[With the BC teacher strike finally over, 5 weeks of lost school, and 3 months of considerable debate — mid June to Sept 22, ’14, parents have become much more informed about the issues. The feeling is that they will be more eager to be involved and become an actual “Third Force” along side the teacher union and government in decision-making, consultations, etc. But, the question arises — will “the system” and the union allow this? Below is a story from my days as a young parent.]
Parent Volunteers Resent “SCAB” Label
That was the front page headline that screamed across the page of our local newspaper, the North Shore News, Jan 5, 1983.
I was a parent of a high school student. Parents had been active volunteers in the school for years.
However, since teacher aides were laid off, the volunteer services of parents were to cease as well. The story by Bill Bell continues:
* “Union intimidation” is keeping parents from volunteering their services in West Vancouver’s schools, claim representatives of the Hillside Parents Group. Co-chairpersons Tunya Audain and Suzanne Latta have told the school board that since the teaching aides were laid off last September, parents have not been allowed to volunteer in areas where they were normally welcomed . . .
* Audain later told the News that her group had been sent a letter from the West Vancouver Municipal Employees Association which she said gave her a very quick “political lesson” in how “rough” unions can be. Audain pointed out that the parents did not want to replace the teaching aides but only wanted to continue in the volunteer positions held before the aides were laid off. She told the News she resented the parents being labeled “scabs” for doing volunteer tasks.
* “Our first concern is the students, the union is way down the list,” Latta said.
* Newly elected school board chairman, Norm Alban, refused to comment on the situation, fearing that the confrontation could escalate.
Furthermore, we as a parents group deplored that school hallways had litter on the floors. We suggested that students should pick up after themselves, but again we were chastised that this would interfere with the work of janitors.
The usual excuse by the principal was “My hands are tied.” How many times have we heard that?