Some optimism from prospective and retired BC teachers

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Despite the stalemate in the education labour dispute, there is optimism for the future from teachers just entering and just leaving the profession in BC.

You could excuse teachers-in-training for being concerned as they get ready to enter an education system in turmoil, but Laura Micetich in the Bachelor of Education Elementary Program at UBC is positive it can be fixed.

“It’s definitely a little bit nerve-wracking to be entering a profession in a time of uncertainty, but teaching is always going to be such an important role in society. As difficult as the current time is, there’s no fear that teaching will be irrelevant,” she tells News1130.

Micetich believes anyone who is serious about teaching will continue on in the field.

“I have always worked with children and I’ve always loved it. But I’m also very passionate about possibly working in education policy, which makes this current situation more exciting for me from an outside perspective. It’s definitely making me more passionate about working on the policy side and resolving conflicts like this.”

And she does have optimism for the future of teaching in BC, though she admits she may start her career elsewhere.

“I’m optimistic, but not naive,” she tells us. “I definitely think that the BC climate right now is difficult; it’s difficult to get a job. My hope is not to just teach in BC, but definitely at some point in my career be working here. It’s an amazing province.”

“Bev” recently retired after decades of teaching in the Lower Mainland. She has seen many changes and cuts in the classroom, particularly through the last decade, but shares Micetich’s optimism for the future.

“I started teaching in 1969 and there were no ESL students in my classroom and I only had one special needs child in a wheelchair. She had a physical handicap, so she was quite able to do the work,” she tells News1130.

“Over the years, I’ve noticed the ESL continued to increase as the demographics have changed.”

But she says support in the classroom hasn’t always matched the need.

“I used to have resource support every day and ESL children used to be pulled out quite frequently for extra support. My resource teacher, at one point, had three different classrooms she supported. By the time I retired, that had changed to six classrooms to support. I also used to have support for children who needed enrichment as well as children who needed extra help but toward the end, the enrichment programs were not getting the support they used to get.”

Bev says she first started to notice the cuts in the 1980s and they became more drastic through the 2000s. Even so, she believes teachers just entering the profession can do a good job, if they have a passion for education.

“Perhaps years ago, when I started, a lot of people went into teaching for the money and the hours. I think now,  a new teacher would only go into it if they had a real love for teaching, a love of learning and they are willing to work very hard. Those are the types of people you need in the system and those are the type of people I would encourage. It’s very satisfying to see that you have helped children learn something. When they have their ‘aha’ moment and they have succeeded, it just makes your job worthwhile,” she says, adding that teachers today take much more responsibility in running schools and their various programs.

“I don’t think people who are not in the profession understand how much teachers give of their time outside of school hours and how much they support the children.”

Bev believes it will take time, but the relationship between teachers and the government can be rebuilt — and when it comes to the future of education in BC, she’s feels things will improve.

“I would like to hope so. Yes.”

BC certifies 2,700 new teachers a year. The Education Ministry’s website calls the current job market “quite volatile,” with declining enrolment in BC but a large number of retirements expected in the next few years.