We are a group of parents representing schools across Vancouver, who share a deep commitment to public education and are extremely concerned for its future. Continued cutbacks threaten to cripple an already beleaguered system and the recent recommendations in the Special Adviser's report to close schools and curtail space allotments for children would have devastating impact - all in the name of efficiency.
We see an urgent need for schools to connect with one another through advocacy groups to share information and support one another in standing up for public education as a fundamental human right and foundational priority in a democratic society and speak out collectively and therefore powerfully, against cutbacks and policies that are dismantling it.
We are creating a grassroots communication network accessible by web (in progress), Google Group (in progress) and face-to-face monthly meetings to support individuals or groups in each school that are already engaged in advocacy and we welcome other schools to designate a representative through PAC to join us.
Together we can share research and information about public education and current policies that impact Vancouver schools as well as upcoming advocacy initiatives happening in Vancouver. In this way we see ourselves as supporting and empowering existing groups such as FACE, PENS, DPAC, and BCCPAC in the work they are doing.
Cheers
Andrea Sinclair
Dickens PAC Chair
for PAN team