I want to put out a last minute call for a very important event happening this Sunday.
The Families
Against Cuts to Education ( FACE), is a province-wide Day of Action,
April 12th-- of parents, students and community members concerned about
the on-going under funding of BC public education.
As
a way of background -- as you know-- we are in the middle of planning
our school budget for next year. This is the time of year where with
the active input of parents and all of the education partner groups, the
district sits down with what our projected enrollment is, what it will
cost to meet the educational needs of those students and compare it with
what the ministry is going to fund us for.
You
probably haven't realized it but for about the last 12 years or so we
have been under funded about 2 million dollars yearly. There is lots of
wonderful information on the district website giving more detail to the
specifics of the budget pressures facing our district. I just want to
simply note that any one can look at the numbers and it is clear that we
have done everything we can to be efficient, creative and lean while
maintaining a high standard of excellence in the classroom.
Our
success and robustness at weathering these challenges so well rests
squarely on the people in our district. That is staff at all levels and
quarters and of course the parents and families of our students. It is
the hard work and dedication in putting our kids first that makes
Saanich such a great district to be a part of.
However,
any system can only function so long under continued stress. My fear
is that if something does not change at the provincial level either in
policy, politics, and or public discourse and opinion we will be hard
pressed to sustain a quality public education system that we have come
to take for granted.
"What can I do?" you ask.
"I
am completely maxed out! the expectations of fund raising at my school
fill every spare moment I have and I am burning out!! It so hard to get
anybody to do anything!"
That dear colleagues
is exactly what I am talking about! You think the requests for fund
raising is brutal now... wait a few more years!!
We
need to stop for a moment and ask why? If every year we just react by
doing more how long is this sustainable? We need to start planning
proactively. We need to tackle some bigger questions beyond Purdy's and
hot lunches. Why is public education important? What are the benefits
of a quality publicly funded education system? Can we afford the true
costs? Can we afford not to pay the true cost? Do we invest in our
future?
Wow -- feeling over whelmed? Depressed?
I have a suggestion -- Lets Play! Lets have picnic! Lets celebrate! ...(finally here it is>>>)
Join Face (FAMILIES AGAINST FUNDING CUTS to EDUCATION) this Sunday at Beacon Hill Park, for a fun Festive Spring Picnic!! (12:30 pm)
In
Victoria, Sunday, April 12th,12:30 pm there will be a festive spring
Picnic ( so bring some food, dishes, cutlery etc) & Press Conference
to Protect Public Education, located at the main playground in Beacon
Hill Park ( adjacent to the public washrooms)
please visit the following link for more info:
Yours for the kids...
James T.
Have a great weekend!