YOUR PERSPECTIVE: Chilliwack Teachers’ Association responds to new MLA with a call for education accountability
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Chilliwack Teachers’ Association (CTA) President Reid Clark acknowledges the recent election of Heather Maahs to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Our democratic institutions are important and strong, and while we don’t always agree with one another, we know that collaborative and collegial relationships are key to delivering meaningful services to students in the public education system. We welcome her commitment to public service and hope there are areas in which we can work together.
While we remain optimistic that collaboration is possible, we think it necessary to highlight the challenges ahead, and we implore her take a real look at what BC schools need to thrive and to be accountable to the thousands of students in her riding who deserve excellence in education. The question is, what is excellent education? Ms. Maahs’ extensive political career and her alignment with certain political parties, which have a long history of supporting significant cuts to public education through repeated budget reductions and policy decisions that have undermined the quality, accessibility, and reputation of education in our province, warrant a thorough critique.
In her most recent piece, she did not speak to her multiple censures as a school trustee in the district, her opposition to the expression and protection of rights afforded Canadians under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and her dismissive and rhetorical condemnation of the good work done by teachers and school staffs across the province. For many years, the CTA has asked Ms. Maahs to be an advocate for public education in her role of trustee, to assess the needs of the District, and to advocate for what students and families deserve. We hope that in this new role she’ll do more than provoke and criticize and instead commit to working with those of us who have spent our lives supporting students.
Over the past many year schools have faced closures, classrooms have become overcrowded, and essential resources for both teachers and students have dwindled. These consequences are not merely numbers in a budget—they represent missed opportunities and compromised futures for the children of our province. What does Ms. Maahs have to say about the shortage of Inclusive Education Support Workers whose role it is to assist the most vulnerable students in our schools and ensure equitable access to learning opportunities? What are her thoughts about how to recruit and retain teaching professionals including counsellors and other essential roles that provide critical support to students? Where does she stand on early intervention and the promise of more education assistants in primary classrooms so we might set students up for academic and social success throughout their school career?
