Columbia River Treaty - the Basics

Discussions have begun.  In the next few weeks we will run a series of videos that are available on the Columbia Basin Trust website - should you wish to watch them them all right now.  However we will share information in small bites in an attempt to bring us all up to date on material that is very relevant to everyone who lives in the Columbia River Basin.

   

Follow Up to Wednesday's Post

What's Happening...

Thursday, March 15

Youth Art 2012
Youth Art 2012 exhibition of artworks by Cranbrook
area youth Grade 7 and up opened yesterday
at Artrageous Gallery 135-10th Avenue South.
Gallery Hours 11am-3pm Tuesday - Friday
11am - 3pm Saturdays

Poster by Josie Ruoss, Grade 8 Parkland School

Saturday, March 17

Khaos at the Key City Theatre
New opera by Nelson compose Don Macdonald and Nicola Harwood
Tickets are $30 adults, $20 seniors and students
7:30 pm

St. Patrick's Day Tea and Bake Sale
2-4pm Cranbrook Srs. Hall
125-17th Avenue South
Call Judy for more information at 250-426-2436

St. Patricks Day Dance
7-11pm Cranbrook Srs. Hall
Music by the Rocky Mountain Swingers
Admission is $10 including appetizers
Call 250-489-2720 for more information

St. Patricks Day Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner
6pm Cranbrook Legion
Tickets are $12, First come, first served

Sunday March 18


Country Legends
David James and Big River
Johnny Cash Tribute  with Jeanne Hosie as Patsy Cline
7:30pm
Tickets at The Key

Monday, March 19

Cranbrook Garden Club Meeting
7pm, Manual Training Centre
New Members Welcome
Call Anna for more information at 250-489-2443

Tuesday, March 20

Cranbrook Curling Club Fun League
7pm Cranbrook Curling Club
1777-2nd St. North
All Welcome, Drop in fee $5
Includes equipment
Call 250-426-4415 for more information

Wednesday, March 21

Travelogue of Patagonia
Presented by Sabine and Gabe Pfeiffer
7pm College of the Rockies Lecture Theatre
Admission by donation
Sponsored by the Go Go Grannies

Thursday, March 22

Beth Crawley
Performs at Hot Shots Cafe on Victoria Ave.
7-9pm in support of the Cranbrook and District Arts Council
Admission is by donation but $12 is suggested
For more information call 250-426-4223

Take Heart

January 11, 1900 Cranbrook

Click on image to enlarge.

Khaos, the Opera

Cranbrook and area residents have the opportunity to go to the opera this weekend.  This chance does not come our way very often.  You don't like opera you say - well in the words of Seuss, "Try it, try it and you may!"

From the Nelson Daily by Bill Metcalfe:
Khaos sold out four of five shows at the Capitol Theatre this past weekend. That's nearly 20% of the population of Nelson.  "The public response to Khaos has exceeded our wildest expectations," said Khaos producer Marty Horswill.

From the Globe and Mail:

In the Kootenays, they grow their own 
Opera, that is. A small town raises $50,000 - and a local cast - to fund an original new work

By MARSHA LEDERMAN
an excerpt:
Barber, as adviser, came out from Vancouver.
"My initial response was - to my embarrassment - the condescending and patronizing thought: Wow, this is awfully good for such a small town," says Barber. "That lasted for about an hour, and then I began to hear in the voices and see in the faces and witness in the interaction how very serious and very capable by any measure these people were and are."
There were extensive notes - and revisions followed, but not because the opera isn't strong. On the contrary, says Barber.
"The work is so worthy, the people are so good and the difficulties of creating new opera are so immense that you need to be as risk-averse as you can. And that means outside critical opinion."
The initial run in Nelson was a hit. Opera Canada reviewer Hilary Clark called it "a powerful work ... with a riveting libretto" and praised the performances.
It was a hit at the box office too: With three sold out shows and a held-over performance on Sunday, almost 2,000 people saw this work over four days - almost a quarter of Nelson's population.
There's more than an environmental moral to this whole Khaos tale. At a time when it's easy for opera companies to play it safe, to produce Carmen and La Bohème because the tickets will sell, a little town in the Kootenays has stepped up with an idea, money, determination - and a brand new opera.
Even if he wasn't blown away - and he was - by the workshop, Barber gives a standing ovation to the effort. "Our job [in opera], in my view, is to honour the tradition and to extend the tradition," he says. "Our job is not to run a musical mausoleum."

Have a listen or learn more:

http://www.khaosopera.com/?page_id=132

Response to Warner's Corner

In response to Warner's Corner and the article titled, 'Education in BC; A Militant Union, an Incompetent Government; Both Ways Students Lose,' we received this from Dean Chatterson.

Gerry

I’d like to persuade you to take a second look at some of the perspectives you shared in your article.

I’m a retired teacher and I see things quite differently than you.

You begin with a “bigger plague on the house of the BCTF, which has to bear the brunt of the blame for the dysfunctional education system we have in the province now.”

Gerry, it’s not the BCTF who designed the system – it’s this government who has been systematically tearing down the very fabric of public education in this province.  If you had been in a classroom for even a few of the last ten years you would have seen firsthand the devastating impacts on kids the of the Campbell government funding cuts. And those cuts occurred in the “good years”!

You describe kids as being the big losers as a result of job action.  How can you not have noticed the cruel effects of the elimination of literally thousands of specialist teachers like Librarians, Special Ed teachers, and counsellors? Have you not heard the stories of no textbooks, school closures, large classes and no resources? Have you actually bought the government line about increasing per student funding when they cooked the figures by tossing into the general formula any funds for special ed that was previously accounted for under a separate designation? Ask any trustee who’s been around for a while and they will be able to outline the dreadful decline. Or better yet Gerry, talk to a teacher and ask them what it’s like to live the frustration of not having the time or resources to provide the service with the honourable intent that led you to enter the profession in the first place.

You go on to talk about the “rogue union” and claim that “what they want is always gussied up in talk about class size and composition, but it always boils down to the same thing – money.” Have you not heard the heart wrenching stories Gerry? Teachers telling about how it breaks their hearts not being able to meet the needs of the kids they love because of a system that has been so dramatically underfunded and diminished. “Gussied up” Gerry? What’s  gussying about a class of 30 grade 7 kids including one with multiple handicaps in a wheelchair, one with severe behaviour issues, 3 more with attention deficit disorder, one with fetal alcohol syndrome and four who come to school not having eaten breakfast. Guess what – that’s not a farfetched situation at all and under Bill 22, any consultation with the teacher or parents about gussying up the class size and composition will be eliminated.  Decisions will be made by administrators and superintendents based on – guess what – financial considerations. Is that about teacher salaries Gerry, or about adequate services for kids? Of course teachers are advocating to make their working conditions better Gerry, but that’s not a crime or a transgression against society. It’s only fair to expect teachers to work in an educational system where they get satisfaction through providing the best education experience they know they are capable of providing for their students. They are not advocating better learning conditions for kids so they can sit at the back of the class and do nothing, they are advocates so they can do more for kids. Another question – who else is advocating for better learning conditions? School boards – silent; administrators – silent; superintendents – silent except for the retaining the right to make things worse; Parent Advisory provincial group – government cheerleaders!

Gerry, did you really write, “And many of us would be damn glad to have a job that pays what teachers get.”?  It sounds like you have bought the government spin designed to demonize teachers as lazy, greedy, self interested, and overpaid public servants. Any government can vilify public servants to gain popular support, but citizens should be wary of piling on as you seem to have done. The rush to diminish the value and salaries of people who work in public service gives us the results we are seeing now – lower wages for all people who actually do productive work, but a dreadful decline in the services that should be our top priorities – health education and the general welfare of all.  I wonder if you, as a City councillor, will be advocating reductions in the salaries of Cranbrook civic employees. I bet taxpayers would love you for it.

I believe teachers deserve a fair, negotiated salary, not the rigid legislated less than zero that the government will be imposing. Paying my wife, who is a teacher $20,000 less than a teacher with the same qualifications and experience working  just across the border in Blairmore sends a powerful message to all BC citizens about what we value. You might argue that we should move to Alberta but guess what – we’re staying here to fight for public education in BC. Gerry if you want to be outraged about salaries of public employees, consider the hefty raises MLA’s gave themselves along with annual costs of living allowances, or check out the gigantic increases paid to senior government (friends) bureaucrats here: http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2012/03/adventures-in-not-net-zero-land.html

When you talk about kids “being shamelessly exploited by their teachers” I wonder why you have not been paying attention for the last 10 years as public education has been systematically dismantled by this government. You complain when teachers stand up for public education, but where were you for the last five years as administrators argued before arbitration panels that classes of 35 kids with special needs kids included were “acceptable learning situations” because of a shortage of resources and/or personnel.  The effects of a three day strike are miniscule in comparison to ten years of government attacks.

Gerry – you speak of people “participating in illegal demonstrations against a stupid, incompetent and apparently somewhat leaderless government.” Isn’t that an honourable thing to do? I believe you campaigned for civic office claiming to be an independent thinker. Are you actually advocating that teachers should sit down, shut up, accept with gratitude whatever the government decrees, and not complain?  What happened to the hard fought rights to free collective bargaining? I urge you to look closely at the harsh “essential service” designation – a term that has historically been used only for life and death situations. I urge you to look again at Bill 22 which can only be viewed as a ruthless attack on teachers and education. Also, check out a description of neoliberal attacks on public education here: http://www.ucalgary.ca/iejll/vol11/poole

I’m puzzled that you, as former journalist who I think prided himself on balanced journalism, haven’t taken a closer look at government actions in this dispute – far worse than being “leaderless” they have been nothing short of ruthlessly antagonistic. You also seem to have swallowed Kevin Falcon’s rhetoric when you say, “with most of the globe still in recession, the European economy collapsing and Israel and the U.S. engaging in ominous war rhetoric with Iran… most of us are just glad to hold onto the jobs we have.” He tries to tell us that BC is “the best place on earth” and that his government has made us one of the most prosperous.  Have you not noticed how the Liberals have set priorities? Stadium roof – yes! Tax breaks for multinationals – yes! Claiming the whole HST repayment in one year when it will actually be paid in three – yes! Child poverty the highest in Canada for 10 years – yes. Raises for teachers – No! Oh – and don’t be fooled by the claimed $165 million they say they are putting into education – that’s about ½ of what the cut in each year by illegally eliminating class and composition language. Check out more on BC’s economy here:

http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2012/03/04/bc-isn%E2%80%99t-broke-putting-teacher-bargaining-in-perspective/

I personally know at least couple of hundred teachers Gerry and as a former BCTF local leader, I know that it’s impossible to convince them or fool them into  protesting  publicly or gong to the extreme step of withdrawing services. Teachers didn’t go into the profession to become activists, they wanted to teach kids and it takes a lot (extreme government attacks) to get them to step outside their classrooms into the political arena. Far from being the evil instigator you portray it to be, the BCTF leadership can only follow the wishes of its members. Teachers know the importance of what they are standing up for now and they deserve credit for doing it. Public education, fair labour practices and yes – even a fairly negotiated salary agreement are at stake.

Brilliant Idea for Municipal Leaders to Consider

If this video does not load on your computer - apparently some, not all readers have had trouble,  click on  this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4EhJ898r-k

Getting Itchy Fingers

If you are thinking of starting your own seeds this year, this little video gives you the basics.  Another tip that appears to work for some for preventing damping off, is a light dusting of cinnamon on top of the seed mix.

Glorious Spring Snow

Glorious but dangerous spring snow conditions - go carefully in the mountains this weekend.  The grasslands are almost free of snow and the river bed is a fun place to explore right now.  Happy Saturday.

Education in B.C. – a militant union; an incompetent government, both ways students lose

Editor's Comment
As a retired teacher who has teachers in the family, I must let readers know, I do not agree with everything Gerry has to say but I do look forward to the responses and hope some teachers will clearly point out  and describe the real issues teachers face in the classroom for too often the perception is that, this is all about teachers salary.   From experience I can tell you it cuts a teacher to the core when they cannot give any time to those deserving well-behaved, well-adjusted, 'normal' children because there are 5 or 6 just as deserving but needy, less well-behaved, challenged students who demand the vast percentage of a teacher's time. There are too many of those classrooms and yes, it is about money because taking care of everyone's needs costs money.
I chose to stand against the union once but not this time.

Perceptions by Gerry Warner

A plague on both of their houses. But a bigger plague on the house of the BCTF, which has to bear the brunt of the blame for the dysfunctional education system we have in the province now, depriving the province’s children  – the forgotten victims in this dispute – of their right to be educated because of dereliction of duty by teachers and a government that’s lost its way.

I can explain.

B.C.’s education system began to go off the rocks in 1972, the year the NDP came to power for the first time aided by the BCTF’s infamous “apple campaign,” when federation members openly campaigned for the NDP and were given credit for helping bring Dave Barrett’s crew to power.

But once teachers got their feet wet in politics they quickly got addicted and they’ve been a political force ever since. Then in 1987 the Social Credit government of the day passed legislation forcing teachers to choose between an association or a union model for the BCTF with only the union model having the right to strike. The government move was designed to split the BCTF and gain power over it. Instead, the move backfired and close to 99 percent of teachers chose the union model and the rest, as they say, is history.

You’d think the Socreds would have known better in 1987 because the teachers had already participated in an illegal three-day strike as part of the Operation Solidarity movement which came perilously close to triggering a general strike in 1983. But like the Clark Liberals today, they didn’t, and once again education in the province is being held hostage by a rogue union and a bumbling, incompetent government incapable of showing decisive leadership. And the big loser? I don’t need to tell you because there’s 450,000 of them from K to 12.

In October 2005, the BCTF went on strike illegally again this time against an NDP government, which shows if nothing else, they don’t discriminate politically in getting what they want.  And what they want is always gussied up in talk about class size and composition, but it always boils down to the same thing – money. You be the judge.

Under the last province-wide contract (June 30, 2010) that I was able to find, salaries of fully qualified teachers in the province ranged from $43,099 to $83,195. Now in a perfect world that may not be enough because teachers are in charge of educating our children and it’s hard to underestimate the importance of that responsibility and the great job most teachers do.

But gentle reader, I don’t think I need to remind you that we most assuredly don’t live in a perfect world and these days the world has been looking even less perfect than usual with most of the globe still in recession, the European economy collapsing and Israel and the U.S. engaging in ominous war rhetoric with Iran. Indeed, most of us are just glad to hold onto the jobs we have and hope sanity returns to the world scene. And many of us would be damn glad to have a job that pays what teachers get and comes with more than two months vacations,  a generous pension plan, classroom assistants, paid professional days off, and in the case of Cranbrook teachers, almost every second Friday off.

Nice work if you can get it. Little alone a 15 per cent raise no other government worker is getting.

“It’s not about the money,” teachers are fond of saying, but I’m sorry because I have trouble believing that. If it truly wasn’t about the money 450,000 B.C. students would have been safely in their desks all this week soaking up knowledge instead of falling further behind in an already badly truncated educational year or being looked after by a parent at home missing days of work or – and this is the one that really bothers me – being shamelessly exploited by their teachers and participating in illegal demonstrations against a stupid, incompetent and apparently somewhat leaderless government.

Yep, and once again B.C. is the laughing stock of Confederation. Can’t you hear the tongues wagging. “B.C., what a place. Not only do the teachers strike, the students strike with them.” I don’t blame the students. They’re caught in the middle. But we know who to blame, don’t we? Teachers whose priorities are askew and a government incapable of setting priorities.

The obvious way to end this dispute is to impose binding arbitration and salvage what’s left of the school year. But that would take maturity by both sides, something sadly lacking in B.C. politics.