[Bcma-l] BCMA: Impact of Eliminated School Fees on Field Trips?
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 09:59:39 -0800
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [Bcma-l] BCMA: Impact of Eliminated School Fees on Field
Trips?
Date: Fri, 19 Jan 2007 21:38:17 -0800
From: Christine Pilgrim <christinepilgrim@telus.net>
To: <bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>
Thanks for this.
Perhaps you'd like to read my attached Letter to the Editor, which was
published in two Vernon newspapers, on this subject.
It's a good idea to make local public aware of the situation.
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Dear Editor,
We wonder whether parents, educators, local businesses, City Council and
the community at large are aware of the potential local impact of the BC
Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold, to the letter, the provisions
of the School Act which lays out when School Boards can and cannot
charge fees.
The recent ruling means that a School Board cannot charge fees for any
course, including an elective, if that course is providing credits
leading to graduation. The Supreme Court also ruled that no fees can be
charged for field trips that are mandatory or are needed for successful
completion of a course.
We, the Field Studies Showcase Group, comprising twelve educational
support teams that include representatives from non-profit organizations
and small businesses, have worked tirelessly to develop and provide
programs, lessons and activities - both outside and inside schools –
that give unique study and hands-on opportunities that are
curriculum-based. Why would we be involved in the education field
otherwise?!
However, now we find ourselves, and the children we serve in School
District 22, stopped short by the Supreme Court’s decision which will
allow no parent to provide funding in order to attend these supporting
and enhancing curriculum-based destinations and events. This decision
renders these programs and activities inaccessible due to the fact that,
in many cases, there is an add-on fee for bus transportation and admission.
Local non-profit groups in our organization run almost solely on
volunteer power, with some grant subsidies, while local small business
participants subsidize their school programs with adult ones. In every
case, these field studies add value to our children’s education, over
and above what tax-payer education dollars fund.
We need to become aware as a community of what rich educational
resources are being provided outside the school walls and, ultimately,
what the loss of their availability implies to the children of our
community. For example, programs developed by the Allan Brooks Nature
Centre, Bishop Wild Bird Sanctuary, Fintry Estate, Ghost Tours of
Vernon, Greater Vernon Museum and Archives, Hands on History, Kingfisher
Park, Mackie Lake House, Okanagan Science Centre, Outdoor Discoveries,
Planet Bee and Vernon Art Gallery will all be affected. So will other
programs, events and activities such as Band, Earthquest, Skating,
Curling, X-Country Ski, Silver Lake Forestry Camp, Symphony Orchestra
Concerts, Vernon Library, O’Keefe Ranch, North Okanagan Regional
District Facility Tours, Water Slide Day, Pumpkin Patch Visits, Dance
Instructors, City Bus Trips Downtown, Bowling, Guest Speakers, Swimming,
Hiking, Tours of Local Facilities and Businesses, Fire Hall, Police
Station, Farm and Orchard Visits, Downhill Ski, Ice Carving and Jam Can
Curling for Winter Carnival, Canoe Instruction, Christmas Crafts, Local
Special Events … the list is endless!
Not only do our children learn to appreciate their community
surroundings, enjoy fresh air and fitness opportunities and benefit from
alternative teaching styles as they work with local field experts, but
they also learn important social skills like acting appropriately in a
group, in public performance spaces and in places where quietness is
appreciated.
Please help us find a way to maintain and further build these
connections to the real world for our children. We have come too far to
stand idly by and watch their future jeopardized.
As educators ‘in the field’, we ask the community to help us accumulate
testimonials supporting field studies and alternate educational
programmes. E-mail us at fieldstudiesshowcase@hotmail.com
<mailto:fieldstudiesshowcase@hotmail.com> or send your letter, with
contact details, to any of our participating members listed above (from
the Allan Brooks Nature Centre to the Vernon Art Gallery).
Sincerely,
*Christine Pilgrim*
Representing the
Field Studies Showcase Group
Vernon
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Christine Pilgrim
Hands-on-History
Email: christinepilgrim@telus.net <mailto:christinepilgrim@telus.net>
Website: www.christinepilgrim.com <http://www.christinepilgrim.com>
----- Original Message -----
*From:* bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca
<mailto:bcma-l-admin@museumsassn.bc.ca>
*To:* bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca <mailto:bcma-l@museumsassn.bc.ca>
*Cc:* broadcast@museumsassn.bc.ca <mailto:broadcast@museumsassn.bc.ca>
*Sent:* Friday, January 19, 2007 4:03 PM
*Subject:* [Bcma-l] BCMA: Impact of Eliminated School Fees on Field
Trips?
Since the ruling by the BC Supreme Court this fall stating that BC
school districts cannot charge fees "for any materials or equipment
required to finish a course leading to graduation", or "for field
trips considered necessary to the curriculum", the repercussions for
school districts and the fates of school programs are just beginning
to come to light.
For additional background information:
_Court clamps down on B.C. school fees_
<http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2006/10/02/school-fees.html#skip300x250>
And, (please copy & paste these URL's into your web-browser):
http://weblogs.elearning.ubc.ca/newproposals/archives/031690.html
http://www.bcsta.org/pub/edufax/Sept-9-01.htm
http://www.bccpac.bc.ca/forms/School_Fees_Info.pdf
How will this ruling impact school field trips to BC's museums, art
galleries and heritage or historic sites? How will, or could your
institution be affected?
The BC Museums Association is collecting "potential impact"
statements from BC (only) institutions that are, or likely to be,
adversely affected by school district measures that may result, or
have already resulted from this ruling.
Submissions will be compiled, posted to the BCMA website and
forwarded to the BC Heritage Branch and Ministers, The Honourable
Shirley Bond (Education) and The Honourable Stan Hagen (Tourism,
Sport and the Arts).
Please respond by "Reply" and inserting your responses to each
point, below, (Confidential replies also welcome, see below):
*1. Has your institution been, or will be, affected by the school
fees ruling?* (Please provide the name and location of your
institution):
*2. If 'Yes' or 'Possibly', please list the details,* (ie. school
visits, other school or student programming, affect on overall
visitation, actual or potential revenue loss, impact on staff,
etc)(Point form, please):
*3. If applicable, what percentage* (and/or actual $$$-amount), *of
your institution's annual revenue relies on school visits and other
student programming?* Are there other funding sources that may be
lost or diminished if school visit programs are curtailed or eliminated?
*4. Has your institution had discussions with your school district
about the future of school visits?* If so, what is the nature of
these discussions and likely outcomes?
*5. If applicable, what measures will or would your institution take
to offset any adverse affect of the school fees ruling?*
*6. Any other comments? *(Point form, please).
To Reply in confidence, please Forward your response to:
JHarding@museumsassn.bc.ca
_ALSO_: *Youth Employment Programs* - As we enter the customary
application season for spring and summer student programs, and in
light of the announced federal cuts (September 25), please visit the
BCMA website (main homepage) and take our Online Survey and/or view
the findings-to-date at: http://www.museumsassn.bc.ca/content/home.asp
Thank you once again for your input!
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_______________________________
Jim Harding, ED
BC Museums Association
(250) 356-5694
_______________________________________________
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http://hp.bccna.bc.ca/mailman/listinfo/bcma-l
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