A sign suggestion

(The following letter is addressed to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen.)

The South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce applauds your efforts to remove unsightly signs from the southern corridor of Highway 97.

However, the removal of signage does hinder local growers, as well as commercial and industrial businesses from effectively advertising their whereabouts to the travelling public.

The chamber would like to suggest the RDOS work with the Ministry of Transportation to effectively design uniform signage that would tell the public what agricultural, commercial and industrial businesses exist off Highway 97. As with other highway signs, (bed and breakfast, for example),  a reasonable cost could be incurred by the advertiser.

We would also like to make mention of the need for “industrial area” signage along Highway 97, specifically prior to Road 6 in Area C. This would accommodate Oliver’s industrial zone along Sawmill Road, and at Weyerhauser Road in Area D (industrial zone in Okanagan Falls along Oliver Ranch Road), and the future industrial park there.

Myers Bennett, president,   Chamber of Commerce, South Okanagan

 

It’s what you don’t see

ond what a student sees.

I had the opportunity to shadow a teacher for a day and learn about what goes on behind the scenes.

A teacher will typically come to the school around 8 am to get ready for the day ahead; they need to decide how their classes will be structured.

Different students must be engaged uniquely, so the teacher must structure his or her classes accordingly.

A lunch break is very important for a teacher. Many work through the break, while some take the much needed chance to take a short rest from the demands of the classroom.

Something many teachers have is a “prep block.” This is a block during the day where the teacher does not teach a class, but rather has the opportunity to do whatever they must.

They plan lessons, answer emails, meet with teacher assistants, mark assignments, along with many other things.

Unlike students, the school day does not end at 2:45 for teachers. A teacher will typically stay at work until 4-4:30 pm. They mark assignments and plan the day ahead, but also have routine meetings with other teachers.

Even this is not enough time for everything. Teachers spend a great amount of time working at home. (That’s right, teachers have homework too!) The teacher I shadowed even told me that she designates her Sundays as marking days. Teachers also volunteer for music, plays, coaching, fundraising and other activities outside of class hours.

Before my time with her was complete, she said something that truly caught my attention: in all her years of teaching, she has never had a single day where she did not laugh.

Whenever teachers share with me about their job, their words always show they are passionate about what they do.

Teachers, on behalf of all students at Southern Okanagan Secondary School, I thank you.

Reilly Irvine, Oliver

 

We are lucky to be working

The BC Teachers’ Federation says there are over 41,000 school teachers in the federation.

Strike vote results from March 6 show that only 29,301 teachers voted with 26,051 voting yes for strike action.

This leaves 14,949 teachers or 36.46 per cent that seem to be happy with the way things are.  The way things are is that the average teacher wage in BC is $89,000 per year ($70,624 in wages, $18,000 in benefits). They get two weeks off at Christmas,  two-week spring break, lieu days, and a pension plan that the BC taxpayers pay 16.13 per cent of salary into. They have the months of July and August off, and a taxpayer funded benefits plan.

With the Alberta teachers federation recent four-year contract of zero per cent increase in the first three years, and a two per cent pay raise in the fourth year (with a cash bonus), and with the announcement March 7 that Staples will be closing 225 stores, these 14,949 teachers are saying that things are great the way they are.

We are lucky to be working.

Joe Sawchuk, Duncan