NEW BLOG: February 1st – EMAILS Question & Answer
News from the BC Human Rights Tribunal: User Feedback on Mediations
Noteworthy Facebook Posts: Here are a couple of Facebook posts that are noteworthy enough to send to your inbox on a Sunday…at least I think.
Ontario College of Teachers
This is a Facebook post from the Ontario College of Teachers that was just on my feed this morning.
(ID: Image of Balancing scales, laptop, books with text: “We are committed to transparency in regulating the teaching profession, and our disciplinary hearings are open to the public. See the full schedule of hearings and how to attend them: http://oct-oeeo.ca/mzm63z)
We used to have a teachers’ college in BC, but it was disolved to its toxicity, and the Ministry of Education absorbed it. The Professional Conduct Unit (Teacher’s Regulation Branch-TRB) is a department of the Ministry of Education and Child Care. For people who like to deep dive on the internet on topics, there was a report about it called “A College Divided: Report of the Fact Finder on the BC College of Teachers,” and there were many newspaper articles about how dysfunctional it was and was described as “toxic”.
There is a massive difference between the Ontario Teachers’ College and here in BC. One of the differences I have been dealing with through the OIPC. But that is a story for another day.
The Ontario Teachers’ College is focused on public trust and transparency. I have written previous blogs on my Speaking Up BC website about TRB and how much I do not like how they operate. (I will be combining them and writing a more organized blog in the future.) The websites are an example of how different they are. Ours is a maze, and theirs is clearer important information for parents.
They also give parents a copy of what teachers submit in their defence. Our TRB does not, and the only way to get access to them, so far, is through an application through the BC Human Rights Tribunal. You will only be able to get to apply for those if you have a failed settlement meeting and are going through document disclosure.
Just want to flag this for everyone. Our current regulatory system could be doing a much better job, better aligned with the public and not protecting teachers. They need to prioritize the needs of children, not adults who need professional development help.
I will link some info in the comments.
Here is the report: A College Divided: Report of the Fact Finder on the BC College of Teachers https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/administration/kindergarten-to-grade-12/reports-and-publications/2010_factfinder_report_bcct.pdf
Ontario College of Teachers website. They even have tab titled “public protection” https://www.oct.ca/en-ca
Our horrible TRB website https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/organizational-structure/ministries-organizations/boards-commissions-tribunals/commissioner-for-teacher-regulation
Here are some media articles about it.
The Tyee – Behind the Fight Over Who Runs BC’s College of Teachers
City News – BC Teachers College is Dysfunctional
CBC – Report Slams Teachers College
Hello Everyone,
My P.A.T.H website has been a way to share and collect information for parents/caregivers who are advocating for their neurodivergent/disabled children in the K-12 education system.
It has been a labour of love, healing, and peace for me. I am now quite pleased with the collection of information I am able to provide. Finally, I sleep very well at night.
Knowledge is power. Understanding the rules of the system is vital. It is a tough maze we walk through.
I am hoping people will share this information. I would love to see this rights-based information on other websites. It needs wings, and it needs to fly. So, parents, organizations, and other school advocates, I am pleading with you to add information about human rights, external complaint systems, education cases, and advocacy decisions to your own websites. You don’t need to link this back to me. Just take it and run with it. The priority should always be to provide information to support families so that they can support their kids. I don’t view the information on my website as belonging to me. I don’t own it. Take it, spread it and do more with it.
Some people don’t want to engage with lawyers or senior administrators. They feel it’s overwhelming and outside of their capacity. “It’s too much.” If you are advocating, you are engaging with their risk management process whether you want to be or not. I can assure you, the school will certainly be. I say this with my love in my heart, you either learn this stuff at a rate you can handle and try your best, or find an island to live on and unplug from society. There is no escape. They aren’t asking for your consent to participate in their risk management strategies. Because even if the school views you as a “nice, agreeable person” and of no concern, you are still being evaluated. You are just considered low risk. When resources are this scarce, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I can assure you – you have more in you than you even know.
Rights-based advocacy is our hope and pathway to equity. 
