by Danielle Christopher

I stand in front of the television which is blasting the breaking news. Teachers in British Columbia will be striking for three days as the Labor Relations Board told them they could, just after two school days’ notice.

In an instant my eyes tear up and yet I feel numb at the same time. The public school system and the players have failed the kids.

Since last June, teachers have been without a contract. When school began in September, they withdrew service like report cards and facilitating parent/teacher interviews.  My five-year-old’s report card only had her attendance record.  No parent/teacher interviews have or will be conducted. Sadly, some teachers have taken that to the T and other teachers are still having an open door.

At the end of the day, both sides are handling this poorly.  I know some who have agreed with me and not depending on their personal experiences. I do support that teachers are overwhelmed with crowded classrooms which is one issue they have had on the table. The issue of cuts to special education funding not only hurts kids with needs but also other kids who need little extra help but do not have a label. Some of those cuts are to also a special education assistant to help the teacher with the kids with special needs.

Only until today has the union pulled back their focus to receiver a 15% wage increase over three years. There is a zero net wage increase imposed on all through the public sector. That is tough. On one hand many households have not seen a wage increase in sometime. However, teachers do spend a lot of extra time and most are not paid as some believe.

I have spoken on the radio and been interviewed in the local newspapers on my beliefs and feelings on this strike. The biggest opinion of mine that caused a stir was that I wish teachers had performance reviews like most corporations; rock star teachers get paid what they are worth and those who do not maintain a standard do not get paid the same.   Many parents who have not had a wage increase in their own professions have a hard time understanding the teachers’ demands on that topic.

One side had to budge and the teachers followed through with their threat to strike. Now the government is voting on to whether or not to legislate the teachers back to work. That really boils me. Legislating back to work is another form of bullying. That will show kids that their classrooms are just a number and not a voice.

“Mom, let’s go!”   My five-year-old is standing in front of me. I snap out of my reverie and get her ready for school while they are still in school. I cannot help but wonder if both sides will come together and remember why they are really at a dispute-my kids and yours.

Danielle Christopher is a stay-at-home mom of two daughters and a freelance writer.   Her teen story is in the collection “Parent/Teen Stories: Without Judgement”.  She lives with her husband of seventeen years and her girls in Langley, B.C..   Follow her on Twitter.