Encouraging member engagement in Antipoverty Month

Hi All,

Here are a few resources available for you to use in your classrooms. February is anti-poverty month and the BCTF has put out a number of items for use. I will send the latest Social Justice newsletter out as soon as I get it – it will focus on the same topic.

Cheers,

Shawn Gough
Vancouver Island North Teachers’ Association
Local President
lp85@bctf.ca
250-949-8888 office
250-902-9500 cell
SUBJECT: Encouraging member engagement in Antipoverty Month

Why has February been designated Antipoverty Month?
Teachers are well aware of the impacts of poverty on our students. With one in five children living in poverty in British Columbia, it is unconscionable that our province is the only one in Canada that does not have a poverty reduction plan.

At the 2015 BCTF AGM, delegates passed the following resolution:
Resolution 156: Child Poverty Awareness Month: That the BCTF encourage members to recognize every February as Child Poverty Awareness Month and take steps individually and/or as part of their Social Justice network to help eliminate child poverty in BC.

What can teachers do?
The Antipoverty Action Group of the BCTF Committee for Action on Social Justice has developed a number of resources for Antipoverty Month. These resources are designed to raise awareness of the impact of poverty in British Columbia, and support teachers and students in taking actions that will contribute to the elimination of poverty in BC. In addition, the resources help teachers to develop a deeper understanding of poverty-related challenges some of their students are facing, which can help them to better meet these students’ needs.

The Antipoverty Month resources include four info-graphics and an accompanying list of resources and activities based on the following themes: poverty in BC schools, hungry families, school fees and adequacy of resources, and a poverty reduction plan. These resources are all posted on the Antipoverty web page. The info-graphics will also be released once a week on BCTF social media.

For each week of February, teachers are encouraged to use the info-graphic to spark discussions in their classrooms and with their colleagues, and to carry out activities with their students using the accompanying resources. Teachers can also share the info-graphics released on BCTF social media within their networks. The important thing is to get everyone talking and thinking about solutions to poverty in BC.

Action requested
In order to ensure the maximum degree of member engagement during Antipoverty Month, Local Presidents are asked to inform members of these resources and encourage their implementation. In addition, please ensure that the antipoverty issue of Seeds of Social Justice, which will be sent by email at the end of the week, is distributed to every member of your local. Finally, please share the info-graphics on social media within your networks.

Thank you for your commitment to ending poverty in BC.

Jim, Glen, and Teri

*********************************
Jim Iker
President
British Columbia Teachers’ Federation
100-550 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 4P2
Phone: 1-800-663-9163, 604-871-2152
Fax: 604-871-2290
Email: jim@bctf.ca