FSA tests and General Meeting note

Hi Folks,

Happy New Year!

FSA tests

We know it is the New Year because grade 4 and grade 7 students are again being asked to write FSA tests. Our concerns with these tests are long standing. Among other issues, the tests detract from valuable class time and the use of the data by the fraser institute is ill-informed, and quite simply wrong.

There is an agreement between the BCTF and BCPSEA that establishes a process for teachers to inform parents of our concerns. Essentially this entails grade 4 and 7 teachers sending home the information in an envelope that identifies it as coming from the union.

These envelopes and pamphlets are currently being dropped off with grade 4 and 7 teachers. You may receive some questions from parents about our concerns. Please take a moment and talk about our concerns with these tests. Feel free to refer any one to the VINTA office. 250-949-8888.

This is a link to the pamphlet we are sending to the parents of grade 4 and grade 7 students. http://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/Public/Parents/HotTopics/TestingYouBet-parents.pdf

General Meeting – Wed. Jan. 22nd, 5:00 p.m. Eagle View gym.

We have a General Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 22nd, at 5:00 p.m. at Eagle View School. We will have the meeting catered so there will be something to eat.

Glen Hansman, BCTF first Vice President, will be attending the meeting.

This would be a really good meeting to attend. Glen will bring an update of provincial bargaining, and an outline of the Provincial Bargaining Action Plan being recommended to the BCTF Representative Assembly on January 31st. The action plan we adopt at the BCTF RA will involve a number of very key activities. The more information folks share about this, the more informed a decision could be made. Shawn and I will be attending that BCTF RA. It is important to have local input before we attend.

Talk to you soon,

Fred
Fred Robertson
President
Vancouver Island North Teachers’ Association
lp85@bctf.ca