boab, hilarious that you think Im right wing.
and anti-teacher.. Ive had some very influential teachers growing up
and I dont doubt for a moment that it is hard work, and important work.
I have in fact worked for years with autistic, as well as other handicapped kids - and have pretty much seen any behaviour you can name...

I do disagree that with the way Jinny Sims the head of the BCTF has portrayed herself as some kind of Rosa Parks...
the discussion above seems to imply that teachers are having a difficult time making ends meet and have to work in the summer months to make it up... which I dont believe for a minute..

according the the BCTF's own website the Average BC teachers salary is
$60,500 per year. here
likewise a starting fulltimeteacher makes around $35,000 per year.
here
(in 2001 numbers)
Not that teachers dont deserve it, But it is pretty decent coin for 10months of the year.. plus 2 weeks at Christmas
and a week at Spring Break.

(and no I didnt think they got vacation pay in the summer)

teachers consider themselves 'professionals' but its rare to see unionized workers as 'professionals'.

my neighbour who runs a small printing business just came out of a divorce with his wife of 40 years. She's a retired teacher and makes more money on her pension than he brings home - working by the way 6days a week 7-5pm per day for the last dozen years or so,
and she wanted half the business even though she never set foot in the shop for 30 years. I digress but its hard to sympathize..

I also run a small business, and employ several people,
Im lucky if I get 2-weeks off a year. I also pay for peoples medical dental benefits, and by law pay dollar for dollar peopless cpp and workers comp and $1.40 to dollar for EI..and am an unpaid tax collector for the govt.

and get this if my business
goes under for any reason or I get sick for an extended length of time, I cant even collect the benefits I have to pay for..
thats the real world.. so get the bumblebees out of YOUR head.