Teachers Allowed to Post Political Messages in Schools Say Court Ruling

[DonLever]

Teachers who wore campaign buttons to school five years ago and posted political messages on classroom doors were exercising their right to free expression in a way that did not detract from their students’ education, the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday.

Read more: http://www.vancouver...l#ixzz2U0PPeZ6d

One of the appeal court judges, Mr. Justice Christopher Hinkson, said he agreed with Tuesday’s ruling but is concerned about the extent to which children could be exposed to just one side of an issue as part of their educational experience and noted that teachers’ right to freedom of expression in schools is not unlimited. If teachers monopolize an issue, they will deprive students of their right to be educated in an unbiased school system, he said.

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/BCTF+wins+round+legal+fight+over+freedom+expression+schools/8415260/story.html#ixzz2U0QuAMpe

[Common sense]

If the BCTF can't win at the polls, they'll try in the courts. How sad.

[hsedin33]

They can't vote until they are 18, sooo...

[Buggernut]

If the BCTF can't win at the polls, they'll try in the courts. How sad.

[Canuckerbird]

While I'm all for students being exposed to and learning about politics and their civic duties, the personal political beliefs of teachers should have no place in a public school classroom. Especially in BC where teachers are overwhelmingly biased towards the left.

[HTania]

What's even more disturbing is that they can hijack your kids and indoctrinate their ideologies into them against your will.

[TOMapleLaughs]

I've had several pro-socialist teachers. That being said, socialism is a significant part of our Canadian history.

The parents might be bothered by a few buttons here and there, but i doubt the students give a crap. They can't vote. And trends show they won't vote until they're much, much older as well.

[RUPERTKBD]

This may be current news, but it's been going on for quite a while.

My daughter is graduating this year, but was force fed Liberal hatred by her teachers when she was in grade 2. She actually came home before the first Gordon Campbell government and warned me not to vote for Bill Belsey (the Liberal North Coast candidate at the time) because "he hates kids and animals"...

When I asked her where she got that idea, she told me that her teacher had told her.

[inane]

Oh...this thread...

[Heretic]

If the BCTF can't win at the polls, they'll try in the courts. How sad.

[Heretic]

What's even more disturbing is that they can hijack your kids and indoctrinate their ideologies into them against your will.

[RUPERTKBD]

So....we've got rid of corporal punishment.

We've removed religion from the schools.

Now you want to remove the teachers as well?

What about parents indoctrinating their ideologies in the kids?  Maybe we should have the government take away kids from their parents when they are born?

[Heretic]

I don't see how you come to that conclusion.

I think it's fair for parents to expect that teacher's will not try and influence their children's political leanings one way or another.

I think many of us believe that teacher's cannot be counted on to provide an unbiased view of politics, so it should therefore be left out of the classroom environment.

[RUPERTKBD]

I agree that teachers cannot be counted on to provide an unbiased view of politics, but politics is part of social studies.

Parents can't be counted on it neither.

Like I said (sarcastically), it's about how far down do you want to go?

Some sort of Sci Fi future where kids are taught by computers, don't interact with adults until say they are 18 - kind of a prison for the kids to ensure they get no biased views and are protected from adults - yet, who controls the computers?

[Common sense]

Uh....BCTF wasn't running in the election, on top of that, this is about "Teachers who wore campaign buttons to school five years ago", not during this past election...

What's sad is your hatred for BCTF...

Teachers were wearing the buttons, not BCTF...

Or are you hating on teachers, in particular those that belong to the BCTF (which is every teacher in BC)?

[DonLever]

Uh....BCTF wasn't running in the election, on top of that, this is about "Teachers who wore campaign buttons to school five years ago", not during this past election...

What's sad is your hatred for BCTF...

Teachers were wearing the buttons, not BCTF...

Or are you hating on teachers, in particular those that belong to the BCTF (which is every teacher in BC)?

[Heretic]

I love teachers; they were some of the greatest influences on me back in high school. I just can't stand the nightmare that is their union.

...and let's face it, the BCTF wasn't running, but they sure were helping the NDP in their campaigning department. "something something school closure something something need moar moneys."

[Remy]

As a teacher, this is not something I would have felt comfortable doing. I love engaging students in thoughtful discussion, but I don't think it's proper to try and directly influence them on something like this. Bad taste on the part of those that were involved, if you ask me.

[MANGO]

AS long as all avenues are explored, I'm ok with it. Used to promote an agenda...NO!

[RUPERTKBD]

As a teacher, this is not something I would have felt comfortable doing. I love engaging students in thoughtful discussion, but I don't think it's proper to try and directly influence them on something like this. Bad taste on the part of those that were involved, if you ask me.