An Open Letter To The STF

OPINION

Samantha Becotte

President STF

Dear Ms Becotte:

I am writing this letter regarding the possibility the STF is set to expand its job actions in its dispute with the provincial government.

As far as I understand it this dispute entails not only monetary compensation for Saskatchewan’s teachers but also classroom size and composition.

Teachers need help in the classrooms of this province due the strains that the inclusive nature of education has put on them.

Gone are the good old days where children were segregated into special ed classrooms seemingly locked away from the majority of society.

We’ve moved into this model of inclusiveness without realizing the major effects it’s having not just on the classrooms but also the people entrusted with educating children - our teachers.

In my opinion there is no way teachers in this province should be emotionally abused let alone physically abused but I hear it’s happening in classrooms.

It’s alarming. Teachers have had enough and rightfully so.

We now seemingly find ourselves at an impasse. The issue has been framed with two sides - the teachers or the provincial government.

But what if I told you there actually are three sides to this issue and I stand with the kids.

I stand with the kids when it comes to the extracurricular activities that are threatened by the dispute between the STF and the provincial government.

I’m not saying this because the annual provincial high school playoffs - Hoopla - is threatened but rather the major hole being torn into the soul of countless children in this province.

If you aren’t aware right now Moose Jaw - like so many communities in this province - is going through a narcotics crisis.

It’s ripping at the hearts and minds of far too many young people. Far too many young people - even school aged children - are succumbing to it.

For myself I personally see these afterschool activities as helping to prevent more innocent children falling into the great pit of despair generated by the illicit drug industry.

Quite frankly, we need more opportunities, more programs to engage our children and keep them away from some very bad stuff.

This is what extracurricular activities help to prevent.

Kids who are active in extracurricular activities don’t have as much spare time to get involved with some of the very bad aspects involving illicit drug use.

Children in extracurricular activities have goals to work towards and not into illicit activities.

And yes I know there are plenty of private clubs and opportunities for students to participate in other than the extracurricular activities offered by our school system.

But the thing is this. Many of those private clubs are cost prohibitive for children of lower economic means to participate in.

School extracurricular activities generally do not have massive price tags attached to them and by doing so it allows many children to participate.

I’ll be honest with you and tell you that when it comes to sports, I am not a fan of the more elite variations of it.

Personally, I like sports that engage the hearts and minds of a multitude of children at no or very little cost.

It’s a question I often ask in my sports coverage that I’ll be honest when it comes to some of the clubs out there they’re not happy I’m asking that question.

I ask the question because of the kids.

It’s why I cover athletics so extensively.

Yes if my athletics coverage helps just one child get involved in sports and stay away from the hard narcotics and lifestyle out there it’s been well worth it.

I know you could argue back and say that you’re media, and this is what you get paid for.

But I can tell you, I don’t get paid for this. I don’t sell ads. I don’t take any money. I do it for the kids.

I ask you as the person who will ultimately sit around a board room table when deciding to take further job actions that you think of the kids.

Think of the countless hours many of these children have invested into sports from elementary school to Grade 12 and now will not have that opportunity to finish off their careers.

I ask you to think of the kids and deep down what good will it do?

I ask you to think of the kids not just at the high school level but also the elementary school level who have been impacted by the job actions so far.

I ask you to think of the kids when you make any decision to expand job actions for this coming week.

I ask you to think of the kids and what it means to them to participate in a provincial basketball final.

I ask you to think of the kids and if you need to take further job action that you suspend it until after Hoopla is done,

I asked you to think of the kids when it comes to anything further job actions you may take.

I know it’s very hard for the STF to not sanction events like Hoopla as you really have no bargaining power against the provincial government other than work disruptions. But I ask you think of the kids and do just that.

I ask you to think of the kids and take a bold step by suspending any further job action and just telling people you’re doing it because it’s for the good of the kids.

Perhaps I’m wrong by thinking this, but isn’t that what the teachers of this province are supposed to be here for?

The good of the kids.

I’m also wondering is if you were to make an announcement that you were suspend any further job actions until after Hoopla that you may in fact massively increase your public support.

Perhaps thinking of the third side and saying you’re doing it for the kids might be the leap of faith necessary to get the very important classroom size and composition issues settled with the provincial government.

Perhaps by being the better person in the end you will win.

It’s something teachers in this province have been trying to teach their students.

I further realize that by writing this open letter I could lose my media accreditation to further extracurricular activities but it’s a penalty I’m willing to take.

I do it because I’m on the kids side of this issue.

No matter what you decide in the end all I ask is you think of the kids before making a final decision.

Yours Truly

Robert Thomas