When An Osoyoos Teacher Attacks / What the BCTF Does NOT Want You To Do
What happens when an overzealous teacher argues with his students about the BCTF negotiating a 24% raise and wanting to go on strike? Well, of course you get a new article in this intrepid Poly! Last week students of Mr. Dave "Nutty Professor" Foster's Grade 10 Science class at Osoyoos Secondary School were treated to a rant on how great the BCTF is by their teacher instead of doing sciencey things.
"He just kinda went crazy," one of the students shared with us. "I mean, I don't know why he had to make fun of students' parents who did not have seven years of university education like him or brag about how much support the BCTF has. When we students suggested the BCTF does not have as much support as he may think he replied, 'perhaps not from you rednecks'. What's up with that?"
Students are not sure why this teacher with twelve years experience including a stint at Gleneagle Secondary School in Coquitlam, would use the classroom to progress his political beliefs. Mr. Foster's connections to CUPE may be to blame. Or perhaps he was not happy with the negative ratings he had received on ratemyteachers.ca which allegedly, he ordered removed from both the Osoyoss Secondary School and Gleneagle sections. Or perhaps there is another reason?
"Look, if you are trying to say that Foster is a pawn or a stooge of Jinny and the BCTF then you are out of line," BCTF representative Ms. N. Joy Spankalotti exclaimed. "In fact, we here at the BCTF are tired of all the negative stories on the BC Poly Blog."
This is odd as we have been overwhelmed with the positive feedback from teachers all over the province on our articles exposing the boorish and mob like behaviour of their Union.
"Let me warn you," Spankalotti sneered, "I do NOT want to see students at high schools throughout BC printing out this article, or this article, or this one, certainly not this one and especially this article on people like me at the BCTF earning $80,000 a year for answering phones and of course, the free Viagra and then leaving these printed articles on teacher's desk, on bulletin boards, on lockers or placed on windshields or giving them to their parents. Our teachers should ONLY get information from Jinny and Jinny alone."
But what about...
"Silence!", Spankalotti shrieked. "I also do not want students or teachers using either this list or even this list to email the articles to the BCTF representatives. You see, people could use the anonymous mailing feature in this Blog, plug in a fake email address and send the article and comments to our offices using the automatic message feature in Blogger by clicking on the envelope graphic at the end of each post. A message like the one below:
...with your own added comment of something like, "Why is money more important to you than my education?" would be received by us without anyone knowing who sent it. But know, that THAT would be wrong!"
Ok, but why...
"Shut it! And before anyone gets any bright ideas, do NOT phone the BCTF at their toll free number of (800) 663-9163 to record your displeasure with us. We don't listen anyways! But most of all, the students had better NOT take photos of where they placed the printed out articles or make MP3 recordings of phone calls and then forward to this Poly Blog using email address bcpolyblog@gmail.com where they may feel inclined to anonymously post them for all to see. I tell you now...that WOULD BE WRONG!"
Well, I guess we know what we have to do.
posted by BC Poly Blog at 6:04 AM
36 Comments:
A Poly call to action. I like it.
Lets do it.
Masters from the University of Phoenix? Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/education/phoenix_easya.html
http://www.avoiduniversityofphoenix.com/FAQ.html
I'm with the call to action!!! Let's do this!
Post your stories of teachers brainwashing students right here on Poly. Let's expose the BCTF and their underhanded use of students as pawns!
Nothing like a unbiased article about anything.Maybe the guy is a hard marker or something. Does all , or the majority of the students stand by this article?
No I'm not a teacher or married to one but I really find thsi a bit hard to swallow.
"
No I'm not a teacher or married to one but I really find thsi a bit hard to swallow."
what ?? are you anti-homeosexual
I'll verify this as well, I witnessed the event and was the one who made the complaint
The fact is, the comment made to his students was unethical as it destroys the code of ethics brought upon him as an educator in this province, this complaint was made as a result of the input of a retired administrator both at the school board and school level who also served as a teacher. The bctf needs to think about whats important, our grades have suffered as a result of their previous strikes, 3 since ive been in school, this is nonsense and acoountability needs to be reinforced by Simms and her staff.I am ashamed to have witnessed the comments made by this teacher, I will not stand quiet about this issue. I do believe that some of the background information listed is wrong, eg. his ties to the cupe....
I am in Mr. Foster's class and he did make these comments. He argued with quite a few students... I wasn't one of the ones who spoke up, but many of my friends did and he shot them down one by one. He was rude and confrontational, made judgements about the parents of one student, and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was imposing his views on the class when he should have been teaching.
I felt intimidated and used. I am so glad that this story has come up and I hope that the BCTF and Mr. Foster are held accountable.
I left a message with the BCTF telling them how disgusted I was with this teacher and asking what they thought of this incident and what they were going to do about it. I encourage others to do the same.
just fire this dufus . . lotsa other teachers around . . there is a surplus afterall
Why is it that the folks who say they were there are all shown as anonmous? Maybe they like me don't really spend a lot of time writing under a blogger name. How would the students actually find this blog? I di by noticing some rather ridiculous articles linked to this site.
The allegations made, however, are very serious. They must be reported to the appropriate authorities, to be authenticated or dismissed. Schools do have authorities. The Principle, then the superintendant and if the guy is guilty the teachers own college would be eventually get involved. I doubt that Jinny Simms is the one who would be doing the investigating. This article may be just another union hating excercise but if accurate, it becomes horribly serious.
Please. It's called "professional autonomy" and there's not a damned thing you can do about it. It's up to Foster and Foster alone what he says or does in the classroom. As for firing, get real. Teachers don't get fired unless there's a videotape of them committing a criminal offence involving children. Even then the BCTF fights tooth and nail to keep their certificate intact. There is no such offence as educational malpractice in BC and the union won the right (in the courts) for teachers to use parent-teacher conferences as an opportunity to push their crackpot ideology. Their Code of Ethics is a joke which has never been enforced. Views like Foster's are relatively tame compared to the Correns. They just won the right (through blackmail) to tell children "God and your parents are evil bigots. Jinny Sims and I will tell you the difference between right and wrong". So bend over, students and taxpayers. Time to learn another lesson in social justice.
As far as I'm concerned anonymous is just another word for bullshit. As far as providing any support for the claims made in this posting all these anonymous comments would be useful as toilet paper if they were printed out.
So, the BC Poly Blog hates the NDP and the BCTF - what are you for? Or more to the point, who pays you to spew this rather amateurish nonsense?
I wish to add to the above comment:
Or are you so ignorant that you will carry water for Gordo and his gang of privatization pirates without even demanding your share of the ill-gotten swag?
Remember Socialize Costs!
Privatize Profits!
Can we drown government in the bathtub yet Mr. Norquist? If it don't make money for us and our friends it don't need doing. Welcome to Yaletown - Third World Outpost!
I made one of the postings above about Mr. Foster and I am in his class.
Please do not attack me for hiding my identify and posting as anonymous.
As I am sure you can understand, I would rather not have Mr. Foster know that I am one of the ones exposing his inappropriate actions in the classroom, as that could make my time in his class very difficult.
I realize that by posting without my name I do not carry as much credibility but I can tell you that this did happen and that I did witness Mr. Foster say the things he said. However, I must post as anonymous to protect my identity.
I made one of the postings above about Mr. Foster and I am in his class.
Please do not attack me for hiding my identify and posting as anonymous.
As I am sure you can understand, I would rather not have Mr. Foster know that I am one of the ones exposing his inappropriate actions in the classroom, as that could make my time in his class very difficult.
I realize that by posting without my name I do not carry as much credibility but I can tell you that this did happen and that I did witness Mr. Foster say the things he said. However, I must post as anonymous to protect my identity.
Anonymous (I'll leave it to you to know which Anonymous I'm talking to) you could always choose a screen name. My name isn't kootcoot after all, though I am one.
The tone of most of the comments here suggests that teachers should only say things from a pre-approved list of statements - bland and politically correct and act as if they had no self interest. Indeed they should pretend to be as selfless and devoid of personal agenda as those who so enthusiastically demonize Jinny Simms and the BCTF. If you give your brain (assuming you have access to one) a moment to compare the personal interests and motivation of the average teacher with those of those who demonize the BCTF and labor in general maybe you'll begin to realize who is brainwashing whom and why!
I also laugh at this blog's attempts to paint the NDP as the heart of darkness and source of evil and corruption. I guess you feel superior since Gordo and his cabal are so far above minor league Bingo swindles or ...gasp... questionable home reno jobs. The current BC excuse for a government is much more big time and too busy stealing every thing in the province and selling (outsourcing or privatizing) it cheap to themselves and their friends - like BC Rail, favorable ALR decisions, BC Gas or whatever they call it today, BC Hydro --in pieces. By the way why is the BC Supreme court acting like Gordo and gang's personal law firm instead of explaining to the people of BC why the Mounties spent most of the day carting "evidence" out of the Legislature almost three years ago now. I guess it will turn out to be an NDP criminal conspiracy, after all there were two of them with offices in the building and they were hiding stuff in Basi and Virk's offices, I get it now.
My sister is in Grade 6 and a couple weeks ago she said the teacher stood on a chair and said to the 11 year old students "Repeat after me, Teachers Deserve a raise!" over and over again.
This was at a school in Port Coquitlam.
Hi Kootcoot,
OK, as you suggested I will now post with a screen name.
I think you are missing the point. Mr. Foster got into an argument with the students in my class. This goes far beyond not being politically correct.
He attacked the parents of one of my friends saying that "your parents make lots of money and don't understand the situation"
It was intimidating and disrespectful and many of the students felt abused and angry, myself included.
I don't know if posting on this blog is the best way to raise awareness and hold Mr. Foster accountable, but it is one of the ways, so I'm just doing what I can to stop my classmates and I from being used.
Port Coquitlam Kid and save the kids:
Are you sure you guys haven't been watching too many skits on 22 minutes or something - really, kids afraid of union thugs and teacher standing on chair making students repeat "Teachers need a raise?"
Mr. Foster's Student, why do all the students feel intimidated because the teacher is arguing with them. Look up Socrates and the Socratic method of teaching. One of the things students should be learning is how to deal with conflicting messages, in this case Mr. Foster's point of view, various parent's point of view and the other conflicting views out there.
Teaching might seem like a good job, money wise to some one making minimum wage slinging burgers, but it is definitely not the big bucks for the amount of schooling and then responsibility and time the job entails.
The fact is the current government who hides behind the school districts and the employer bargaining unit, but calls the shots by the way they allocate the PUBLIC'S money, has no respect for working people blue collar or professional. They only give any respect to those "trades" where there is a scarcity (often an artificially created one) and thus an elevated demand, like say doctors.
The teachers have not been able to negotiate a contract since before you were in school, most likely. If you were to do some looking into the people and organizations that demonize the BCTF you would find that these same people have very little interest in "public" education and their constituency would just as soon send their kids to private school, especially if the general taxpaying public chipped in and "subsidized" their "private" schools. The more they can starve the public system (of education and health care) of resources, the more attractive the private, profit driven, alternative becomes to more. and more people. Too many people have little or no concern for the community as a whole, as long as they've got theirs'.
I've lived in BC since W.A.C Bennett was premier and by and large few governments have demonstrated much respect for or even a desire for improving education. The last thing they want is an electorate itelligent and educated enough to realize what a bunch of criminals and retards they've routinely elected.
Port Coquitlam Kid you cannot be serious. Which school and teacher? Sounds like you are just trying to piss people off. If it were true then you should have "this intrepid Poly" look into it. I don't believe it.
For Mr. Foster's Student, good on you for reporting the political hacking of your teacher on behalf of the BCTF.
For the BC Poly Blog THANKYOU! Not only are you funny but imformative. Keep it up!!!!!!
It is true. Poly, the school is Citadel Middle School. I am not sure what the teacher's name is - I will ask my sister what the name of the teacher is and post it here when I find out.
This is way out of line. This was an idiotic move by Mr. Foster. He used to be my teacher for Chemistry 11 three years ago. Teachers shouldn't be doing this to students, especially not inside the classroom. I would have to agree that the teachers are being a pawn in an indirect way by the BCTF. It's wrong.
I've posted something up on my blog in regards to this....Feel free to visit.....
joseluisreyes.blogspot.com
I actually had this same experience, though not in a very uncivilized way. This happened when I brought in an article featuring the letter that was sent to one of the "banned" teachers. If this one doesn't ring a bell, refer to my very first post.
I tried showing the article to everyone in my Journalism class (since it is a journalism class). The class has been using the Graphics classroom since the beginning, so the teacher there, Ms. Aryn Gunn, occassionally helps the publication, and is always inside the room finishing up some stuff. She saw the article and started talking about how Mike Smyth's column was a flaw, and how the article (or the column, if they so wish) is not true. Then, as every good member of the BCTF would do, she started defending them, telling me that that is not what the BCTF had in mind. She even told me that anything coming from the Province should be analyzed before it was believed. I spent almost 30 minutes or so hearing Ms. Gunn preaching and defending and correcting and whatnot. Given the BCTF's track record, why should we trust them? Why should we trust what the teachers are preaching about them? Why should they use the classrooms as an instrument for some ghastly, gospel-like proclamation, instead of just teaching? Not all teachers are like this, for the record, but once you start talking about "the issue", they just wouldn't stop.
How much more proof is required that the BCTF has no respect for the truth, no respect for the law and no respect for the rights of others? The first priority of K-12 in BC is jobs for adults, not educational excellence for students. De-certify now.
Truth - "We will not sell BC Rail," "We will build more extended care beds," just a couple examples of truthy statements by Gordo and Gang
respect for the law - You might want to explain (or look into) why the crown prosecutors themselves are engaged in a lawsuit against the current BC Gov - hint - it's not for respecting the law too much. Contracts? rip 'em up if we don't like 'em.
"The first priority of K-12 in BC is jobs for adults, not educational excellence for students. De-certify now."
In other words cogs to fit into a machine and be good low wage workers and good consumers - heaven forbid education should create people capable of critical thinking - or realizing whose interests are promoted by CanWest Global and the Province in particular. Reading the comments here though proves to me that the propaganda machine is working well!
Anonymous (3:00pm) Obviously you believe that if you can't say anything intelligent it's best to say something stupid! If you and many of the commenters here were "educated" in BC, the educational system is obviously failing.
kootcoot, you should really try to put your brain in gear before you go running off at the mouth preaching your dipper views.come up for air before you suffocate.
I called the BCTF number last night to register my concern and my friend did the same this morning ... I agree with Frank - everyone who is posting with these stories, the word needs to get out, PLEASE call the BCTF number!
I really can't believe some of what I've read. Koot Coot is clearly an upset BCTF member and NDP supporter and thats fair. You do a fine job comparing the relatively "minor" mistakes of the past NDP government, like bingo gate to the unforgivable actions of our current government, like BC Rail. Although I'm pretty sure that you may have missed something! I'm not sure, but I think it cost a lot and may have involved some boats or something like that.
I'll leave patronage appointments alone for now.
Tell me what the difference is between anonymous and a fake name? Who cares anyway, your identity is as hidden as anyone elses and thats your right.
I am a BC Liberal Supporter. I don't agree with everything that they do but the difference is that the Liberals don't expect their supporters to be cogs in their wheel as the NDP and, in this case the BCTF do. You are a cog Koot Coot!
More to the point however is that the government has not made this a political issue, the BCTF has. I know many, many teachers and all of them are wonderful people, most are angry with the position that their union has put them in.
Just over 50% of teachers turned up to take the last strike vote and of that number, 85% voted to strike. How about an anonymous ballot. Then the truth might come out.
I agree with van hastings. Are the BCTF so afraid of the results that they cannot conduct an annoymous vote?
I am glad more of my New Democrat friends are participating on this blog it definately makes things more lively. I hope in future those NDP supporters that contribute to this sight are better informed than kootcoot. As they say a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
This stuff keeps getting worse. If anyone starts speaking sensibly, they get called names. Gordon told me to tell you right wing characters that he is distressed and may neeed an asprin but the deputy minister of health quit today. And he can't get George abbott to stop waving his arms and telling us"Best health care in the universe."I guess Penny got tired of the BS as well, Her pay wasn't that bad at well over 225 thousand. Beats being a GP and many times that of any teacher in BC
van hastings, I am not NDP or BCTF, but admit that I prefer the fact that the NDP tries to represent working people rather than the coporate elite - and, as an example of where I come from, I happen to have a great deal more respect for Tommy Douglas than say Brian Mul "ruin Canada" roney.
"Although I'm pretty sure that you may have missed something! I'm not sure, but I think it cost a lot and may have involved some boats or something like that."
Most of that cost wound up in BC, liable to BC taxes and supporting BC health and education rather than Germany's. It also provided an opportunity for lots of training and even some boats that would be much more suitable for the northern routes than the routes they were forced to "fail" on. On the northern routes they wouldn't disturb the beach front property of those rich enough to own beachfront property - generally Liberal supporters.
I'm also not suggesting everyone use their real name, but it is pretty difficult to engage in a discussion with a herd of indistinquishable anons, maybe they could be anonymous1, anonymous2 etc. Of course then it would expose the logical leaps of faith from post to post.
Most likely this will not be posted, as I recieved an email this morning informing me I had no permission to post here - that's fine with me, you guys contacted me first. I really shouldn't be wasting my time reading a blog that links to Rachel Marsden for anything other than laughs or to help bring up accidentally swallowed spoiled food.
If I don't see you all anymore, have fun and don't forget to finish your Kool-Aid.
van hastings, I am not NDP or BCTF, but admit that I prefer the fact that the NDP tries to represent working people rather than the coporate elite - and, as an example of where I come from, I happen to have a great deal more respect for Tommy Douglas than say Brian Mul "ruin Canada" roney.
"Although I'm pretty sure that you may have missed something! I'm not sure, but I think it cost a lot and may have involved some boats or something like that."
Most of that cost wound up in BC, liable to BC taxes and supporting BC health and education rather than Germany's. It also provided an opportunity for lots of training and even some boats that would be much more suitable for the northern routes than the routes they were forced to "fail" on. On the northern routes they wouldn't disturb the beach front property of those rich enough to own beachfront property - generally Liberal supporters.
I'm also not suggesting everyone use their real name, but it is pretty difficult to engage in a discussion with a herd of indistinquishable anons, maybe they could be anonymous1, anonymous2 etc. Of course then it would expose the logical leaps of faith from post to post.
Most likely this will not be posted, as I recieved an email this morning informing me I had no permission to post here - that's fine with me, you guys contacted me first. I really shouldn't be wasting my time reading a blog that links to Rachel Marsden for anything other than laughs or to help bring up accidentally swallowed spoiled food.
If I don't see you all anymore, have fun and don't forget to finish your Kool-Aid.
Sorry for the double, but Blogger kept rejecting my word verification and I assumed it was related to the message I recieved this morning. Please delete one, the anonymous one of course.
I don't want to be anonymous anymore, so I think I'll take the kootcoot. Oh wait that name is already being used...damn!
Well, anyway, I just want to clarify with kootcoot. You're not NDP and you're not BCTF. You support the working class and can't stand the corporate elite. You seem like the type that supports the environment, but you hate Canada's Greenest Prime Minister...that's right Brian Mulroney.
Lets go back to your support the working class position. How is it supporting the working class by attacking the corporation that provide them jobs? The success for the corporation equals success for the worker.
Now in a dog eat dog world people with more talent and skill make it farther. A guy who starts a business and creates jobs deserves to have his "beach side property." Every working person, myself include, work hard to achieve that same success. What are you a communist? Do you have a problem with people making money?
BTW, would you have a problem with these student wanting to remain anonymous if they were criticizing the government? These students shouldn't have to fear reprisal from any teacher when taking a stand against the wrong actions of a teacher.
As a witness of the so called "breaking the ethics code" incident I do not believe that Mr. Foster deserves all this negative attention. This site is referring to him as a completely negative person, which is far from the truth. Anyone who has associated with him would know that he does not have any intentions to hurt anyone. Sure, his actions may have been a little rash, but he is just passionate about his job and he does need to make a living. I'm not even for the teachers going on strike again and getting a 24% pay increase, but he is entitled to his opinion, and he was not even the one who brought up the topic. And then you say he had the choice not to continue the conversation, which is true, but I am very sure anyone in his situation would have done the same thing.
And about the comments he made in class, they are not as bad as put out to be. Without actually being there you do not know anything, from the tone he used, to who it was directed to. The redneck comment was not directed to anyone in particular and it was meant as joke! Not as an insult! The one thing anyone notices with this teacher is his sense of humor, and after the rigid discussion with the class he tried lightening things up with a joke and then when back to teaching.
I think that if you were hurt by the comments made, you should personally approach the teacher and I'm sure he would gladly apologize as I'm also sure he feels horribly about this situation. Just keep the idea in mind that this is being blown way out of proportion, and some of the comments/questions made by students may not have been truly fair as well, so they should be dealt with the exact same way.
Post a Comment
<< Home