Could B.C.'s fractious education system have 10 years of stability? That's the (faint) hope of the BC Liberal government, which wants to end decades of battles with the BC Teachers' Federation with a review of the bargaining structure.
Should the BCTF come to the table, we would welcome an end to the rancor and a new climate of co-operation. Should this occur, B.C. would enter golden years for education.
Unfortunately, without money on the table, little can be accomplished in terms of dealing with class size and special needs support, which are key issues for teachers.
Without some concrete proposals and meaningful consultation, this offer will be sorely tested.
Still, the announcement by Premier Christy Clark and Education Minister Don McRae is an admission that the province bears some responsibility for the past problems, and we welcome an olive branch and look forward to better times to come.
