The Editor,
The teachers and government have been fighting over wages and class sizes for a few years now. But what has happened over the last few months was unexpected.
When teachers started job action on school days is when it all began. Then, when the teachers were forbidden by their employers from being on school grounds at recess and lunch, and could only be at school 45 minutes before it started and ended, things started to get harder for everyone.
Teachers did not have enough time to grade papers at school and could not coach or supervise clubs. School activities were cancelled and many students missed out on lots of stuff that all the kids in other provinces would be learning.
When school unexpectedly ended in the middle of June, it was upsetting for lots of students. Many things, such as yearbook signing, seemed unlikely.
Now that school still has not started, there are many things I'm afraid of missing, such as: time to learn about different topics, seeing friends and report cards.
At the end of last school year, my school, Kilmer elementary in Port Coquitlam, was one of the schools that did not give out report cards. On Sept. 2, I was supposed to be going into Grade 5, my last year of elementary school, and I was looking forward to being the one of the leaders of the school.
Now, I just wish the teachers and government would be better leaders themselves.
The teachers are on strike because they want a raise, smaller class sizes and more help with special needs students. But the government is standing its ground.
Premier Christy Clark's son goes to private school and some believe this is why she hasn't made an agreement, because it doesn't affect her.
Well, being in public school, it does affect me. In my perspective, nether side is being reasonable. The teachers say they're doing it for the kids but the only thing it's affecting is the kids' learning. The government, however, refuses to make an agreement.
I may not be in school but I've still learned something from the teachers and government in the last few months.
I hope that in the next few weeks, the teachers and government will come to an agreement. Until then, I'll be doing Costco homework books.
Nicole Putnam,
Port Coquitlam
