Summer homework for parents

As the 2008-09 school year comes to an end, teachers across B.C. are urging all parents to start thinking about September and the challenges facing our public education system next year.

School districts across the province are grappling with unprecedented funding shortfalls that will lead to reduced services, larger class sizes, more school closures, and a lack of support for children with special needs.

In difficult economic times like these, it is even more important to invest in public education and B.C.’s students. Unfortunately, the provincial government continues to underfund B.C.’s school districts.

Across B.C., 34 districts had their budgets frozen in 2009 even though fixed costs like negotiated contracts, transportation, and utilities keep rising.

The result will be cuts to classrooms, fewer support staff for children with special needs, and new fees for the basics.

Some districts will begin charging already financially stretched families to send their children to school on the bus.

The BC Teachers’ Federation, in consultation with our local associations, estimates more than 550 teaching positions will be lost over the summer.

Such a significant reduction in teachers will mean larger class sizes and less support for individual students.

Last year, B.C. had more overcrowded classes than ever before and it is only going to get worse in 2009-10.

This summer, please contact your newly elected MLA and the new minister of education, Margaret MacDiarmid, who are all getting ready for a new provincial budget on Sept 1.

Tell them to put an end to the disruptive cutbacks and improve funding for public education.

Irene Lanzinger, president

BC Teachers’ Federation

Kudos for Instant Replay

My name is Bev Montgomery and I am writing to you about Len Corben’s Instant Replay article – “Revenge at Callister Park” – which was in The Outlook’s May 7 edition. This article was primarily about the Capilano Thunderbirds, a young soccer team from the late 1950s and 60s that was coached by Alan Hird, my father. As a young girl (I was very young!), I distinctly remember so many of the wonderful memories you mentioned and definitely several of the players.

I understand that you and my dad did try to correspond about the article but were unsuccessful, but fortunately players like Greg Lardeur and George Shaw assisted you with excellent details and that unbelievable photo.

Needless to say, my dad was thrilled.

Furthermore, since the article was published, he has been in touch with no less than four of the players from that team, most of whom he hasn’t seen in over 40 years.

Apparently there has been discussion amongst the players about organizing a reunion in the near future.

My main purpose for writing to you is to thank Len Corben for the thoroughly researched and endearing article, but more importantly to thank him for the joy and elation you brought to my dad’s life.

It is what memories are all about.

Bev Montgomery (nee Hird)

North Vancouver