Dear parents of B.C. kindergarten class of 2017.
Welcome to the school system. What an exciting journey to be starting!
Welcome to class size and composition that honours your child as a learner.
I hope your school years are rich with dedicated educators, current text books, a desk for every student, resources and technology your child requires.
May you get the services and interventions your child needs and deserves. May the school building your child learns in be safe and healthy.
Do not take these things for granted.
These things that will seem normal to you have been won back for you at a very high price.
My daughter started kindergarten as the province sued the teachers and her entire school career was marked with cutbacks, disappearing educators and services, deteriorating buildings and resources. The stress of these last 12 years on teachers and learners cannot even be calculated.
We have lost some wonderful teachers, as well as some children who got lost on wait lists or in classes of 30.
What you have today as you start is what my daughter should have had. But do not think this is an investment in education — this is simply the government paying back what it owes, not because it wants to but because it was forced to by the Supreme Court — it’s not new funding. Don’t be afraid to demand more!
Things cost more now, the needs in the classroom have changed, a new curriculum needs new resources, dangerous buildings are not OK. You must advocate for what you need — for what your child’s teacher needs — they both deserve us, the taxpayers and voters of B.C. to have their backs.
This is your education — welcome and best wishes.
Nicky Byrnes
Richmond
