If you are a band student in School District No. 46 (SD46), news this week from the provincial government is music to your ears.
Legislation passed down from the provincial government will hopefully ease the financial burden on school districts in this province, allowing fees for some school courses.
SD46 has been trying to figure out how to provide courses like band and photography to students following a Sept. 29 B.C. Supreme Court ruling that said "a school board cannot charge fees for any course, including an elective, if that course is providing credits leading to graduation."
The band program was budgeted at more than $150,000, and with an already tight squeeze, SD46 was unsure how they would come up with the funds to continue with the program.
But with this new legislation, school districts can now charge fees for the purchase or rental of musical instruments for a student's personal use.
Now, the news is not all peaches and cream for courses like photography or woodworking. SD46 officials admitted this week that those courses are still up in the air. SD46 will be meeting with principals and teachers to try to find the money so these valuable, elective courses can be offered to every student who wants to take them and not just the ones who can afford the extra $100.
Let's hope no, check that. We know that educators on the Coast will find a way to make this work and continue to provide the quality programs that all our students can enjoy.
Good on the provincial government for taking these steps.
Kudos to teachersSpeaking of teacher recognition, a Gibsons educator was presented with the Prime Minister's Award for teaching excellence in Victoria this week.
We first told you of the award in January for Michael Maser and his work with SelfDesign Learning Community, an innovative program that is helping students across North America.
The award was handed out during Education Week in B.C. Certainly Michael's achievement is cause for celebration and deserves recognition, but we feel teachers deserve recognition every day for the work that they do.
Teachers help pave the way, passing on knowledge to the youth of today who will be the leaders of tomorrow. So if you are a student or a parent, be sure to recognize your teachers for the work that they do. We couldn't imagine a world without them.
