Dear Editor
In response to Keith Baldrey's piece about Bill 11:
As a teacher, I appreciate that Mr. Baldrey took the time to write about some of the ways that Bill 11, introduced by the Liberals, continues to attack the teaching profession and the ability of the elected school trustees to carry out their jobs.
However, I must speak up to explain that his characterization of Pro-D days only feeds the Liberal agenda.
For example: "their mysterious professional development days, which seem to have grown like untended weeds over the years."
Fact: There are six. For as long as I can remember, there have been six. One is for all teachers in the province to meet in their specialist area, one is district-based for all educators to meet, and the remaining four are school-based.
Perhaps the weeds you speak of are the "school closure" days that have been added in most school districts because they can no longer afford to operate those days. On those days no staff attend because they shut down the schools and minutes were added to the "in session" days to make up the instructional time lost.
Every day off is not a Pro-D day. If you, or other parents, are unhappy with the number of days students are not in session then you speak to your MLA about funding those days.
"Few parents have any idea what teachers actually do that constitutes 'professional development' when a Pro D day occurs"
Fact: Few parents care to ask.
The schools are open. Stop in and look. Here is some of what you will find: guest speakers sharing the latest information in a variety of fields related to education; teachers collaborating on new ways to deliver and assess the curriculum; monitoring of new teachers from experienced ones, and new teachers sharing new ideas with veterans; technology uses and upgrading; experts in the fields of psychology and psychiatry sharing how to deal with youth troubles.
This is just to name a few.
"(usually at the beginning or end of the week)."
Fact: This for the parents convenience who want to take a day off or extend a weekend trip. Remember the teachers will be at work. It is not for them.
Ask your PAC to present putting them on a Wednesday if you feel that would be more convenient.
"if they have younger school-age children - of having to scramble to find proper child care with the classroom closed for the day."
Fact: These days are published three years in advance on the district websites so there should be no "scramble." It is not as if they are announced with a week's notice. Do parents "scramble" for other days off from school?
Teachers are proud of their professional standing. They have attended university for five to seven years. They have a professional body that maintains certification. The fact that they take six days a year to continue to improve their teaching skills is a testament to that professionalism, not something that should be scorned.
Many teachers also go to other workshops and courses on their own time, and on their own dime, in order to build and maintain their teaching credentials. Gasp! Some even do it in the summer.
Larry Ryan, Burnaby teacher
