Teachers say year-round schooling would pose challenges
Posted January 29, 2013 7:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
LANGLEY (NEWS1130) – Your kids could be exchanging their beach towels for book reports next year, at least if you live in Langley.
As the Langley School District hosts a public meeting tonight about potential changes to the school calendar, including one option of year-round schooling, teachers don’t seem convinced it’s a good idea yet.
Langley Teachers’ Association President Gail Chaddock-Costello points out there is already one school in Langley with year-round schooling, but says expanding that policy district-wide is something else entirely.
She feels while it may work for an elementary school like Douglas Park, for some students in the middle and secondary grades, spending summer in the classroom is not an attractive option.
“At that time, there’s the opportunity for students who aren’t coming from well-to-do families, who aren’t able to get scholarships, to earn some money to go forward, whether it’s a trade school or on to university or community college.”
She also feels parents in general accustomed to summer vacations may also have a problem with year-round classes.
Chaddock-Costello adds the change could pose a problem for teachers too, especially for those just starting out.
“They aren’t really making a lot of money, considering they’ve had to do a minimum of five years of university before they even qualify to work as a teacher, so many of them are used to working in the summer at jobs to supplement their income.”
She also says some mid-contract accommodations would also have to be made for other BCTF members to ensure they’re covered outside the standard school calendar.
