October 14, 2008

To whom it may concern,

I wanted to add something to the debate about student teachers. In addition to it being unfair (which serves as a poor argument, because everyone just sneers, "Well, life's not fair."), I feel that BU encouraging student teachers to "volunteer" their abilities undermines the efforts of BUFA and belittles the struggles of all of the other students. Consider nursing students, who are not allowed to complete their EQUALLY VITAL practicum. Consider any other student, whose position is put in even more jeopardy. By allowing student teachers to volunteer and basically promising to review these "volunteering" initiatives as practicum, BU has accomplished two things. They have reduced BUFA's bargaining power, and have lessened the pressure on themselves to ensure that students who are meant to can graduate. Because of the unique nature of the Faculty of Education, where classes are pre-programmed for students and each semester's class used the last as a pre-requisite, letting this strike go on would have ensured most second year education students couldn't graduate. BU has diffused this bomb by allowing "volunteer" work to count as student teaching - or at least promising to do so - which also allows them to keep this strike going for even longer. They know that any education student who doesn't use this opportunity is either a) stupid or b) incredibly moral. Most people don't fall into either of their categories.

I feel that this is a sneaky and manipulative move, one that means that every education student who crosses that picket line is putting their own needs before those of their fellow student - which is exactly what BU administration wants them to do. Frankly, I'm disgusted. Are we all going to get similar promises? Next thing you know, BU will be unlocking the doors, allowing any professor who wants to to return to work.

"We'll see which professors really care about their students!" they'll say.

Really?

What they'll actually be doing is taking away all of BUFA's bargaining power, ensuring that nothing changes, faculty and administration are forever hostile, and students suffer even more.

This move of encouraging education students to "volunteer" sets a dangerous precedent...

A Student