Media Release
For immediate release
March 30, 2009
Public education should be an election issue, says B.C. Society for Public Education. Society launches election kit for advocacy and parent groups.
(Vancouver) The BC Society for Public Education (BCSPE) has launched an online election kit to encourage advocacy groups, parents and educators to make public education an issue for politicians leading up to the May 12th provincial general election.
“Our goal is to have voters base their decisions, at least in part, on where the politicians stand on public education,” said BCSPE Chair Annie Ehman. “The state of the current economy serves as a reminder of the importance of education in building future economic growth.”
Once again, B.C.’s public education system is facing an underfunding crisis. The government’s failure to keep up with the real cost of public education, combined with declining enrolment in some areas, is forcing boards of education to look at cutting yet more programs and core services for students.
BCSPE urges all BC residents to get involved by making support for public education an election issue and by asking questions of their candidates:
- What will you do to protect and enhance public education?
- What is your opinion on class sizes? If elected, how will your party ensure that class size and composition allow all students to thrive?
- What would you do to ensure that schools are as safe as we can make them?
- If elected, how will you improve the educational outcomes for aboriginal students?
- If elected what will you and your party do to alleviate poverty and improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged students and their families?
- If elected, what would you do to ensure the needs of each child are met in our schools?
The election kit—available online through the BCSPE website—outlines a variety of election strategies for groups and organizations. Groups with interest in public education are advised on how to keep public education on the ballot by preparing questions for candidates and conducting and participating in all candidates meetings.
ABOUT BCSPE
The British Columbia Society for Public Education (BCSPE) was formed in early 2005 by a group of parents committed to protecting and improving public education in British Columbia.
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For more information please contact Helesia Luke at 778.786.2838 or Catherine Evans at 604.779.0522
Media inquiries?
Please contact Helesia Luke at helesialuke(@)shaw.ca or call 778.786.2838
