The government’s proposal to pay parents $40 each day per child under the age of 13 until there is a signed agreement with teachers is yet another tactic consistent with the devious and undermining attack that education has been undergoing for the last 20 years in this province.
Considering Premier Christy Clark’s initial wish of shackling teachers with a 10-year contract, this $40-a-day bribe to parents is consistent with the intent that was outset from the start – to systematically undermine teachers and compromise the education of our children. At this point, it is critical that parents not be deceived for this cash grab, as doing so would enable the government to buy the support of parents, further alienate teachers, and most importantly, sell the education and future of your children.
By dangling the carrot to parents, it clearly reveals that the government is quite desperate and will take indiscriminate measures to prolong this strike. If there were any merit in the government’s proposal, they would instead channel this energy and funding into improving the quality of education in this province and work towards a contract with teachers, not trying to desperately buy the support of the public.
Parents, ask yourself: If teachers didn’t fight for better education in this province, what would the quality of education that your child is getting look like?
Clearly, teachers alone will not be enough in this struggle. It is up to us parents to reach out to our local MLAs, to rally, to voice our plea for a brighter future.
Lucky Virk