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Federation opposition to FSAs more about teachers than students

I do believe that the FSA tests are necessary. We should know, considering the fact that our tax dollars pay for the education of our children whether they are actually being educated or not. I fear they are not for several reasons.

I do believe that the FSA tests are necessary. We should know, considering the fact that our tax dollars pay for the education of our children whether they are actually being educated or not. I fear they are not for several reasons.

The Teachers’ Federation should recommend any form of testing that provides useful information with regard to our educational system. Unfortunately, it also provides information with regard to the success or failure of particular schools, or specific failures in certain schools with regard to specific subjects, and thus, specific teachers.

In dealing with any number of issues over the years, with regard to the education of my children, I have had a learning assistance teacher withdraw my children from that assistance, without my knowledge, because she was angry at me. I have also had teachers completely ignore the legally required Individual Education Plan that was developed in order to ensure that every child receive the teaching that he or she needs. I have had a teacher phone me at home to attempt to avoid teaching one of my children at all because he didn’t like him. When I insisted that my child remain in the appropriate course, he was subsequently failed in that course with a final grade of 2 per cent.

My children are grown now, and finally out of this poor excuse for an educational system, but as far as I am concerned, the BCTF is doing nothing more than protecting their own membership from any form of oversight at the cost of our children. All parents should demand and heartily support any sort of professional appraisal of educational competence.

We have some superb teachers, lumped in with the those who should have, perhaps, chosen another occupation, who are not allowed to profit by reason of merit, but soley by seniority.

It is long past time for a change.

Kathryn Jones

Robson