It is of some irony to Al Klassen that his term as president of the Richmond Teachers’ Association began the same year the BC Liberal Party took power for what would be a 16-year tenure, often marked with ill blood between the very workers he’s tasked to advocate for.
Now, Klassen, 61, is retiring and set to see the BC Liberals lose power in Victoria.
“It was interesting to see this come full circle,” said Klassen.
For 16 years, Klassen has stood at the forefront of Richmond’s news scene for education matters. He is leaving the post for newly-elected president Liz Baverstock, the present RTA vice-president.
Klassen entered teaching only after giving construction and ironwork a swirl as a young adult. At 37, he started teaching at Burnett secondary. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to join the RTA executive and by 2001 he was the president. Little would he know the impact an upstart politician named Christy Clark would have on his career.
In 2002, Minister of Education Clark stripped the right of teachers to bargain for class size and composition. A 15-year court battle, complemented by numerous labour disputes, ensued between the government and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation — for which the RTA is an affiliate.
Klassen said he’s always been proud that Richmond’s education stakeholders (district administrators, CUPE workers, trustees, teachers, parents and students) have worked well together through the turmoil.
“We created a culture of education,” said Klassen.
He said all trustees recognized that adequate funding was the main priority. It had to be, said Klassen, should classrooms have to evolve technologically and no student be left behind academically.
This month, “I told the board that advocacy is great, but I have to tell you, the Supreme Court was better. Everyone got it; there was gentle laughter out of it,” he said.
It was a rare affable moment amidst years of funding cuts. After all, said Klassen, “We had a whole generation of kids who had less support, less funding, less teacher help.”
Also leaving the RTA, after 30 years, will be retiring secretary, Cathy Hammerschmidt.
“She kept me on task and made sure I got things done,” said Klassen, who also spoke highly of Baverstock.
“She’s a great chemistry teacher. She has a great analytical mind and is tough and tenacious . . . Importantly, she knows that to find a compromise is the best solution.”
