Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!alias!kpicott From: kpicott@alias.UUCP (Socrates) Newsgroups: ont.general Subject: Community College Teachers on strike Message-ID: <606@alias.UUCP> Date: 8 Nov 89 13:25:49 GMT Article-I.D.: alias.606 Reply-To: kpicott@alias.UUCP (Socrates) Distribution: ont Organization: Alias Research Inc. Lines: 30 Normally I try to stay away from union-type issues (being allergic to them) but the latest rumor I heard has really yanked my chain. I heard that if the teachers remain on strike another (n) days (n>7) then the entire year will be cancelled for the students. I consider my time much more valuable than money since you can never reclaim lost time. Were I one of these students and this _did_ happen to me I would consider it no less an offense than if I were mugged and robbed. Even though the tuition fees will probably be returned how can you ever make up for an entire year of your life being thrown away for what amounts to nothing? A year, that is, for those who can afford to stay out on their own or live with their parents until the course is offered again next year. Some will not be able to hang on for financial or personal reasons. Those that do will get a lower quality education due to larger class size (since there will now be two years worth of students in the same classes). Will someone from the teacher's side please explain to me what possible justification they could have for doing this? (Last time this almost happened it was the government that stopped it from happening, not the teachers, if I have my facts straight.) While I'm at it, will someone also please explain to me why the above situation should even affect classes such as the animation program, where the teachers (1) are not greatly in favour of the strike, but are obligated to the union and (2) run their courses so that students *can* work on their own, so a protracted strike will not put them seriously behind in the year's work?