Teacher Teacher - Teacher Regulation Branch
Transcription
Teacher Teacher - Teacher Regulation Branch
BC College of Teachers Teacher shortages and standards A case study on academic requirements In Profile: Prof ile: Environmental educators Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar Powerlifter Kim Dennis spring 2006 Publications Agreement No. 40050835 2006-07 Annual Certificate Fee Notice CERTIFICATE FEES ARE DUE JUNE 30, 2006 BC College of Teachers [ Your 2006-07 certificate fee is due June 30, 2006 ] Your 2006-07 certificate fee is due June 30, 2006.The practising certificate fee is $90. As a certificate holder, you are responsible for ensuring your annual certificate fee is paid. Non-payment results in certificate cancellation. Payments made after June 30 will be subject to a late fee of $30. Certificates for which fees are not paid by September 30, 2006 will be cancelled. For further information, refer to the 2006-07 Annual Certificate Fee Notice that is attached. If you have already paid your annual certificate fee or you have arranged for payment of the annual fee through payroll deduction or pre-authorized payment, please disregard this notice. Paying your fees online in the Certificate Holders Area at www.bcct.ca is the easiest and most secure way of paying your fees. Update your Contact Information Do we have your correct mailing address? Do you want to receive Connected magazine and other correspondence by email? Have you changed employment or moved to another school district? Let us know online at www.bcct.ca through the Certificate Holders area or email us at [email protected] Come to the College's Annual Meeting We invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of the BC College of Teachers. It is being held on Thursday, June 1, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pacific Palisades Hotel, 1277 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC. . It is important that you include your certificate number on all correspondence. Information on the matters indicated in this mailing can also be found on the College website at www.bcct.ca. Teacher shortages ISSN 1712-0772 PRINTED IN CANADA 400 - 2025 W. Broadway t: 604.731.8170 Vancouver, BC toll-free: 1.800.555.3684 V6J 1Z6 f: 604.731.9142 Canada www.bcct.ca and standards A case study on academic requirements In Prof Profile: ile: Environmental educators Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar Powerlifter Kim Dennis spring 2006 Pay your fee online and you will be entered to win a trip to Therapy Vineyards & Guesthouse ™ Submit your BC College of Teachers certification fee online by June 30, 2006 and you'll be entered to win a trip for two to fabulous Therapy™ Vineyards & Guesthouse. Located in the heart of naturally beautiful Naramata Bench (just west of Penticton), Therapy™ is a new winery immersed amongst established and award-winning vineyards. Their friendly staff and welcoming environment leave guests feeling inspired. The Therapy™ Vineyards & Guesthouse prize includes two nights accommodation for two, a light breakfast each morning, a wine tasting and winery tour. Bookings are subject to availability. 2006-07 annual certificate fee notice The annual certificate fee remains at $90 for the fourth consecutive year. Certificate holders are responsible for ensuring their annual certificate fees are paid; not paying your fees will result in certificate cancellation. If you have already paid your fees for 2006-07 please disregard this notice. For further information, visit www.bcct.ca and click on Fees. Fee Categories of BC College of Teachers Certificate Holders PRACTISING MEMBERS CATEGORY 1 $90 Full Practising All who are employed in the K-12 system in BC or in a school leading to BC graduation. - or All those who use their BC certification to accept employment in BC. NON-PRACTISING MEMBERS CATEGORY 2 $0 Practising on LTD CATEGORY 3 $45 Non-Practising CATEGORY 4 $0 Non-Practising Retired All who are employed as in Category 1, but currently on long-term disability and working less than a 0.2 FTE. All those who are not Category 1, but wish to retain a certificate. All those who are not Category 1, but wish to retain a certificate and are in receipt of a pension. REQUIRED PAPERWORK NONE Proof of receipt of long-term disability benefits. REQUIRED PAPERWORK Completed Part A of the Non-Practising Undertaking Form. Completed Parts A and B of the Non-Practising Undertaking Form. Payment Deadlines for 2006-07 Annual Certificate Fees APRIL 1, 2006 On-line fee payment available at www.bcct.ca JUNE 30, 2006 Last day to pay annual certificate fees without penalty JULY 1, 2006 Certificate suspended for non-payment of fees. Renewal of certificate requires payment of the annual certificate fee and a late charge of $30 payable until September 30. OCTOBER 1, 2006 Certificate cancelled for non-payment of fees. Reinstatement after this date requires payment of $410 and completion of a reinstatement application. Preferred Payment Methods 1. PAY ONLINE VIA CREDIT CARD Visit the Certificate Holders Area at www.bcct.ca 2. PAYROLL DEDUCTION Talk to your payroll department or employer 6 ) . % 9! 2 $ 3 ' 5 % 3 4 ( / 5 3 % 3. Other Payment Methods PRE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENT Visit the Fees area at www.bcct.ca to download a Pre-Authorized Payment Form, which must be received by the College by May 31, 2006. NARAMATA BC 250.496.5217 www.therapyvineyards.com CHEQUE Include your certificate number on the back and bring or mail to the College Please include your certificate number on all correspondence. Certificate holder cards will be mailed by the end of July. Please do not send cash through the mail. FEE NOTICE Lo we gu st p ar an rice tee s d! EF makes educational travel easy— and fun As the industry leader in educational travel, EF believes that all students in British Columbia should have the opportunity to travel. That’s why we offer the best tours at the lowest prices—guaranteed. Plus, teachers travel free with six students. Call us today at 1-800-387-1460. We’ll help you choose the trip of a lifetime from among our 300 educational tours to six continents. Or visit us online at eftours.ca. Educational Tours BCCOLLS07 4 24 spring 2006 contents 28 features CERTIFICATION IN TIMES OF SHORTAGE Addressing the challenge of finding qualified in every issue 4 educators to fill teaching positions STANDARDS IN PRACTICE What do you think about the academic 9 requirements to fill teaching positions? YOUR RESPONSES TO OUR CASE STUDY Connected readers offer their thoughts about standards of conduct Letters from the Chair and Registrar 3 Letters to the Editor * IN PROFILE: RUTH FOSTER AND ROD MACVICAR Ask the Registrar 13 Two educators bring together environmental Legally Connected 14 11 24 stewardship and education Discipline Case Summaries 16 In Brief 18 AFTER CLASS: POWER PLAY An Okanagan teacher is setting national records in her sport *There are no letters to the editor at this time. Cover: Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar – Port Moody 28 Object of the College Section 4, Teaching Profession Act It is the object of the College to establish, PRODUCTION AND SALES Produced by RONDA BARZILAY & ASSOCIATES under the direction of the BC College of Teachers having regard to the public interest, standards for the education, professional responsibility and competence of certificate holders and applicants for certificates of qualification COPY Editorial Directors LYNN SULLY • WARD STENDAHL Inscript Language & Writing Inc. and, consistent with that object, to encourage the professional interest of certificate holders in those matters. ART Creative Director VALERY MERCER Mind’s Eye Studio PHOTOS Cover/Interior Photographer HAMID ATTIE Contributing Photographer TIM SWANKY PRINTER Teldon Print Media, Vancouver, BC ADVERTISING SALES Please direct all advertising enquiries to: Ronda Barzilay – t 250.707.0720 f 250.707.0716 toll-free 1.888.847.6632 [email protected] www.rondabarzilay.com Connected’s Editorial Policy The College welcomes article submissions from members. Please send a summary of your proposed article by e-mail to: [email protected]. The editorial board will evaluate it for the best fit with Connected’s editorial lineup. We will advise you if there is space available in an upcoming issue and suggest a word count for your article. We reserve the right to edit your submission. RETURN MAIL: Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: BC College of Teachers 400 - 2025 West Broadway Vancouver BC V6J 1Z6 t: 604.731.8170 toll-free: 1.800.555.3684 as per agreement Publication No. 40050835 ISSN 1712-0772 Stay Connected Connected and other communications of the www.bcct.ca College are the means by which the College informs its certificate holders about professional regulation in BC. Certificate holders are responsible for reading these communications to ensure they are aware of current standards and other professional matters. Copyright ©2006 BC College of Teachers All rights reserved Certificate holders in households where multiple copies of Connected are received may wish to receive Connected by e-mail. To subscribe, simply edit your profile in the Certificate Holders' Area at www.bcct.ca. Readers’ questions and comments about Connected are welcome and may be submitted to [email protected]. Requests for permission to reprint an article may be directed to [email protected] or [email protected]. recyclable paper The British Columbia College of Teachers does not necessarily endorse any product advertised in Connected.The College takes no responsibility for the content of ads, promises made, or the quality/reliability of the products or services offered in the advertising. LETTERS FROM THE CHAIR AND REGISTRAR As spring is now finally upon us, attention turns to the upcoming elections for the Council of the British Columbia College of Teachers. The Council is the governing body for the College. Of the twenty members on the Council, twelve are elected. The College's mandate is the regulation of the education profession in the public interest. It is empowered through legislation to ensure that licensed educators who work with students in BC meet standards of both competency and suitability for the role Marie Kerchum, Registrar they play in society. The written statements of standards are the guides for the academic preparation and the entry of persons into the profession. They are also used as the guides for professional behaviour The warming weather outside signifies the rebirth of nature when allegations are made against members of the College. The after a long winter. For many people, spring is a time of standards, which are at present being reviewed with advice from renewed energy and motivation – a chance to make a new partner groups in BC, are determined by the Council. start, both in their personal and professional lives. Councillors routinely deal with substantive and complex As you plan the remainder of the school year, we encourage matters, making serious decisions that affect the professional you to take a few minutes to ensure that you have paid your lives of the 65,000 certificated professionals in BC. Amongst other fees for the 2006-07 certificate year. The last day to pay your duties, Councillors deal with discipline and fitness-to-teach College fee without a late charge is June 30, 2006. If your fees hearings. These hearings require Councillors to weigh evidence have been payroll deducted in the past, you may want to and make decisions while understanding the legal framework check with your district human resources department to ver- within which the College operates. So it is that each Councillor ify that you continue to be payroll deducted, and to ask when must take an oath that he or she will act in accordance with the the deduction will occur. If your fees are not payroll deducted, law, act in the interests of the College as a whole, and ensure we encourage you to pay fees online using the Certificate that he or she is guided by the public interest. Holders Area of our website at www.bcct.ca. Paying online is As members of a profession, practitioners play the key role in an easy and secure way to pay your fees. determining the future of the licensing body. Members of the We would also like you to visit the Certificate Holders Area College who are interested in running for a position on Council and take a moment to ensure that your contact information should understand that the College does not operate in a vacu- is up to date. Accurate information guarantees that the College um. Many of its decisions are made in an open and transparent can continue to provide necessary information related to manner – in public. Councillors expect to hear from the many your professional certification and that you will receive your partner groups and members of the public that the College deals election ballot. with on a regular basis. Nevertheless, it is an honour and a privilege to serve as an elected member of Council. For more information on the College or how you might run for a position on Council, please see the website at www.bcct.ca. On that note, I am calling for nominations for the position of College Councillor in four zones: Zone 2 (North Central), Zone 7 (Lower Fraser Valley), Zone 9 (Lower Mainland South) and Zone 12 (Vancouver Island). Nominations will close on April 15, 2006. More information about running for College Council is available on page 27 of this issue and on our website. We look forward to your participation and welcome your inquiries at [email protected]. While on the website, please respond to the Standards in Practice survey. The Council is reviewing the College Standards this spring as part of an ongoing professional dialogue. The Council intends to strengthen and improve the Standards through the participation of all College members. Your thoughts regarding the Standards are important and valued – SPRING 2006 by the College Council. 3 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E Dale Townsend, Chair FEATURE – Certification in Times of Shortage Ron Webster, Guidance Counsellor – Tamanawis Secondary in Surrey SPRING 2006 Certification in times of shortage C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – A teaching position is available, but there are no qualified educators to fill it. What options does a school district have? 4 FEATURE – Certification in Times of Shortage Ron Webster was looking for a change. It was 1989 and he'd been working as a chef for close to 20 years. By chance, he saw an ad from the Surrey School District for a chef instructor position. Webster applied, and found himself teaching cooking techniques to four classes of students responsible for preparing the food for a secondary school's busy cafeteria. However, although Webster had his gold-level chef trades papers (and had supervised and taught others throughout his career as a chef), he had no formal qualifications as a secondary teacher. The district was able to hire Webster on a Letter of Permission because it had advertised the position widely and was unable to find an individual with both the required trade experience and educator qualifications. It's a challenge that districts continue to face – often when seeking educators for trades or technology classes, but also when looking for educators to teach other subjects. Letters of Permission and the Developmental Standard Term Certificate are two ways to address the teacher shortage in certain areas. Letters of Permission "If a school district can't find a qualified teacher, it can apply to the College for a Letter of Permission," explains Marie Crowther, Director of Certification. "This is a special permit allowing a district to hire someone who doesn't have a teaching certificate. A Letter of Permission is specific to a person, school and assignment and is valid for only one school year. Districts also have to have advertised widely and show that they've attempted to recruit a certified teacher for the position." Individuals who are hired with a Letter of Permission must meet the same "fitness" qualifications as new applicants to the College. These include an application form to determine if the applicant is a "fit and proper person to work with children," a criminal records check and two confidential reference letters. When the Letter of Permission expires after one year, the district is legally required to advertise the position again. If the position can't be filled by someone with a teaching certificate, the school district must reapply to the College for a Letter of Permission. In the 2004/2005 school year, the College issued 69 Letters of Permission on the recommendation of 23 school districts. Most Letters were issued to individuals in trades and technology (such as chef instruction, automotives and drafting), First Nation language instruction, French Immersion and band. Letters of Permission and the Developmental Standard Term Certificate are two ways to address the teacher shortage in certain areas. Developmental Standard Term Certificates A DSTC (developmental standard term certificate) is something of a stepping stone between a Letter of Permission and a standard teaching certificate – balancing the urgent need to get educators into classrooms with the requirement to ensure that standards of competency are being met. The first DSTC program was created in 1995 as a joint agreement between the College, school districts and UBC to address a shortage of chef instructors. "At the time, we were issuing 30 Letters of Permission a year to chef instructors," says Crowther. "We saw the DSTC as a way to help individuals gain pedagogical qualifications and encourage them to eventually upgrade to a standard certificate." A DSTC is significantly different from a Letter of Permission. It allows an individual with special qualifications (or skills in high demand) to be certified as an educator after completing only 90 credits instead of the 120 required of standard certificate holders. However, DSTC holders SPRING 2006 are restricted in the courses they can teach, and their certificate is non-renewable, expiring after eight years. 5 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – After teaching cooking under numerous Letters of Permission, Ron Webster was excited about the opportunity to obtain a DSTC. "I was enjoying my work at the school and I could definitely FEATURE – Certification in Times of Shortage see the value of a career in education. I also wanted the security of a more permanent position, so I began pursuing my DSTC by enrolling in night classes at Douglas College while working full-time as a chef instructor." With the success of the DSTC in chef training, the College began developing certificate programs for other subjects. Today, for instance, numerous post-secondary institutions across the province offer the First Nations Language and Culture Certificate, a DSTC developed specifically for educators teaching First Nations language and culture in public, independent and band schools. Ensuring that standards are met In an ideal world, all educators would be graduates of recognized education programs and have the additional specialty qualifications to teach their chosen subject. But this isn't always possible – particularly during periods of teacher shortages or in remote areas of the province where it can be difficult to attract teachers for specific subjects. "If there is a shortage of qualified educators in specific areas, Letters of Permission and DSTCs enable us to certify individuals to be in the classroom under specific rules," says Crowther. "The restricted nature of both Letters of Permission and DSTCs are one way of ensuring that standards are upheld." Webster received his DSTC in 1995, which relieved him of the uncertainty he faced each August as to whether he would have a teaching position that coming year. Not surprisingly, he decided to continue attending classes to upgrade his DSTC into a standard certificate. "I finished my Bachelor of Education in 1999, and then went on to do my Masters, which I completed in May 2003." Webster hung up his chef's toque last year, and now works as a guidance counselor at Tamanawis Secondary in Surrey. "It's been a good process," he says. "My first few years of teaching with a Letter of Permission allowed me to evaluate the profession before I decided to invest time and money obtaining my DSTC and education degrees. Back in 1989, it would have been too risky for me to jump into a teacher training program without having had any formal teaching experience to let me know if this was a career I was talented at and wanted to pursue." SPRING 2006 “Professional educators share their professional knowledge and expertise with the profession and others in the community." – Standard 10.3, Standards for the Education and Competence of Professional Educators in British Columbia. 7 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E to standard C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – SPRING 2006 02%3%.43 8 Standards in practice surprised to find that they need to take additional academic courses before they can receive a non-expiring certificate to practise in BC. Read the following fictionalized case study and let us know what you think about standards of qualification. After working as an elementary teacher in Thunder Bay for three years, I was thrilled to be offered a job as a grade four teacher with responsibilities as the music specialist in an elementary school in the Lower Mainland. It had always been my dream to live on the West Coast and I'd finally taken the bull in practice Educators who have successfully taught outside of BC move to the province and are often Once in BC, I met with an evaluator at the BC College of Teachers who informed me that, based on my Ontario certification, I would receive an interim certificate allowing me to teach in BC for four years with a possible extension to eight years. I will be able to make the certificate non-expiring by completing six academic credits of English, six credits of Canadian studies, three credits of math and three credits of laboratory science. I was surprised by these requirements as I had not had to meet similar requirements in Ontario. The College informed me that certificate requirements are a provincial matter and that each province can determine what qualifications are necessary for certification. I'm enrolling in a first-year math course, but I'm nervous about taking math again. I haven't had math since grade 10. Wish me luck! As the body responsible for setting "standards for the education, professional responsibility and competence of its members," the College has defined certain mandatory academic requirements that must be met by those seeking certification to practise in BC. As is suggested by the above case study, many people who complete their education outside of BC may need to take additional academic courses to receive a non-expiring certificate to practise in our province. The following questions explore some of the issues raised when discussing standards of education and qualification: • Compare the mandatory academic requirements (English, math, science and Canadian studies) with the Standards for the Education, Competence and Conduct of Educators in British Columbia, particularly Standards 3 and 5. In your view, do the academic requirements accurately reflect the intent of the Standards? What other measures could the College use to assess whether an standards by the horns and replied to an ad in the Globe and Mail advertising for teachers for BC schools. applicant is literate in English (or in French if teaching in that language) or has sufficient math knowledge to teach up to grade seven? • Many teachers from outside of BC argue that they have taught successfully without having the mandatory academic requirements. What arguments might you use to convince them that these mandatory courses are reasonable and beneficial? • If you could determine the academic subject area requirements for certifying elementary teachers in BC, what would you require? For instance, the College requires every elementary certified teacher to have a post-secondary course in math, but it does not require a postsecondary course in fine arts or physical education. Would you require these or others? Please let us know your thoughts by visiting our website and clicking on the "Respond to the 'Standards in Practice' survey" link on our home page. The following URL will also connect you SPRING 2006 directly to the survey: www.bcct.ca/surveys/standards_in_practice.aspx. Thank you for taking 9 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – part in this important province-wide discussion of Standards. C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E 10 – SPRING 2006 Your responses to our case study your responses to our case study In the winter issue of Connected, we presented a case study of an applicant to the College who had falsified her application form and whose criminal records check revealed that she had a conditional discharge from a shoplifting incident when she was 18. Many of you responded to the case study by answering questions on our website, and we've summarized your responses below. We asked you to think about what standards may have been breached in this particular case. Standard 12.1 ("Professional educators act ethically and honestly at all times") was identified as a standard that the applicant had not upheld. Respondents were concerned about issues of honesty and integrity, and were particularly troubled by the applicant's "pattern of deceit" that included misrepresentations of her teaching history. The applicant's inability to accept responsibility for her actions when questioned by the College committee was also identified as an issue that "could make her unsuitable for teaching." Respondents were divided about whether the applicant should be certified by the College. Some respondents felt that the "patterns of willful deception" justified denying the applicant's request for certification. However, others suggested that if there was considerable evidence from letters of reference or performance evaluations that the applicant was a competent teacher, she should be given a certificate. Respondents were also concerned about making assumptions about the applicant based on a mistake made in her youth. As one person wrote, "In matters other than a sexual nature, the College must look at cases on an individual basis. A mistake made by an 18-year-old does not mean that the person could not 'reform' and become a model teacher." Finally, a few respondents expressed concern over the wording of some of the standards of conduct. Standard 12.1, for example, was seen as perhaps too restrictive in stating that "Professional educators act ethically and honestly at all times" [our emphasis]. As one person wrote, "Educators must be vital, alive and human – complete with the strengths and weaknesses that we all have. Instances of incompetent or questionable behavior need be examined to see if they represent a pattern of unacceptable behavior. Standards 11 through 13 are essential, but need to be carefully crafted. The professional cadre will reject the standards as a definition of professional functioning if they are seen as unrealistic, too 11 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – SPRING 2006 restrictive or overly political." Experience our History ! BARKERVILLE SCHOOL PROGRAM Starting the first week in October you can register for our 20077 Barkerville School Program and exp perience life as it was over 140 years ago. We offer special "Core Programs" consisting of Early Justtice, Schoolhouse Program, Mining Demonstrations, Blacksmith Demonstrations, Wendle d a tour of our famous House Program and "Chinatown". Specials are also offered for the stagecoach, gold panning and the Theatre Royal. Merchants in the Barkerville, Wells and Bowron Lakes area offer a number of greatt deals, from specially tailored menus and discount accommodations to organized evening activities,, canoeing, walking tours and more. For more information, or to book this fun and educational school program please email Barkerville Historic Town at [email protected] or call Judy Mooring at 1-250-994-3302 Ext. #29 For area information please visit www.wellsbc.com or phone 1-877-451-9355 2006 FALL INSTITUTE October 17-21, 2006 The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia offers an exciting professional development program for British Columbia teachers in elementary, middle and high school. Come to your Parliament Buildings in Victoria and learn about parliamentary democracy and the political process. Eighteen teachers will be selected to participate and experience B.C.’s parliamentary system first-hand, returning to their schools and communities with an enhanced understanding of democracy. Deadline is June 1, 2006 SPRING 2006 For further information and to apply on-line, please visit www.leg.bc.ca and click onto Public Education & Outreach. C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – Travel subsidies may be available for those travelling great distances. 12 DOUGLASCOLLEGECA Ask the Registrar Ask The Registrar Many of our members have questions about standards, membership, the role of the BC College of Teachers and other professional issues. The following questions represent the recent queries we've received. When is my fee due? The annual certificate fee is due by June 30 each year. Paying your certificate fee on time is very important. If your fee is not paid by June 30, your certificate will be suspended for non-payment on July 1st and you will be ineligible to teach. In order to return your certificate to valid status, you will need to pay $90 plus a $30 late fee by September 30. If these fees are not paid by October 1, your teaching certificate will be cancelled. Individuals who have had their certificates cancelled for nonpayment of fees may apply for reinstatement. Reinstatement will require fees of $410, a criminal records check and an assessment of credentials in regards to fitness. If you do not have teaching experience in the last ten years, you will need to apply for a new certificate and you will be evaluated according to the current bylaws and policies of the College. How can I pay my fee? Does my employer pay for this? Most employers do not pay your fee on your behalf. However, if you have authorized a payroll-deduction program with your employer, your $90 College fee will be deducted from your paycheque in the spring (times vary from one school district to the next). Check with your payroll department if you are unsure whether you have authorized a payroll deduction for College fees. If your College fees are not payroll-deducted, the most convenient and secure method of paying fees is with your credit card on our secure website, at www.bcct.ca. After April 1, log into the Certificate Holders Area on the website and follow the prompts. You may also pay by cheque, writing your certificate number (L or J I'm a member on long-term disability, and I paid $0 in fees last year. Do I need to worry about paying my fees this year? In January 2006, Council changed the fee structure for members who are employed and on long-term disability (LTD). Previously, members receiving LTD benefits and employed less than 0.6 FTE (3 days per week) paid a fee of $0. For the 2006/2007 fee year, members working less than 0.2 FTE (1 day per week) will pay a $0 fee. If you are receiving benefits from Great-West Life and are eligible for the $0 fee, the College will be notified in June and will update your file to reflect your status. If you have not yet been approved for LTD benefits (or are unsure whether you qualify for LTD), we recommend that you pay the $90 fee. If benefits are subsequently granted, please advise us and we will refund your fee. For those on LTD, but not receiving benefits from GreatWest Life, please forward recent proof that you are receiving benefits, along with a completed Long-Term Disability Statement, available on our website. I'm interested in becoming a College Councillor. What sort of time commitment is involved? Being a member of Council requires a significant time commitment. In the 2006/2007 year, the College Council will meet five times in Vancouver for periods of three to four days. Councillors may also meet outside of regular Council meetings to work on matters related to the College. For those councillors residing outside the Lower Mainland, this can mean a great deal of travel. For more information on being nominated, see page 27. SPRING 2006 No. The College Council has maintained the fee of $90 for practising members and $45 for non-practising members for the 2006/ 2007 year. This is the fourth consecutive year that we have not increased our fees, which are among the lowest of all professional organizations in BC. followed by 6 digits) in the memo area of the cheque. Please do not send cash or post-dated cheques. Do you have a question about the College? Please e-mail us at: [email protected] – Is my College fee increasing this year? 13 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E Marie Kerchum Legally Connected legally connected Court decisions deepen our understanding of the rights and responsibilities of professional educators in BC and Canada. The following case, Kempling v. the BC College of Teachers, supports the administrative and constitutional validity of disciplinary proceedings against a teacher for discriminatory public statements about homosexuality. Case: Kempling v. British Columbia College of Teachers (2005) in the BC Court of Appeal The facts: "unassailable." Lowry referred to examples of Kempling's Christopher Kempling is a member of the College and a published statements, including the following: teacher and registered counsellor in Quesnel. Between "We cannot criticize the homosexual community for 1997 and 2000, Kempling wrote an article and letters to irresponsible behaviour when there is no legal require- the editor about his views on homosexuality that were ment for them to behave responsibly." published in the community paper. His writings were brought to the attention of the College, which began an investigation. Following a College hearing into the matter in 2002, Kempling was found guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the College. In 2003, the College suspended his teaching certificate for one month. Kempling appealed the College's verdict and penalty to the BC Supreme Court. In 2004, the Supreme Court dismissed "I refuse to be a false teacher saying that promiscuity is acceptable, perversion is normal, and immorality is simply "cultural diversity"of which we should be proud." "Sexual orientation can be changed and the success rate for those who seek help is high. My hope is that students who are confused over their sexual orientation will come to see me. It could save their life." Kempling's appeal and upheld the College's decisions. The BC Court of Appeal said that Kempling's comments Kempling then appealed to the BC Court of Appeal, which "associated homosexuals with immorality, abnormality, also dismissed his appeal and upheld the decisions of the perversion and promiscuity." College. He then asked for leave to appeal this decision to Lowry rejected the argument that Kempling's statements, the Supreme Court of Canada. Kempling was not granted while controversial, were not discriminatory. The Court leave to appeal and so the decision of the BC Court of stated that although statements that criticize or denounce Appeal is final. an individual's lifestyle are not in themselves discriminatory, they become discriminatory when they are made in disregard of an individual's inherent dignity. C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – SPRING 2006 Summary of the BC Court of Appeal decision: 14 The Court also found that there was direct evidence that Kempling's appeal was dismissed by the BC Court of Kempling's writings caused harm to the integrity of the Appeal. Mr. Justice Lowry, writing on behalf of the three- school system as a whole. Non-discrimination is a "core member court, said that the BC Supreme Court's conclu- value of the public education system," wrote Lowry, and sion that Kempling's writings were discriminatory was "the integrity of that system is dependent upon teachers England or Scotland? Only TimePlan gives you the choice upholding that value by ensuring the school environment is accepting of all students. When a teacher makes public statements espousing discriminatory views, and when such views are linked to his or her professional position as a teacher, harm to the integrity of the school system is a necessary result." Kempling had argued that the College's decisions infringed on his Charter right to freedom of religion. The Court found that Mr. Kempling had not presented any evidence that this right had been infringed. However, although the Court agreed that Kempling's Charter right to freedom of expression had been infringed, the Court stated that this infringement was demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. Lowry found that while there was a political element to Kempling's expression and that parts of his writings constituted a reasoned discourse, other statements were based on stereotypical notions of homosexuality and that Kempling ignored the inherent dignity TimePlan can give you the chance to expand your teaching skills on a global scale. As the UK's original teacher recruitment specialist, we have opportunities in Early Years, Special Needs, Primary and Secondary schools in cities, towns and country villages across the UK. We offer generous rates of pay, as well as all the support you'll need to make your transition a smooth one. For further information contact Laura Baker. Call: 011800 8463 7526 (toll free) Email: [email protected] www.timeplan.com of the individual, which is essential to a functioning democracy. The Court referenced the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Ross (the case profiled in the Fall 2005 issue of Connected) and clarified that evidence of a poisoned school environment was not needed to justify the infringement on Kempling's Charter right to freedom of expression. Harm of some kind is necessary, but in this case, Kempling's writings themselves undermined "access to a discrimination-free education environment" and "present an obstacle for homosexual students in accessing a discrimination-free education environment." In holding that the College's infringement of Kempling's Charter right was justified, the Court stated that the positive benefits of this infringement, which include "restoring the integrity of the school system and removing any obstacles preventing access for students to a tolerant school environment" outweighed the negative effects. The Court stated: "These statements demonstrated that Mr. Kempling is committed to fulfilling his public and professional responsibilities in an intolerant and discriminatory manner. Proof that he had actually discriminated against a Teach in the UK particular student, or evidence of a poisoned school environment, was not required to prove that the school system had sustained harm. Mr. Kempling's statements damaged the integrity of the school system as a whole. They under- Primary, Secondary & Special Needs mined the core value of non-discrimination by denying homosexual students an education environment accepting of them." "Professional educators respect the privileged position of authority, trust and influence that they hold with students." Standard 11.1 "Professional educators understand that they are viewed as role models by parents and society." Standard 12.2 UK Interviews and Information Sessions are held regularly at our local Canadian offices. Please call for further details. Direct: (905) 898 8950 [email protected] www.protocol-teachers.com SPRING 2006 Standards for the Education and Competence of Professional Educators in British Columbia – "Professional educators behave at all times in ways that reflect positively on the public's confidence and trust in the education system." Standard 12.4 15 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E to standard Report of the Discipline Committee – January 2006 Discipline casesummaries Discipline Hearing Sub-Committee Conduct Review Sub-Committee A Respondent A-11-05 admitted to and was found guilty of conduct unbecoming a member. The Respondent admitted that he engaged in sexual relations with an adult female, which led to a conviction for sexual assault that was later overturned by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Further, he was charged with breaching a court ordered undertaking to not communicate either directly or indirectly with the adult female. He sent her gifts and notes and approached her workplace. This charge was subsequently stayed. The Respondent agreed to a reprimand by the College. Bernt Olav Fuglestveit (Certification date: 1994.12.21) admitted to and was found guilty of professional misconduct. The respondent admitted that while he was a teacher-on-call, he made inappropriate comments to and/or about female students' physical appearance and development. He further admitted that his personal interactions with female students were inappropriate and made them feel uncomfortable. On November 3, 2005, the Conduct Review Sub-Committee approved the Statement of Agreed Facts and Disposition and accepted that the appropriate penalty was a one-month suspension. A Respondent A-12-05 was found not guilty of conduct unbecoming a member. He pled guilty and was convicted of reckless driving and admitted that he was impaired by alcohol at the time. One member of the hearing panel dissented in the matter of Verdict, stating that driving while impaired puts the public at risk. C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – SPRING 2006 Christopher Stephen Myles Kempling (Certificate Issued 1980.08.06) was found guilty of conduct unbecoming a member. He was found to have made discriminatory and derogatory statements against homosexuals in a number of published writings. On April 3, 2003, College Council considered the matter and determined that the respondent's professional teaching certificate be suspended for one month. The respondent appealed the decision to the British Columbia Supreme Court and then further to the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The British Columbia Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the College relating to both verdict and penalty. On January 19, 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed Mr. Kempling's application for leave to appeal the Court of Appeal decision. 16 Consent Resolution Agreements Member CR-A10-05 admitted that his actions, which included inappropriate discipline and language towards students, constituted professional misconduct. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted the member's undertaking not to return to teaching or to a position that requires a College teaching certificate before the date of his retirement, at which time the member will relinquish his certificate. Member CR-B10-05 received less than satisfactory teaching reports from the school district where she was employed until her resignation in January 2004. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted the member's undertaking not to apply for or accept a teaching position in any jurisdiction for which a College certificate of qualification is required until such time as certain conditions are fulfilled. Member CR-D10-05 acknowledged that he had inappropriate physical contact with a student by striking the student in the back with his hand. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted the member's undertaking to fulfill certain conditions. Member CR-E10-05 admitted that she was incompetent due to a medical condition. The member engaged in an inappropriate personal and sexual relationship with a student. She does not presently hold a valid College certificate. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted the member's undertaking not to apply for a College certificate of qualification until such time as certain conditions are fulfilled. Member CR-F10-05 admitted to engaging in a series of inappropriate behaviours towards an individual in the context of a personal relationship. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted his admission that he had engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the College and that Parliament of Canada Teachers! The Parliament of Canada has several educational resources available for your use. The resources are designed to help students understand parliamentary structure and process, and are tailored for all levels of instruction. Many of the resources are accessible on-line and include downloadable materials for student use. For details, visit the education portal of the parliamentary Web site: www.parl.gc.ca/education XXX Educational Programming and Products the appropriate penalty was a 60-day suspension of the member's College certificate of qualification. Member CR-A11-05 was terminated from employment by a school board due to concerns regarding his teaching skills. A grievance was filed and resolved when the termination was rescinded and substituted with a resignation. On November 2, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement and accepted the member's undertaking not to apply for or accept a teaching position in any jurisdiction for which a College certificate of qualification is required until such time as certain conditions are fulfilled. For further information about these educational resources, or to order a Teacher Kit at no charge, please contact the Parliament of Canada’s Information Service: [email protected] X X X 1 866 599-4999 toll free in Canada (613) 992-4793 National Capital Region (613) 995-2266 TTY CANADA T E AC H E R S I N S T I T U T E O N C A N A D I A N PA R L I A M E N TA RY D E M O C R A C Y on Parliament Hill! O T TAWA , N OV E M B E R 5 T O 10, 2006 GET AN INSIDER’S VIEW of Canada’s EXPLORE KEY ISSUES in parliamentary DEVELOP RESOURCES for teaching democracy parliamentary system MEET PARLIAMENTARIANS, and political, procedural and pedagogical experts about Parliament, governance, democracy and citizenship Seventy individuals from across Canada will be selected to attend this unique professional development event. The program is open to teachers of social studies, civics and related subjects teaching grades 4 to 12 (in Québec, from elementary cycle 2 up to CÉGEP). The program covers travel costs, accommodation and most meals. A registration fee of $300 is payable upon selection. Limited bursaries are available. (Renseignements disponibles en français) SPRING 2006 APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 30, 2006 For detailed information and application forms visit our Web site or call us. www.parl.gc.ca/education CANADA – George Heinz Kraus (Certificate Issued 1991. 03.05) admitted that his conduct leading to the criminal conviction and the criminal conviction itself regarding possession of child pornography constitute conduct unbecoming a member of the College. On October 25, 2005, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee approved the Consensual Resolution Agreement under which the respondent relinquished his teaching certificate. Experience a week (613) 992-4793 1 (866) 599-4999 17 C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E Member CR-A01-06 admitted that she was incompetent due to a medical condition. The member frequently yelled and raised her voice in class, behaved in a moody and unpredictable manner, and frequently absented herself from the classroom, leaving her students unsupervised. On January 18, 2006, the Preliminary Investigation Sub-Committee, noting the member's recent, satisfactory teaching report and compliance with an arbitration award, approved a Consensual Resolution Agreement that provides for no further action on the matter. Canada's national census – Count yourself in! Did you know that in your local community, planning for schools, transportation and emergency services is based on population counts taken during the national census? The success of the census depends on the active participation of every man, woman and child living in Canada. Conducted every five years, the census is our country's largest national survey. The next enumeration will take place on May 16, 2006. More than 32 million people in 13.6 million households and 300,000 farms will take part. The survey paints a statistical portrait of Canadians, and governments use the numbers to forecast many needs within communities. It's critical to be counted, and regardless of your age or whether you live in a large urban centre or a small village, your information is essential. It's your future – so make sure you count! For further information, please contact Sandy Poggemiller: t.604.666.5589 email: [email protected] C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – SPRING 2006 in brief 18 GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING CANADIAN HISTORY Canada is rich in stories and there are countless ways to tell them. Canada's National History Society – through the Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History – invites educators from elementary, middle and senior levels to share how they explore Canadian history with their students. Teachers can present themselves or a group, or be nominated by a student, parent or colleague. Six recipients will be awarded $2,500, a medal and a trip for two to Ottawa to attend the Awards ceremony. An additional $1,000 is awarded to the recipients' schools. The application deadline is April 29, 2006. See www.historysociety.ca/gga.asp for more information. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING UBC is hosting a major international conference titled "Brain development and learning: Making sense of the science" to be held in Vancouver from August 19 to 22, 2006. The meeting will explore how people who work with children on a daily basis can use the implications of new discoveries in psychology and neuroscience to enrich and improve children's lives. Speakers include renowned educators, researchers and experts and the conference will cover a wide range of topics that include ADHD, dyslexia, brain plasticity, bridging culture gaps between school and home, learning through the arts, exercise and the brain, bilingualism, and learning and memory. Continuing education credits are available for educators, psychologists, physicians, social workers and lawyers. More information about the conference can be found at: www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/brain_dev_and_learning.html We know how to grab their attention. SPRING 2006 Our on-site school programs, stewardship initiatives and traveling presentations will engage, amaze and inspire your students. For information on all the possibilities, as well as teacher workshops and resources, visit www.vanaqua.org, phone 604.659.3552 or email [email protected]. – Children who witness domestic violence in their homes will have greater access to help through their schools. The Ministry of Community Services is providing $198,000 in funding to the BC/Yukon Society of Transition Houses to help the association expand its Violence is Preventable project to approximately 25 BC communities over the next six months. In January, the Province announced $1 million in funding to encourage community and provincial organizations to develop or expand projects to prevent domestic violence, and an additional $500,000 was provided to expand a school-based, violence prevention curriculum called Respectful Relationships that was developed by Saltspring Women Opposed to Violence and Abuse. More information is available online at www.gov.bc.ca/cserv. 19 Aquarium ConnectEd Ad 0206.indd 1 3/9/06 1:22:10 PM C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E FUNDING SUPPORTS STUDENTS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE In Brief Amy – Grade 12 West Point Grey Academy Vancouver Andy – Grade 12 Eric Hamber Secondary School Vancouver SPRING 2006 School Showcase Project C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – Sarah – Grade 8 Westside Christian School Vancouver 20 SCHOOL SHOWCASE PROJECT The BC College of Teachers is proud to celebrate the artistic talents of BC's elementary and secondary students. Each month, we showcase the work of students in our lobby and on our website. The students' work may often be inspired by work of other artists or may be original. Most recently, West Point Grey Academy (Vancouver), Westside Christian School (Vancouver) and Eric Hamber Secondary School (Vancouver) participated in the program. The School Showcase Project is free of charge to participating schools. If your school is interested in being part of the School Showcase Project, email [email protected] for more details. THE CENTRE OF THE UNIVERSE – NEW VIDEOCONFERENCING PROGRAMS The Centre of the Universe is now presenting programs by videoconference to share its resources with students at a distance. The programs include PowerPoint presentations, question and answer sessions and demonstrations. The Centre of the Universe, Public Observatory and Astronomy Centre, in Victoria, is the National Research Council of Canada's first public outreach centre. Its mandate is to stimulate and educate the public, particularly children and youth, in the field of astronomy. Programs are available in both French and English. For information call 250.363.8262 or email: [email protected]. THINK OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM AT THE IMAX THEATRE CANADA PLACE ® CANADA'S SPECIES AT RISK ACT Urbanization, habitat loss and fragmentation, atmospheric change, pollution and non-indigenous species are all stresses on species and ecosystems. The Species at Risk Act (SARA) provides a framework for actions across Canada and sets out how to decide what species are a priority for action and what to do to protect a species. Its goal is to prevent endangered or threatened wildlife from becoming extinct or lost from the wild, and to help in the recovery of these species. Narrated by JOHNNY DEPP and KATE WINSLET Featuring Music by DANNY ELFMAN Directed by HOWARD HALL Give your students the ultimate movie experience. To book your class, contact the IMAX Group Sales Department at 604-682-2384 x225 or reserve online at www.imax.com/vancouver IMAX ® is a registered trademark of IMAX corporation Invest in your Future Upgrade your Teaching Certificate to 5 Plus 15 (PB Plus 15) Status via Distance Education • Complete your courses entirely from home • Acquire up to one extra year of University Grad Credit BUZZ into the World of Bees & Honey Friendly farm visit, rain or shine! Engaging, biology-based, guided tours for pre-K through grade 12. Fun hands-on activities. Live observation hive and honey processing demonstration. Tasty honey sampling. A firstclass, kid-approved agricultural experience. • All courses are fully accredited through Portland State University We are looking for BCCT certified tutors in the Lower Mainland We are looking for BC Certified Teachers for one-to-one, in-home tutoring. Teachers are required for all subjects and grade levels, especially high school. To apply, please forward your current resume, a copy of your BCCT Teaching Certificate and two reference letters. Come tour Honeyland with CONVENIENT AFFORDABLE MANAGEABLE Toll-free 1.877.531.6665 [email protected] www.montessoritraining.net/ university_credit/faq.htm Teachers' Tutoring Service 17617 Ford Road, Pitt Meadows T. 604.460.8889 Toll-Free 1.877.460.8889 [email protected] 203 - 1929 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1Z3 www.HoneylandCanada.com www.tutor.bc.ca tel.604 730.3410 fax 604 730.3416 Step into history, explore the world. Teaching Position Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School Aberdeen Hall Preparatory School is currently inviting applicants for a full-time Grade Five teaching position. Candidates must possess or be eligible for a BC Teaching Certificate by September 1, 2006. Preference will be given to candidates who have strength in Physical Education and a willingness to support extracurricular activities. Applications should be sent by March 27, 2006. Birth of a Nation: Vimy Ridge 90th Anniversary Celebration Vimy, France | April, 2007 Participate in the official celebration with your students, then take off with your class and explore the most popular destinations in Europe with Explorica Educational Travel. SPRING 2006 Don’t miss this historic event. www.returntovimy.ca C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – 1.888.378.8845 Jim Klein – Acting Head of School 2455 Acland Road, Kelowna, BC t. 250.491.1270 f. 250.491.1289 22 Teachers travel free! travel. learn. Certain themes run through SARA: cooperation among governments, consultation with people affected by a SARA-related action or decision, stewardship activities, information and ongoing review. Although SARA provides for prohibitions and other legal sanctions against actions that would harm species at risk, it also encourages effective stewardship of ecosystems so that species at risk can recover while human activities continue. Visit www.sararegistry.gc.ca for more information or call Anne-Marie Sleeman, Communications Advisor Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon at 604.713.9514. NINE RICHMOND TEENS HONOURED BY SCHOOL BOARD Nine students from H.J. Cambie Secondary School were recently honoured by the Richmond School Board. The students researched and produced short documentary films last spring as part of a project called "Local Heroes." The Local Heroes project was developed by the Historica Foundation, in association with Citytv Vancouver, to encourage high school students to discover a new relationship to history, their community and their own lives. The high school students worked with broadcast journalism students from BCIT, local museum and archive groups and broadcast professionals. Each documentary tells the story of a remarkable British Columbian who made an outstanding contribution to his or her community. The three Local Heroes that were profiled include Albert "Ginger" Goodwin, whose struggle for better working conditions for his fellow miners in British Columbia led to his death, which in turn provoked Canada's first General Strike; Tomekichi Homma, a Japanese-Canadian who fought tirelessly for the right to vote, but died in an internment camp four years before his dream was realized; and Kathleen McNeely, who was the first female principal in Richmond, BC, and who risked her life to care for her students and their families during the Spanish influenza epidemic. The documentaries can be viewed on the Historica website in the section devoted to YouthLinks, a web-based education program that encourages high school students to publish, discuss and debate history and global issues with their classmates and students across Canada and abroad: www.youthlinks.org/article.do?articleID=2088 Over 100,000 new PALS! In the 2005/06 school year, Science World is providing more than 100,000 K – 7 students throughout British Columbia a fun, FREE science and technology experience through the BC PALS program. And we’re not stopping there! Science World On the Road province-wide science shows, field trips to TELUS World of Science, classroom workshops, online games and teacher resources: we’re making science a priority at no cost to students. NEW ONLINE RESOURCE ON BLACK HISTORY IN CANADA – SPRING 2006 For more information call 604-443-7500 or visit www.scienceworld.ca. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Education for BC PALS. 23 CONNECTED MAGAZINE With the support of TD Bank, Historica has taken the guesswork out of online research with the new Black History Canada portal. This free, bilingual and fully searchable online gateway provides researchers and educators with a thematically organized and annotated selection of resources about Canada's Black history that have been vetted for historical accuracy and relevance. The portal was compiled by editors from The Canadian Encyclopedia in consultation with Rosemary Sadlier, President of the Ontario Black History Society. The portal covers topics from slavery and early settlement to equity and human rights. It addresses the issues of identity and assimilation and uncovers some of the "missing pages" of Canada's Black history – those important but often forgotten contributions of groups such as the Black Loyalists and the Maroons. The achievements of Black artists, athletes and politicians are also celebrated. Each theme features an introductory essay written by Rosemary Sadlier, captivating images and annotated links to the best online resources available. Go to www.histori.ca to explore the available resources. INPROFILE Every Sunday, a group of volunteers meet at the Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody. They'll spend several hours taking care of business, maintaining the hatchery and, depending on the time of year, cleaning water filters, checking on thousands of newly hatched salmon eggs, feeding small fry, releasing year-old salmon into the wild or collecting returning spawners. From teenagers to retirees, the volunteers are connected by their shared interest in environmental stewardship. And more likely than not, they're connected by their relationship to two remarkable individuals: Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar. In 1976, Foster and MacVicar were both biology teachers at Centennial Secondary in Coquitlam. They decided to start an environmental club. "No one really thought of it as too valuable," says MacVicar. "It was seen as just a club." At the time, MacVicar was interested in streams that had once supported salmon but that had been fished out. With permission from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the environmental club created a small salmon hatchery at a field site that is a 15minute drive from the school. "We wanted to do something hands-on that would offer rich outdoor educational experiences and help our students develop practical stewardship skills," says Foster. people During the first year of the Centennial School Salmon Club, Foster and MacVicar would drive students to Kwantlen College every Wednesday night to take a course on the biology of salmon Ruth Foster&Rod MacVicar week at the hatchery – they learned about SPRING 2006 In 1976, Ruth Foster and Rod MacVicar started a small school-based environmental club. Thirty years on, it's a powerful example of the tremendous impact educators can have – on students, a neighbourhood, a community and the environment. – CONNECTED MAGAZINE Environmental Educators 24 enhancement. At club meetings – held once a raising salmon and began building incubation boxes and access trails. "We really learned as we went," says MacVicar. "And I think there's a real lesson there for kids, to see their teachers learning with them." There were certainly lessons to be learned. In their first year, all the salmon eggs that the students had so carefully collected, fertilized and incubated were suffocated by silt immersed in freshly flowing water from come back to see if "their" fish have when a developer dumped soil upstream the creek. After the eggs hatch in early made the return in the fall. They come from the project site. However, this gave spring, the fry are moved to special tanks back as volunteers, and they bring their the students a chance to practise their where they are fed until their release. children with them." public speaking skills when they were Last year, the hatchery released 90,000 later asked to testify in court about the chum and 7,000 coastal coho salmon. Every fall hundreds of salmon now the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement return to Mossom Creek. The creek is Society, a registered non-profit society Despite these early challenges, the supporting near-historic levels of salmon that was formed in 1991 by club alumni. project has evolved and grown over the and the hatchery is able to supply fish to "The Society has served as a vehicle for years into a modern hatchery operation other streams in the area. graduating students to take on executive and teaching facility. Over the 30 years As a keystone species, the returning positions," says Foster. "It's offered con- that Foster and MacVicar taught at salmon have actually enhanced many crete opportunities for young people to Centennial School, the two would drive other species – including bears, seals, grow and develop important administra- students to the hatchery at least once a herons and eagles. And the hatchery- tive and management skills." week, and students from the school's raised fish contribute to ocean food The hatchery hasn't cost the school science, biology, photography and wood- webs and are caught by anglers and district a penny – students and volun- working classes were using the hatchery commercial fishers. teers dedicate thousands of hours each But it's not just the salmon that are year to running the hatchery, and grants returning to Mossom Creek. "Like the from the DFO and donations from the Each fall, students collect eggs from the salmon, the students come back," says private sector cover capital and operating salmon that have returned to spawn, MacVicar. "They come back as university expenses. In 1994, the Centennial School fertilize the eggs and incubate them for students conducting studies on the Salmon Club even received donations to several months in plastic trays that are stream and surrounding ecosystem. They purchase and insure its own 32-passenger ecology and other subjects. 0ALAEO7EEKFOR4EACHERS ÊwÊÛi`>ÞÊi>À}ÊÛ>V>ÌÊÕÃÌÊvÀÊi`ÕV>ÌÀÃt IÊ Ì>iÊ«>ÀÌÊÊ>ÊÃÕ>Ìi`Ê`Ã>ÕÀÊ`} IÊ i>ÀÊ>LÕÌÊÌ iÊ>ÌiÃÌÊ«>>iÊ`ÃVÛiÀià I iÝ«ÀiÊÌ iÊÕµÕiÊLiÀÌ>ÊL>`>`à IÊÊi`ÕV>Ì>ÊÀiÃÕÀVià Õ}ÕÃÌÊ£{£n]ÊÓääÈ %DUTOURS ÊÌÜ`>ÞÊwÊi`ÊÌÀ«ÊvÀÊÃÌÕ`iÌÃÊÌ >ÌÊ>iÃÊi>À}Ê>ÊL>ÃÌt IÊ iÝ«ÀiÊÌ iÊÜ`iÀÃÊvÊÌ iÊL>`>`à IÊ >iÊ>ÊÀi>ÊvÃÃÊV>ÃÌ IÊÊ Ãii«ÊÕ`iÀÊÌ iÊ}>ÌÃÊvÊÌ iÊ ÀiÌ>ViÕà À>`iÃÊÓ£Ó ./7"//+).'&/2 SPRING 2006 to gain hands-on experience in aquatic – says Foster. 25 CONNECTED MAGAZINE event – "definitely a teachable moment," Today, the hatchery is co-managed by the Centennial School Salmon Club and clean-air propane-powered bus. This made it much easier to bring Centennial students to the hatchery and serve the 6HFXUHRQOLQHDFFHVVWR\RXUFODLPVDQGEHQHÀW FRYHUDJHLQIRUPDWLRQIURP3DFLÀF%OXH&URVV two locally developed courses created by MacVicar and Foster – Wildlife of BC 11 and Fisheries Ecology 12. Although both MacVicar and Foster have now officially retired as teachers, they KRXUVHOIVHUYLFH are still very involved in the hatchery. (DV\DFFHVVWRHVVHQWLDO LQIRUPDWLRQDERXW\RXU H[WHQGHGKHDOWKFDUHDQG GHQWDOEHQHILWFRYHUDJH throughout the week, working with vol- They are both out at the hatchery unteers, meeting with students and overseeing the fish throughout their lifecycle. They both admit that the hatchery has been a tremendous amount of work. "But 7UDFNWKHVWDWXVRI DFXUUHQWFODLP these are the things that make your job more than a job," says MacVicar. "It's what makes it a career and gives 9LHZFODLPVKLVWRU\ it meaning." 'RZQORDGDGLUHFWGHSRVLW HQUROPHQWIRUP Over the past three decades a vibrant community has developed around the hatchery – a community of current stu- )RUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQYLVLW dents, Centennial school alumni, parents, ZZZSDFEOXHFURVVFD neighbours and others. "It's brought people together, connected them to each other and to the environment," says Foster. "It's shown us all that you can Montessori Elementary Teacher Credential Program* address global problems right in your Now accepting applications. enormous pride of the hundreds of stu- Montessori Elementary Credential Program (Ages 6-12 yrs.) This is a thorough & comprehensive program that offers an integrated and holistic approach to education. It is designed to meet the needs of teachers in both the public and private sectors. The training consists of 3 components: Summer Sessions, Distance Learning, & Field Study. SPRING 2006 *Accredited by MACTE - www.macte.org *Affiliated with AMS - www.amshq.org – CONNECTED MAGAZINE Both Foster and MacVicar speak with dents they've connected with – students Montessori Foundation Course who developed newfound confidence Course Description: This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the preschool years (ages 3-6). It includes lectures and seminars on Montessori educational theory, philosophy, & curriculum. This course is a pre-requisite to VTI’s Montessori Elementary Credential Program offered in collaboration with Simon Fraser University (SFU), unless a Montessori Early Childhood Credential has already been attained. once they put on hip waders and started Attending this course does not certify an individual to teach in a Montessori classroom. Make a Donation or Volunteer Credit Opportunity: Simon Fraser University (SFU) offers credit options for eligible students. Call 604-713-4500 or email [email protected] for a complete information/application package or visit our website: www.vti.vsb.bc.ca vancouver training institute a division of the Vancouver School Board 26 own neighbourhood." collecting salmon, students who pursued careers in science or environmental education, and students who are "kinder to the environment" as a result of what they learned looking after Mossom Creek and its salmon. For information about making a donation or volunteering with the Mossom Creek Hatchery, please e-mail [email protected]. Notice of Call for Nominations Notice of call for nominations for council members Zones Zone 2 NORTH CENTRAL Nomination forms are available at www.bcct.ca and from the College offices. Completed nomination forms with original signatures must be received at the College offices by 4:30 p.m. on April 14, 2006. Forms that are incomplete, inaccurate or received after this date will not be accepted. Zone 7 Nominations must: LOWER FRASER VALLEY 35. Langley 42. Maple Ridge Zone 9 LOWER MAINLAND SOUTH Zone 12 VANCOUVER ISLAND 36. Surrey 37. Delta 61. Greater Victoria 62. Sooke 63. Saanich 64. Gulf Islands 68. Nanaimo-Ladysmith 69. Qualicum 70. Alberni 71. Comox Valley 72. Campbell River 79. Cowichan Valley 84. Vancouver Island West 85. Vancouver Island North SPRING 2006 If you are interested in running for Council, please visit www.bcct.ca and click on About Us/Council/Elections for more information on serving as a College Council member. 28. Quesnel 57. Prince George 59. Peace River South 60. Peace River North 81. Fort Nelson – 1. Be made on the nomination form provided by the BC College of Teachers and be proposed by ten members in good standing of the College, each of whom holds a valid certificate and is employed or resides in that zone. 2. Include the candidate's written consent to the nomination. 3. Be filed with the Registrar by 4:30 p.m. on April 14, 2006. Candidates consenting to stand for nomination should also include a brief statement with their written consent. The contents of this statement will be detailed when a candidate receives a nomination package. The statements will be posted on the College website following the close of nominations and will be included with the mailed ballot. Statements of successful candidates will remain on the website following the election. Before taking office, a person elected to the Council must take and sign, by oath or by solemn affirmation, a prescribed Oath of Office in accordance with section 9.1 of the Teaching Profession Act. Visit www.bcct.ca and click on About Us/Council/Elections to read the Oath of Office. School Districts 27 CONNECTED MAGAZINE Pursuant to Section 9 of the Teaching Profession Act, this is a call for nominations for a member of the BC College of Teachers to be a representative on the Council. This call for nominations applies to Zones 2, 7, 9, and 12. The end-of-term date for Council members elected or acclaimed is July 31, 2009. To be eligible for nomination to a position of zone representative, a person must hold a valid BCCT certificate of qualification. after class coach and referee. And Dennis also serves as the secretary for her sport's national organization, the Canadian Powerlifting Union. "It's a small sport," she says, "so you need to pitch in wherever you can." As a nationally ranked athlete, Dennis has inspired others to get involved in powerlifting. She has coached high school lifters competing in the PowerPlay BC Games and athletes participating in the Special Olympics, and she is currently coaching two junior lifters who will be competing at the nationals. In September, Dennis took on a full-time teach- Westbank teacher Kim Dennis gets a lift out of her chosen sport. ing position at Chief Tomat Elementary School in You've probably not heard of Kim or her sport, even though she's a nationally well-being to be involved in powerlifting. It helps ranked champion. That's because grade four teacher Kim Dennis competes me achieve a more balanced life." in powerlifting, a relatively modern sport related to weightlifting. "Most people usually think powerlifting is the same as weightlifting," says Dennis. "But the two are about as similar as figure skating and hockey!" Westbank, just outside Kelowna. "Teaching is very intense, so I find it very important for my overall Dennis also continues to be involved in gymnastics – not as a competitor, but as a nationally ranked judge. In fact, if there's a weekend when How do they differ? In powerlifting, competitors perform three separate she's not prepping for class or attending a power- lifts: a squat, a bench press and a deadlift. They select a starting weight for lifting meet, you'll likely find her judging gymnas- each and have three attempts to lift it. If a competitor is successful on an tics competitions. attempt, they can add weight to their next lift for that event. Scores are cal- With her new teaching position at Chief Tomat culated by adding together the heaviest weight successfully lifted for each and her commitments to powerlifting and gym- event, and the competitor with the highest overall score is the winner. nastics, Dennis is having a very busy year. But for "My strategy is to select a weight I know I can lift for the first attempt," says now, she has no intention of putting away the Dennis. "For my second lift I choose a weight I'd be very happy lifting and for my weights. "I never actually thought I'd be involved third lift, I choose a weight that represents my ultimate goal for the event." in powerlifting for this long," she says. "But my Dennis's interest in powerlifting began ten years ago, during her first year lifts just keep getting better and better!" of teaching. "As a child, I was very involved in competitive gymnastics, and weights were a part of my training. When I began teaching, I took up weight training once again to stay in shape, and while at the gym I met a group of people who introduced me to powerlifting." Success in local competitions soon followed, and Dennis found herself a rising star. She currently holds eight provincial and two national records, and has competed at the PanAmerican Games, two World Championships and the World Games. Her best lifts are an astonishing 165 kilograms (365 pounds) for the squat, 105 kilograms (230 pounds) for the bench press and 150 kilograms (330 pounds) for the deadlift. SPRING 2006 Competing at such a high level requires a serious commitment to training and conditioning. So four or five days a week, you can find Dennis at her C O N N E C T E D M AG A Z I N E – local gym, training for up to two hours at a time. Many of her weekends are taken up with competitions, where she participates as a competitor, 28 What do you do After Class? We’d like to hear your stories of learning vacations, community involvement, sabbaticals abroad and passions or interests. Please e-mail us at: [email protected] Publications Agreement No. 40050835