Looks like the BC Liberals are attempting again to alter society, more social engineering, Gordon Campbell`s and Rich Coleman`s smart meters, it was in BC Hydro`s service plan, real time billing, meaning this, when kids get home from school, when moms are cooking dinner and dads are relaxing while watching TV, resting up from a hard day`s work..
Extra premium charges for electricity, for those who complained over prime-time real-time billing, these creatures inhabiting Victoria told those complainers to buy automated appliances that can be turned on in wee hours of morning, burn electricity at off peak hours, all well and fine in a BC Liberal fantasy world, most live in a 9 to 5 world, social engineering the public to operate after midnight was and is so insulting, people won`t change, the bottom line is hydro rates would rise, families will pay more, parents won`t change their electrical usage patterns and this BC Liberal Government knew that, it`s a cash grab...
And now George Abbot is again attempting to social engineer families and children, School years were structured with summers off for several reasons, at one time when family farms dotted the landscape summer was harvest time, farmers needed their children to assist in reaping what they have sewn, there`s also the issue of scorching heat, ever been to Kelowna in August...
This BC Liberal assault on the school year is so poorly thought out it boggles the mind, clearly Christy Clark is attempting to create a wedge issue, she`s also continuing her own personal war against teachers...Cost to schooling will rise, schools will need air conditioning, more janitorial costs, more school crossing guards and so many more costs related to this ridiculous idea..
First off, the children won`t receive more teaching hours, all that will happen is students will be taking 2 months of holidays through the year, 2 months of holidays slicing up the already sliced up schooling year..
Here`s a list of major concerns that this Government has failed to consider, costs will mount for families as now parents will have to arrange year round day care..
Students will barely get into the flow of routine when another mid year week long holiday will arrive, 3 weeks on, 1 week off, all year long..
Summer camps is big business, these businesses will get slaughtered as there will be no summer camp, our provincial parks will be empty, summer is the time of parks and camping, this move will affect BC`s domestic tourism industry in a bad way, it will affect BC Ferries in a negative way
Students getting summer jobs, students getting summer jobs to pay for secondary education, employers won`t like this one bit, wealthy parent won`t like this either as they can afford long vacations, there will be a huge rise in days missed by students, and think about this..
Those high and rising hydro rates, in summer children are outside, look at how rainy BC springs are, how cold this spring was, British Columbia is a rain forest, now children will be at home in the fall, the spring, 3 weeks in school, 1 week off, kids will be at home burning electricity, on their computers, lights on, cooking food, costs to families will rise and believe it or not there are still some family farms that rely on their children assisting with harvesting..
And what of other provinces and inter-provincial student activities, tournaments, other provinces that aren`t engaged in social engineering, unless the model was adopted North America wide it`s foolish folly...What about the PNE and other summer events that require 2 months worth of children spending to survive..
There are so many more problems with this idea, I would really like to hear your views on this, personally, this appears more like political shenanigans and wedge hunting than good policy..
Actually, this is Christy Clark and George Abbott poking a stick at teachers...
This won`t garner votes it will anger many..
And you know what happens when you poke a stick into a hornet`s nest..
The Straight Goods
Cheers Eyes Wide Open
14 comments:
The first thing that caught my attention about this announcement was that it would be up to the various school boards to make up the school year schedule. In other words, it will be the school boards that will have to deal with disgruntled parents, not the provincial government.
Problems that I see with this idea are:
1. A family moves from one school district to another. Will the kids be put in a situation of being weeks ahead or behind in the curriculum? Even under today's school year kids that move during the school year from one district to another are stuck either catching up or being bored learning stuff they have already been taught.
2. School boards do most of their heavy maintenance during the summer break when the kids and staff are having fun in the sun. Will kids now have to do their learning in a construction zone?
3. Acceptance to post-secondary institutions is based on the marks the kids get at the end of the school year. If different districts have their school years end at different times, how many graduates will be stuck having to wait and apply the year after they were normally eligible? Maybe this is a way that the private schools can gain an advantage on the public schools as I doubt this legislation would be applied to them.
4. Can you imagine a district such as Surrey that has about 250 portables having school in session in August? They may as well just put the students in an oven.
I'm sure that there are many other logistical nightmares that Abbott's proposal could create.
As I wrote in the beginning, it will be up to the individual school boards to implement this idea and probably all of them will choose to keep the status quo. This is nothing more than an attempt to curry votes from the idiots that think that teachers get more time off than they work.
Cam
It is no wonder the province is in the shape it is. These airheads running the show are unable to think anything threw. I on the other hand have a novel idea. This band of fools elected to run our province should have to stay in Victoria year round and earn there high wages. They can have a 1-800 number so the people in there ridings could get a hold of them. They will be intitled to 2 weeks vacation a year with stats off. They will get a pension when they turn 67 years of age, but only if they have been an mla for 40 of those 67 years. They will go to jail if they do anything that is against the law or lie while they are in power, after all they are sworen into office, to represent all of the people of BC . Not just there friends. It will be up to the people of BC if we let them form a union. Christy call an election you and your band of fools are in over your heads. The people pulling your strings are not throwing you life jackets those are lead wieghts. TKS for letting me rant on.
I totally agree Grant. The BC Libs have been operating with hate in their hearts for over a decade now and ramp up this hate with every year just to 'win'. Taking summer away is a hate filled motive to teachers, nothing else. Take that and FU, in other words.
They forgot, however, the large percentage of Lieberal voters whom actually own summer properties (including Christy on Galiano Island), that value summer gettaways, who want summers off). Oh but its' aways about the choice don'tyaknow.
Great article Grant. I don't think it will be the same for kids to have a week off every month; especially when the weather is lousy. Doubt if teachers will like it either. Time to get rid of this government. In fact, if that is what happens, my guess is a lot teachers will give it up and move on to greener pastures. Because wasn't that part of the deal of being a teacher and volunteering all those unpaid hours? That they got the summer off? Sounds dumb but many of them had full time commitments of things to do with their summer - just like the kids did. It's less freedom for everyone.
Great article Grant. I don't think it will be the same for kids to have a week off every month; especially when the weather is lousy. Doubt if teachers will like it either. Time to get rid of this government. In fact, if that is what happens, my guess is a lot teachers will give it up and move on to greener pastures. Because wasn't that part of the deal of being a teacher and volunteering all those unpaid hours? That they got the summer off? Sounds dumb but many of them had full time commitments of things to do with their summer - just like the kids did. It's less freedom for everyone.
I suspect part of this is so school districts which do not have adequate buildings will be able to put students on a semester system & then operate the schools on a yr round basis. It may work, it may not.
This is most likely another wack at teachers but this government isn't that child friendly either. Putting kids in school, full time in July & August, you've got to be kidding! Summer is a time for families to have some fun, go outside, go camping, going to the park, travel, etc.
The additional cost of running school buildings yr round will only add to the cost of operating schools & the additional staff which will be required.
I would suggest the MLA'S TRY WORKING A BIT MORE. THEY RARELY APPEAR IN VICTORIA BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE IS RARELY OPERATING. I WOULD SUGGEST THE LEGISLATURE OPERATE YR ROUND WITH AUGUST OFF & SOME TIME A CHRISTMAS & EASTER. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER PAID & DON'T WORK ENOUGH ARE THE MLAS NOT THE TEACHERS. TEACHERS WORK HARD FOR ALL THEIR MONEY.
Makes no sense!!
They have rocks in their heads!
What is the real intention, what are they not telling us?
That statement has been repeated so many times since the BC Liberals have been in power, rightly so people are suspicious given what we've gone through.
For sure, if not this, they are thinking up some kind of wedge issue as we speak by the time election May 2013 comes around.
I hope for the sake of all of us, and with the ongoing help of these blogs, people won't be fooled by any of their attempts, and their friends in the media, to create an it's "us or them" issue to take to the election booths.
Example, the Family Day stat they said will happen in February, be prepared everyone, don't be surprised if they try to make that either it's us the BC Liberals or the NDP if you want a Family Day stat holiday. Be prepared. Don't be fooled. I won't let that one day make any difference to me, and please don't anyone else!!!
Mention of a wedge issue;
The wedge issue come election season will be the (Liberal approved) HST@ 10% versus the (NDP approved) GST/PST @ 12%.
Even though the referendum was won months ago, this is why Falcon is stalling on removal.
Just the whole issue of 'education' sometimes leaves me cold. Kids would like to be kids, at least until they are twelve or fourteen. Sadly, with globalism that will no longer be possible. (Ladies and Gentlemen! Start your children! The race is on!)
Let's look at what we are up against in China:
'The school year in China typically runs from the beginning of September to mid-July. Summer vacation is generally spent in summer classes or studying for entrance exams. The average school day runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.'
So basically they are studying all year round. To compete we have to do better. So let's send our kids to school 12 hours a day, six days a week. Let's start them in preschool at the age of three just as is done in many places in China. Sundays they can take a shoe shine box and polish the shoes of their Oriental Overlords. No crying allowed above the age of three. Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.
Ready . . . Fire . . . Aim
Ready . . . Fire . . . Aim
Been missing you of late, Grant, hope you're okay and not kidnapped by the fascists or something.
Here's something from today's Sun about BC Hydro.
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Hydro+awash+private+power/6605915/story.html
The children in China may go to school for longer periods of time, have to study harder, etc. They are also frequently seperated from their parents.
But does China actually produce more smart adults? Are they more well adjusted adults? Are they happy?
Their rigrous school system is simply a way of not having to provide advanced education for their masses. If their education system was structured as Canada's they simply could not afford to educate their citizens the way the citizens want to be.
The current summer vacation could be shortened by a week or so but I do believe kids should be outside & playing full time in July & August.
Full time school is just a way for the government to avoid dealing with day care for children. Most people think of day care for toddlers & young children but children who are 11, 12, 13 depending upon their maturity, also need day care if their parents are working full time.
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