement or misinterpretation or both, in how the Supreme Court win is being implemented.
This is unacceptable, and the BCTF is rightfully calling on the new government to intervene. After 16 years and a Supreme Court win, teachers continue to have to fight for their students.
The position of LST was brought in after the teacher contract was gutted. To cope with getting rid of almost 350 specialist teachers, the board amalgamated three positions – learning assistance, special education and ESL – raising caseloads. For years, learning-support teachers were stretched, working with 60-plus children.
Everyone was elated with the restoration of the contract, but now this is short-lived as, unbelievably, the number of LST positions is being reduced. If the board intends to staff special-education positions based on the teachers’ old contract, they must restore the numbers of ESL and resource-room positions.
In the U.S., the education of students with special learning needs is protected by law. In B.C., these children are at the mercy of government and school boards.
Until educational protections become law, these children will be short-changed.
Niovi Patsicakis, Surrey