Increasing access to mental health resources, wages, financial incentives and upgrading schools are among the promises Richmond candidates are making to benefit the Richmond School District.
The Richmond Teachers Association (RTA) questionnaire on education-related matters was sent to Richmond’s 18 candidates running in the Oct. 19 provincial election.
Of the 18 candidates, only independent candidates Errol Povah and Charlie Smith, BC Green Party candidate Tamas Revoczi and the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidates, in a collective response, answered the questionnaire.
Regarding supporting public education, most candidates highlighted their achievements in helping students and teachers create a better learning environment.
The NDP candidates’ collective response said the current government has expanded three Richmond schools, adding space for 500 students, and several partial replacement projects. Furthermore, they've funded 13 seismic upgrades at Richmond schools.
Richmond-Bridgeport candidate Revoczi said he arranged meetings with the chair, superintendent, deputy superintendence and Richmond Board of Education to promote and improve educational interests and needs in the Sea Island community.
Former Georgia Straight editor Smith, also running in Richmond-Bridgeport, said he wrote articles “supporting teachers in labour disputes” while working in the media industry.
He added his articles “educated readers” on the contract battles between the former B.C. Liberal government and the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF). (The BC Liberals changed their name to BC United, but then dropped out of the provincial election at the end of August with their leader Kevin Falcon urging support for the BC Conservatives.)
Meanwhile, Povah, who is running in Richmond-Queensborough, said in his response he has “done nothing to support public education in Richmond, specifically." Instead, he noted his participation in anti-SOGI protests and said he would support government funding of private education.
Actions for teacher shortages
Raising wages and benefits for teachers were the majority of the candidates’ responses in the questionnaire.
Revoczi compared education as the “foundational ‘root’” of a community and having financial support for teachers from essential training to final practicum periods is important.
Both Revoczi and the NDP said simplifying certification processes for teachers would attract more qualified educators to B.C. from outside the province and even internationally.
Eliminating hiring barriers and focusing on recruiting and retaining teachers in high-demand areas through the current government’s Future Ready Plan is also a big priority, the NDP said.
Smith, on the other hand, said increasing wages would not only potentially make teaching more enjoyable, but would provide more resources for students with special needs.
Eliminating subsidies for private schools and transferring the "savings” into public education would also help in the teacher shortage issue, Smith added.
While acknowledging a lack of educators in schools, Povah believes the shortage was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with many teachers quitting or being “fired” due to vaccine requirements.
Addressing workplace violence within the school system
The questionnaire also asked candidates what their solutions would be for addressing issues of increased reports of workplace violence within the school system.
All the candidates’ responses, aside from Povah, addressed the concern of mental wellness for students and teachers alike.
Smith said he would oppose a police liaison program saying “the presence of uniformed officers can be triggering for some BIPOC students.”
If elected, he said he would work with the RTA on this issue.
“The reality is that there are students and staff who've either experienced trauma or may have personality disorders or are susceptible to psychotic episodes due to their mental health,” Smith responded.
“I support teachers' efforts to instill social and emotional learning competencies, particularly at a younger age.”
Feeling safe while learning is important for the NDP government and the candidates running in Richmond said they are focusing on early intervention and prevention for mental health needs “before they become crises,” said the NDP candidates’ response.
To do so, the NDP is looking at having a mental health counsellor at every school for students and professionals to receive support.
They added they will expand the current Integrated Child and Youth teams for mental health resources.
Revoczi also said expanding access to a school psychologist and resources would help with workplace violence in the school system.
Funding would be needed to hire more special education teachers, psychologists, counsellors and registered social workers, which could be done by doubling the Classroom Enhancement Fund, he explained.
In Povah’s response to RTA’s questionnaire on workplace violence, he questioned what the teacher association’s “definition of violence” was. He stated if misgendering individuals or anti-SOGI protests outside schools were defined as violence, then he “would have no problem with ‘violence.’”
However, for physical violence such as bullying, threatening, discrimination or emotional abuse, then all levels of authority should be involved, he added.
Povah also suggested teachers wearing body cameras could be an option.
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