Having a Voice

Standing outside today in the cold and wet, holding a sign to "Save Public Education in BC" gave me ample time to consider what it means to have a voice. In my ideal world, I would be Switzerland, maintaining enough balance and perspective to have both sides in a debate like me and appreciate my neutrality.

However, this week, as a public school teacher, I have been forced to pick a side. In the face of the proposed legislation that would effectively cut the teacher's union off at the knees, forty-thousand teachers in BC have walked off the job.

It is a surreal experience to have people from all walks of life and levels of understanding have opinions on who I am and what I do and essentially what I am worth? 

And, at the end of the day, everyone has a right to their opinion on the matter. What is good education? How can we create an equitable system that gives children the best opportunity to succeed in life?

It is this voice and opinion and the right to both of these in a democratic system that concerns me the most. As a teacher, future parent and voting citizen, my hope is that we will continue to have a province where we all have the right to express our opinions. And, that we provide each of our children with an education that gives them the confidence and social awareness to express their opinions and to stand up and value their voice.