I have been teaching drama for 17 years and I love what I do! Theatre has the power to initiate conversation, to deepen our understanding of the human condition, to create compassion in place of prejudice, to change lives, among other things.
I began teaching in 1995, when the public education system was adequately funded, when libraries were open full time, when there were ample CEA’s to provide assistance to special needs students who were being welcomed into integrated classes, and there were enough desks and textbooks for each student in the class. I fondly remember classes of 18 – 22 students where the learning environment was focused, highly productive, and safe. Staff rooms were full of smiling, laughing, energetic teachers who enjoyed spending time together.
I have taken two groups of students on field trips to New York, and too many busloads of students to remember to Calgary, Edmonton, Spokane, Vancouver and Kamloops to see professional theatre – many who had never had an opportunity to travel outside of their community before. I have directed dozens of productions where students become stars, and none of them have ever had to pay one red penny to be involved in the joy of becoming part of such a creative team – dare I say “family.” I have always kept ticket prices within the means of our lower income families so all students can have family come and see them shine on stage, or know their son or daughter is part of the back stage magic. I have spent far more time with “your” children than with my own during the school year.
I have 20 years left in my career. However, I’m fearful of the future of public education. I am not going to spout the rhetoric of either side of the BCTF vs The Government battle. Those of you reading, who want to know the facts, will find them. However, in this time period where we have been asked to “cool off” I find that I’m only heating up! I am proud to live in Canada.
The Canada that I live in is a democratic nation. We are responsible for electing our leaders – locally, provincially and federally, from the quilter’s guild to the highest governing bodies. We vote. We complain when things don’t seem right and we live under the seemingly unjust rules until we vote again and hope for change.
The BCTF is a democratic body. As a body of teachers we voted on our reaction to Bill 22. With a majority (albeit lukewarm) of 73 per cent the mandate falls that we – the democratic body of teachers in B.C. – have made a decision to withdraw all of our extra services with the hopes the public will recognize all the extra that we do, and will speak up to help us help our very deserving students get the quality public education they are entitled to by our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I have done what I’ve been asked. No extra-curricular shows, no trips, nothing beyond my teaching duties and class performances where my time is compensated. The Provincial Drama Festival in Vancouver was cancelled and our beloved three-day Rotary Goodwill Shakespeare Festival in Summerland quickly followed suit.
Luckily, the drama teachers in Vernon all came together with the founder of the festival from Summerland and we have put together a one-day bell-to-bell Shakespeare festival to enrich the drama education of our students, while still operating within the boundaries of the no extra-curricular mandate.
I was organizing a trip to the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare festival for next October, but I pulled the plug. No fundraising. No extra-curricular. No trip. Since spring break I’ve been deeply unhappy – everyday! I don’t believe this is the way to win our fight. But it is the only legal option we have left.
As a member of this democratic nation, I am doing what I’ve been asked to do. I love my students – deeply!
And, I’m sure I’ll love all the students I will meet over the next 20 years, if the drama program survives the next round of cutbacks by our government, and if I have a program to save!
Lana O’Brien
Vernon
