Extracurricular activities: Who is betraying the faith?

Geoff Johnson, retired superintendent has once again gotten it wrong in his article "Extracurricular Activities Make a Difference." 

 http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Extracurricular+activities+make+difference/6471190/story.html

Geoff, if we all know about these kids, I’m wondering why you and current administration are not stepping up to the plate to coach. Why is it not important enough for their own parents to step up and take over for the next 2 and one half months? Why are teachers the only ones expected to volunteer time so that people like Mike can have that special reason to keep going?

Let me assure you that teachers have not decided to do this lightly. It is with a heavy heart that they do this. However, the suggestion that extra-curricular be included in the job action has come from the grassroots teachers. In some locals it has been the coaches themselves who have volunteered to drop extra-curricular because they feel that the government has backed them into that corner through the passage of Bill 22.

I wonder why you insist on laying the blame at the feet of the teachers rather than on the government who are the perpetrators of that shabby treatment of which you speak.

I don’t think the BCTF has ever said it is “all” about the kids. However, it certainly is about the future of our education system which of course is in place for the kids. There is a much bigger picture here which the teachers of BC are concerned about and if you really want to help, I suggest you and your administrator friends step forward and fill the temporary gap in extra-curricular. Since they (administrators) refuse to take a stand on underfunding, Bill 22, and other assaults on the education system, perhaps they could just do that little bit while the teachers are actually taking a stand in protecting our world class education system before it is completely ruined.

The government of BC is betraying the children's faith and the Principals' and Vice-principals' Association and the BC School Superintendents' Association has done nothing to show that they disagree with that betrayal of faith.  It's time to step forward.