[My comment to Vancouver Sun, June 6, 2014, to story "Province moves to make exams, report cards essential services —
Application to LRB asks for ruling to prevent ‘serious and immediate danger’ to affected students"
Of Course, Progress Report Cards To Parents Are An Essential Service !
After all, it is the parents who are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. If parents have chosen to send their kid to a government school, then said government school has to keep parents informed — parents then can choose to stay, advocate for more services, get supplementary tutoring, or choose an independent school or home educate. That’s how parents make “informed decisions” in the best interests of their child.
What happened in the last teacher strike in 2011-2012 school year was lamentable and illegal. Report cards were withheld or blank ones were sent home by mail. Those that were withheld had the LRB to thank for granting BCTF teachers permission to do so. Those school districts that sent home blank report cards felt they were following the letter of the law, bizarre as it was to do so — and costly.
There are to be three formal written student progress reports.
See Student Progress Report Order http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/