B.C. parents come together out of frustration as students gear up for back to school

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A number of parents have come together to create a new advocacy group for the new school year, saying their voices are not being heard.

The Parent Advisory Group for Education (P.A.G.E.) is growing, with already a few hundred members on Facebook. Organizers say they’re pushing for student needs over politics.

Organizer Stacey Wakelin, a vocal advocate and former Langley school trustee candidate, says the group was born out of frustration and a feeling that they aren’t being represented by the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC).

“For so many parents, they have felt that way for years. I’ve been an advocate, I’ve been involved in our school district here in Langley for quite some time, and that has been a conversation many parents have felt — that their schools just aren’t meeting the needs of their kids,” she explained.

“[The BCCPAC] is designed to have a very tight-knit relationship with the B.C. Ministry of Education — that is a wonderful opportunity. It’s not when that relationship takes precedence over being strong advocates for parents,” added Wakelin. “It’s definitely been a frustration.”

She tells NEWS 1130 many parents feel like they’re being talked down to when it comes to concerns about things like COVID-19 safety, class size, or proper supports for many of their children.

Wakelin notes concerns existed even before the pandemic, but that the health crisis brought about additional worries.

“I feel like parents have been talked down to a lot, that we’re anxious, hysterical, that sort of thing, that’s been a narrative. I also believe that there is this narrative that if an organization exists, there’s really no need to look any further.”

P.A.G.E. hopes to provide parents with more of a voice so that concerns will be heard.

“It’s about creating something that will provide strong advocacy going forward for parents,” Wakelin explained. “I feel like now is the perfect time — things are not going to get any better without really strong advocates. It’s important to take those steps, for sure.”

COVID-19 and safe schooling make up the main concerns for the group at this time, especially with the Delta variant continuing to spread.

Citing janitorial cuts and other moves that have been announced in the preparation of back to school, Wakelin believes there are signs the pandemic is over and that it’s “back to business as usual,” even thought that’s not the case.

“A lot of parents are worried about that, immune-compromised families, that situation hasn’t changed for them. We’re seeing a lack of a mask mandate between kindergarten and Grade 3 — that is something that a lot of parents are asking for. It just seems to make sense as we are dealing now with the Delta variant that impacts children. So it’s definitely concerning for a lot of parents, and that is at the forefront,” she said.

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• Canada’s doctors want COVID-19 measures in place for back to school

• Masks will be required at B.C. schools as COVID-19 concerns remain

In the next few days, P.A.G.E. is hoping to provide parents an opportunity to gather online to “survey the situation” and “begin a conversation.”

The Facebook group is public and already has a number of discussions ongoing, something Wakelin finds encouraging.

On Monday, the BC Teachers’ Federation is set to hold a public availability to address outstanding concerns at B.C. schools, as students, teachers, and staff prepare to head back to class this week amid a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the province’s back-to-school plan, masks are mandatory for all students in grades 4 and up, as well as all teachers and staff from K-12.

Header: clip… a new, grassroots group of moms and dads says they don’t feel represented by the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils.