DRAFT POSITION STATEMENTS

Teachers' PREP is in the process of drafting more policy statements. 
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A Forum For Better Understanding In Surrey
This article written by Myra Ottewell was published in the Teacher Magazine April 2001. It has created some controversy including a letter sent to the Teacher Magazine questioning why they would print the article. They have asked for clarification on the magazine's editorial policies. Read it for yourself and let us know what you think.

by Myra Ottewell
Can Surrey teachers discuss matters of educational political action and religious or moral convictions in a civil manner? Yes! On November 10, 2000, we held a forum–"Protection of Conscience: Issues in Education"–sponsored by the Teachers’ PREP (Professionalism, Representation, Ethics and Priorities). See www.cbbs.org/prep/ for a transcript of the forum. Teachers’ PREP is a recently organized political caucus within Surrey Teachers’ Association.

The three panelists–Jinny Sims, second vice-president of the BCTF; Craig Jones, president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association; and Iain Benson, of the Centre for Cultural Renewal–represented different aspects of the political spectrum. The PREP caucus wished to present a balanced view of the complex matters relating to sensitive and controversial issues in Surrey in a manner that fostered civil discourse and understanding.

The presenters were all very well spoken, knowledgeable, and interesting. Each presenter spoke for approximately 10 minutes and then for up to 5 minutes responded to anything that had been said. Audience members were asked to write questions for discussion. Most questions centred on the tension between individual rights and union responsibilities and constraints. We also looked at the tension between parents’ rights and the court’s recent decision about the limitation of teachers to present their point of view when the two conflict. Many references were made to the Chamberlain v. School District No. 36 (Surrey) court case. The judgment of that case–on the Internet–provides interesting information about the history and the meaning of terms like secular and non-sectarian principles. (www.courts.gov.bc.ca/jdb-txt/ca/00/05/c00-0519.html).

Jinny Sims, second vice-president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation, has also been a member-at-large on the executive committee. Sims has been a teacher for 24 years and has been active in addressing a range of issues affecting the working lives of teachers, including working and learning conditions for teachers and students, and anti-racism, multiculturalism, and status of women. Her experience includes being president of Nanaimo Teachers’ Association, as well as working on bargaining and grievance committees in her local. English, social studies, and counselling are Sims’s teaching specialties.

Jinny Sims’s statement centered on the notion of the union working together for the good of the collective, since there will always be individuals who disagree with the union position. She focussed on the democratic processes of the BCTF. When members do not agree with the policies of their union, there are ways to change and amend our collective policies. We have democratic processes in place so that members can, through active involvement, change and help to shape the direction taken by our union. Her own view of dealing with controversy is to engage in debate and dialogue, and do it in a respectful way.

Sims said of the evening: "I want to thank the organizers for the invitation to participate in this evening’s discussions and thank the participants (both on the panel and in the audience) for the respectful debate. Public education faces many challenges, and we must ensure that the debate on issues is inclusive and respectful of different points of view. We are going to have differences, and it is imperative that we agree to disagree without becoming disagreeable in the process. Once again, thank you for hosting this discussion, and my appreciation to one and all for keeping the discussion open and respectful."

Craig Jones is in his second term as president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, an organization that works to protect citizens from both government and private-sector intrusions into our lives. His comments centred on his philosophically libertarian views. On some issues, he holds a personal belief that is opposed to his legal position. Although he is pro-choice, the BCCLA is representing students on the basis of freedom of speech, the pro-life students at UBC who had their club display destroyed by AMS. On the matter of the Trinity Western University v. B.C. College of Teachers, the BCCLA is in agreement with the Langley university, while taking the side of the plaintiffs on the three-books Surrey School Board case. These are his comments:

"The evening’s interchange was thoughtful, respectful, and enormously productive. The questions we confronted are difficult and complex but by no means unsolvable. The panel discussion and, in particular, the questions from the audience, exemplified free and open dialogue and brought us one step closer, if not to a solution, at least to a far more nuanced understanding of some of the most important problems faced in public education today. I am pleased to have contributed in some small way to the success of the evening, and I look forward to more such events."

Iain Benson is the executive director of the Centre for Cultural Renewal, a think-tank dedicated to the connections among public policy, culture, moral discourse, and religious conviction. The independent, nonprofit, charitable organization helps Canadians and their leaders shape a vision of civil society. Benson’s comments drew heavily on the recent Surrey book case, in which the Court of Appeal recognized the primary authority of parents in Canadian and international law. He spoke of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in which Canada has undertaken "to have respect for the liberty of parents to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own convictions." This right, which is also part of common law, is not merely a right to be consulted or to be allowed to participate with teachers and boards in discussions about curricula. In the words of the Court, "parental views on [moral questions] are entitled to be respected."

Benson had this to say about the evening: "Over the years, there has been a need to bring together the different perspectives among those involved with the often polarized questions in public education. One of these questions is the scope for the freedom of conscience and religion of public teachers themselves. Teachers’ PREP is to be congratulated for its vision in hosting a successful forum to discuss important questions related to the place of conscience and religion in public schools. To have brought together a diversity of groups, the British Columbia Civil Liberties’ Association, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, and the Centre for Cultural Renewal, indicates that Teachers’ PREP is taking badly needed leadership in this area. Speaking as one of the participants, I hope that the discussion will set a good example for future events of how civil discourse can build towards a better and more civil society for all citizens."

Here is what several colleagues had to say about the evening:

"I really liked the context created where the topic could be discussed in a respectful and rational manner. It was thought provoking. I think we all need to have our concepts challenged at times. Let’s keep trying to get people to think and to honour the views of others, even when they vehemently disagree."

"Presenters were challenging, eloquent and well-informed. Please do something like this again!"

"I appreciate the way it was set up, as we all had the opportunity to ask questions that have been on our minds. I particularly liked the opportunity they had to ask questions of each other, and the respect they showed each other, even though they didn’t agree on several issues."

This event signals the beginning of a new kind of civil discourse within the Surrey School District. Try to imagine a headline in our local paper about the STA and the Surrey School Board having a civil discussion and a productive outcome about matters of religious conviction and the concerns of gays and lesbians. This kind of interaction has already taken place in the corridors and meeting places at the BCTF Annual General Meeting. It can also happen in Surrey.

Myra Ottewell teaches at Queen Elizabeth Senior Secondary School, Surrey.

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DIVERSITY & DISSENT in a PROFESSIONAL UNION of TEACHERS
(Draft policy not yet endorsed by Teachers' PREP members)

Teachers' PREP supports a professional union that is open to the democratic participation of members regardless of creed just as we support a public school system that extends an invitation to children from all backgrounds. This is consistent with the spirit of the the Canadian Charter and BC Labor Relations Code which protect teachers as Canadian citizens from discrimination based on religious or political beliefs or other personal attributes. Since some areas of union policy may cross into issues of conscience affecting certain members, it is important for the collective body of teachers to be sensitive to these concerns and make reasonable accommodation for this.

Teachers PREP believes that it is necessary to balance the interests of the bargaining unit as a whole with the individual rights of members. While the BCTF Code of Ethics sets out some boundaries for a member's right to express disagreement with the union and other members, we do not think this should be used as a hammer that excessively limits the free speech of teachers. A teachers' right to freedom of expression, publicly and privately, should be respected as much as possible within the context of the BCTF Code of Ethics. Members should not feel that they are obligated as a classroom teacher or union member to endorse positions that violate their conscience. The freedom to appropriately express disagreement with certain viewpoints should be upheld although this should never be used as an excuse for pressuring students to adopt the teacher's perspective or making personal attacks on fellow teachers. When discussing sensitive topics, such as sexual orientation, protecting the safety and dignity of students and staff members is paramount along with the recognition that people can disagree about beliefs or conduct in a respectful way. On moral matters regarding sexual conduct, a diversity of beliefs is unavoidable. Tolerance involves respectfully accepting the right of others to have different positions on a topic and this is just as important for students in the classroom as it is for teachers at a union meeting.

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SAFE & INCLUSIVE SCHOOLS

Teachers' PREP supports union policies that promote the safety and dignity of students and staff members. We are against bullying, name-calling or harassment for any reason and believe these issues should be actively addressed by our union. The protection of specific minority groups - such as first nations students, religious or sexual minorities - should be judiciously balanced with the rights of others in the public school system who have freedom to differ with the beliefs or conduct of any group in a respectful way (i.e. disagreement is not necessarily hateful or intolerant). Balancing the rights of groups with significant ideological differences is fundamental to providing an open and safe public school environment and we support this. This is essential to be able to teach students how to function as responsible citizens in a pluralistic society.

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