The Editor,
I keep hearing government representatives referring to the Learning Improvement Fund as if it is some kind of resolution to the class size and composition problem. They seem confused as to why teachers aren't appreciative of this fund.
They don't mention the fact that the Learning Improvement Fund (LIF) is not funding that is reliable, predictable or stable. Nor do they mention that the LIF has to be approached like a grant application.
Teachers and administrators use precious time to collect data and attend meetings to plead their cases in an attempt to get maybe half the funding that they need. And then, they're supposed to feel lucky that they got any funding at all?
And they always have to remember that the LIF is NOT to replace staffing that has been cut - they have to be careful not to even allude to that fact while doing their best to show that their students have legitimate needs.
And the government is wondering why teachers aren't happy with the Learning Improvement Fund?
Helen Boulanger, Coquitlam
