South Peace Historical Society

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    • About Dorthea Horton
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  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

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BN10-36: UNBC Teacher Training Concerns School District

Recent History – 2001

April 12, 2001

By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff

The University of Northern British Columbia’s (UNBC) plan to start a Bachelor of Education teacher training program is about to draw fire from School District 59 trustees.

If UNBC is allowed to pursue the program, trustees are concerned that it will mean the demise of the Alaska Highway Consortium for Teacher Education (AHCOTE) program.

Superintendent Charlie Parslow said AHCOTE has provided a good source of teachers who go on to pursue their careers in the Peace. About 80 per cent get jobs in northeast B.C.

“We’ve always believed that it’s best to train local people wherever possible because they have an interest in the community,” Parslow said.

And with a teacher shortage looming, Parslow said that disbanding AHCOTE will only worsen the problem. “If we’re concerned about a nursing shortage, we should also worry about a teacher shortage, and this could exacerbate the problem,” he said.

In a report to trustees, several other concerns were raised:

– Only about one-third of the AHCOTE students would qualify for the UNBC program because it’s an “after degree” program, and it would require six full years of post-secondary education.

– UNBC’s program would require six full years of post secondary education before graduates would be eligible to teach compared to four years through AHCOTE.

– Secondary teacher training would be offered only in Prince George, while the program UNBC is proposing for Fort St. John would be for early and middle years teaching only.

– UNBC failed to consult with School District 59 in the development of the proposal.

Trustees voted Wednesday to raise their concerns with the British Columbia College of Teachers, and the Ministry of Advanced Education.

As well, they will ask UNBC to refrain from making program decisions that will adversely affect AHCOTE.

Trustee Jim Noble said UNBC has a history of showing preference to Prince George students, and Trustee Tim Dall said many AHCOTE students simply couldn’t afford the move to Prince George.

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

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BN10-37: Young Scientists Heading to Nationals »

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