One of the things we learn in school is that those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are condemned to repeat them.
So with B.C. students finally seeing a return to the classroom next week – barring a catastrophe in today’s ratification vote by teachers – what lessons can we learn from the disastrous school strike of 2014?
The first lesson: homework doesn’t get easier to do when you put it off.
While we’re reluctant to complain that there is a deal at last, the fact remains that both sides could have come to this deal just as easily in August – or in June, for that matter. Multiple rounds of brinksmanship appear to have accomplished little in the end.
The second lesson would be the ancient Chinese proverb: a deal is just a pause in negotiations.
Premier Christy Clark is bravely stating that the agreement should go a way towards solving the dysfunctional relationship between teachers and the government – and to be fair, what else can she say at this point? However, those words are hollow, considering the government continues to appeal the B.C. Supreme Court decision ruling against the government and in favour of teachers on class size and composition. While the agreement takes most of the grievances arising from the court dispute off the table, the ill will remains – and we’ll be reminded of it when the appeal comes through.
The last lesson we think needs to be learned from this is to never forget your due date.
The term of the contract – a historic six-year deal – is probably the best thing to come from this deal. If used properly, it could give teachers and the government time to bury their long-held resentment and work towards more meaningful reform of our damaged education system.
But it could just as easily be squandered and fly by, leading us to the same impasse at the next round of negotiations. Even more worrisome, the final outcome of the court challenge could leave one side or the other embittered and plotting revenge in the next round.
The good news is that hopefully, as of Monday, students will be back in school, learning – both from our words and our example. So far, they’ve learned that grown-ups can’t always get along – and that innocent students can get caught in the crossfire. What lessons will we teach them next?
