BCTF Members Guide

Goals of the BCTF

1. To help ensure that public schools provide for the continued intellectual, physical, social, and
   emotional growth and development of each individual.
2. To promote the establishment and continued development in every school of sound learning
   and teaching conditions, including the provision of adequate support services.
3. To work toward the integration of social and educational services that contribute to the
   welfare and development of students.
4. To encourage full public participation in determining the overall objectives of education at the
   provincial, district, and school level.
5. To create public awareness of problems in society that hinder student growth and
   development and to stimulate the search for solutions.
6. To strive to eliminate from the school system discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion,
   age, handicaps, economic status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, number
   of dependents, or pregnancy.
7. To promote professional growth of teachers through the continuous development of preservice, internship, and in-service education.
8. To establish a code of ethics and professional conduct, criteria of qualification, and criteria
   and procedures for the assessment of professional competence, and to ensure that teachers
   are effectively subject to the judgment of their peers in these matters, with guarantee of due
   process.
9. To ensure, through the development of democratic processes, professional autonomy for
   teachers and protection from capricious or malicious action, unjust regulations, and the
   abuse of authority.
10. To maintain for teachers a level of status and economic standing appropriate to the
    responsibility of the profession.
11. To work cooperatively with other groups and agencies to transform the public schools to
    make them more relevant and effective in preparing students for their futures.
12. To promote a working and learning environment in the public schools of British Columbia that
    is free from violence.
13. To support the right of all students, regardless of age, to free basic education as defined by
    the current K–12 programs.
14. To promote the well-being of members through working conditions that nurture ongoing
    health and vitality.