White Rock - The Editor, The current impasse between the teachers and the province reminds me of my experiences during the 1990s and early 2000s advocating for adults with severe mental illnesses - two outwardly appearing as rational parties taking w
White Rock - The Editor, The current impasse between the teachers and the province reminds me of my experiences during the 1990s and early 2000s advocating for adults with severe mental illnesses - two outwardly appearing as rational parties taking what are plainly out-of-touch-with-reality bargaining positions, made worse by both sides not basing their objectives on neutrally-established service-delivery criteria.The establishment of an impartial, permanent, provincial public education standards authority (PPESA) for B.C.'s K-12 public schools is badly needed. Terms of reference would include setting standards for class sizes, the number of special-needs students and classroom assistants per class, paid prep-work time for teachers, et cetera.In order to insulate a PPESA from improper interference, it would best be established under the impartial aegis of B.C.'s Lieutenant Governor.Once established, a PPESA's education standards should be evaluated and updated on a regular basis through a transparent and inclusive consultative process involving representatives of the main stakeholders: teachers, the education ministry and parents, with avenues for taxpayer input as well.B.C.'s auditor general or a similar financial watchdog should be tasked with projecting the annual costs of delivering K-12 education - based upon the PPESA's standards - while factoring in potential salary levels for teachers and other provincial school districts' employees.Then, during future contract talks, both sides would know the potential costs, so they would, hopefully, be obliged to act responsibly and come to agreements before putting the interests of B.C.'s children at risk.Roderick V. LouisWhite Rock
