B.C. Public School Classrooms
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Open Image ModalGrade 1 classroom, Chilliwack(02 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Sonja Dyck)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(03 of148)
Open Image Modal"I've taught for five years in the Vancouver district, and I've already spent over $10,000 to set up my classroom. I know of more experienced teachers who have spent well over $20,000 in their career, and are still purchasing things each year." — Kindergarten teacher (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(04 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(05 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(06 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(07 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(08 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(09 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(10 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(11 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(12 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(13 of148)
Open Image ModalSupport worker's desk. "The school ran out of proper desks so that's what she had to use." — Kindergarten teacher (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(14 of148)
Open Image Modal"All of the classroom resources that belong to me and are now at my house in storage." — Kindergarten teacher (credit:Submitted)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(15 of148)
Open Image Modal"All of the classroom resources that belong to me and are now at my house in storage." — Kindergarten teacher (credit:Submitted)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(16 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(17 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(18 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(19 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(20 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(21 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 4 classroom, Vancouver(22 of148)
Open Image ModalGrade 4 classroom, Vancouver(23 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Carla Friesen)
Grade 4 classroom, Vancouver(24 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Carla Friesen)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(25 of148)
Open Image Modal"I have spent thousands of dollars to make my classroom a vibrant and amazing place for my students." — Megan Guenter (credit:Megan Guenter)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(26 of148)
Open Image Modal"I have spent thousands of dollars to make my classroom a vibrant and amazing place for my students." — Megan Guenter (credit:Megan Guenter)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(27 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Megan Guenter)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(28 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Megan Guenter)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(29 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Megan Guenter)
Kindergarten classroom, Vancouver(30 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Megan Guenter)
Grade 1 classroom, Langley(31 of148)
Open Image Modal"I spent almost $4,000 my first year teaching to start up my classroom." — Tracy Cramer (credit:Tracy Cramer)
Grade 1 classroom, Langley(32 of148)
Open Image Modal"I spent almost $4,000 my first year teaching to start up my classroom." — Tracy Cramer (credit:Tracy Cramer)
Grade 1 classroom, Langley(33 of148)
Open Image Modal"I spent almost $4,000 my first year teaching to start up my classroom." — Tracy Cramer (credit:Tracy Cramer)
Grade 1 classroom, Langley(34 of148)
Open Image Modal"I spent almost $4,000 my first year teaching to start up my classroom." — Tracy Cramer (credit:Tracy Cramer)
Grade 5 classroom, Surrey(35 of148)
Open Image Modal"You see all the things I have bought for my classroom. Mats, carpet, pillows, chairs, bench, craft supplies, school supplies, lamps, etc. (yes, I know I don't have to make my class like this, but students love it and so do I). This year I spent a week of going into my class every day during the second week of August. I was there for about 5 hours every day making things perfect. Before that I draw floor plans of how I will organize furniture to best optimize my space." — Katrina Ling (credit:Katrina Ling)
Grade 5 classroom, Surrey(36 of148)
Open Image Modal"I spend probably about $1000/ year on my classroom. It may be more; I'm afraid to add up the receipts. I spend more on my classroom than my own home. I do this willingly, as I want my class to feel like their classroom is their home for the year." — Katrina Ling (credit:Katrina Ling)
Grade 5 classroom, Surrey(37 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Katrina Ling)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(38 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Grade 2 classroom, Surrey(39 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Zakkiya Keshani)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(40 of148)
Open Image Modal"I provide my own personally made and personally bought teaching resources, educational games, puzzles, centre toys, supplementary craft items, etc. I share them with my teaching colleagues, and they share theirs with me." — Martha Lamarche (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(41 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(42 of148)
Open Image Modal"I take ingredients from my own family’s pantry and fridge so we can bake, make playdough, create senses-stimulating art projects, and learn about nutrition in a hands-on way. I am not compensated for the money I spend educating B.C. students as a result of government underfunding." — Martha Lamarche (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(43 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(44 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(45 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(46 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(47 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(48 of148)
Open Image ModalThe teacher paid for everything inside the table. (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(49 of148)
Open Image ModalThe teacher paid for everything inside the table. (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(50 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(51 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(52 of148)
Open Image Modal"An excellent education assistant... also enriches our classroom with items SHE finds at garage sales or thrift stores. She is not compensated for this, nor does she expect to be." — Martha Lamarche (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(53 of148)
Open Image Modal"An excellent education assistant... also enriches our classroom with items SHE finds at garage sales or thrift stores. She is not compensated for this, nor does she expect to be." — Martha Lamarche (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(54 of148)
Open Image ModalThe yellow and blue bins belong to the teacher. (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(55 of148)
Open Image ModalThe yellow and blue bins belong to the teacher. (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(56 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(57 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(58 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(59 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(60 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Kindergarten/Grade 1 classroom, Sechelt(61 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Martha Lamarche)
Grade 2/3 classroom, Surrey(62 of148)
Open Image Modal"The first picture is before I set up my class, the second after I set up part way through the year. Which classroom would you want your child to learn in? The government-'funded' one that claims no more money is needed or one that was subsidized by a so-called greedy teacher? Every dollar I spend in my classroom is a dollar I don't spend on my own kids, groceries or other bills. This is not the exception it's the norm. Teachers care." — Janelle (credit:Janelle)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(63 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Trudy Harowitz)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(64 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Trudy Harowitz)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(65 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Trudy Harowitz)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(66 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Trudy Harowitz)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(67 of148)
Open Image Modal"I have spent thousands subsidizing the system. I try to provide my students with books that appeal to their interest level as well as their reading level. This comes out of my earnings." — Gurjit Pattar (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(68 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(69 of148)
Open Image Modal"I constantly am keeping my eyes open for sales involving classroom resources and relevant reading materials. I've spent a small fortune on my personal library of professional resources." — Gurjit Pattar (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(70 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(71 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 6 classroom, Surrey(72 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Gurjit Pattar)
Grade 4 classroom, Port Alberni(73 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Jessica Hall)
Grade 4 classroom, Port Alberni(74 of148)
Open Image Modal"All the books I bought for my class this year, removed from the shelves. 806 in total." — Jessica Hall (credit:Jessica Hall)
Grade 4 classroom, Port Alberni(75 of148)
Open Image Modal"With the exception of the table in the back, I brought in all this furniture for my classroom. I had been told there were not enough chairs in the district to have chairs in my classroom, so I went out and found them." — Jessica Hall (credit:Jessica Hall)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Surrey(76 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Surrey(77 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Surrey(78 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Surrey(79 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Submitted)
Grade 5/6 classroom, Surrey(80 of148)
Open Image Modal"My underfunded grade 5/6 BC classroom stripped of everything I have purchased." — Staci Hutchinson (credit:Twitter @bcteacher88)
Grade 2 classroom, Langley(81 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shelley Rolston)
Grade 2 classroom, Langley(82 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Shelley Rolston)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(83 of148)
Open Image Modal"A sampling of teacher bought/made items, boxed up and ready to move to my new school — which I do on my own. Usually takes me the full last week of summer to set up my room. With the move this year I expect to spend three weeks." — Josie Zahn (credit:Josie Zahn)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(84 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Josie Zahn)
Kindergarten classroom, Richmond(85 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Josie Zahn)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Burnaby(86 of148)
Open Image Modal"I packed every single box, waited the entire summer to have it delivered, unpacked and set up my classroom including filling two file cabinets, hanging three bulletin boards, laminating and taping 23 name tags to desks and cloakroom cubbies, collecting exercise books and supplies, and finally stocking the painting easel with paints and the shelves with books... (not to mention dusting the blinds and scrubbing the sink)... the week before the start of school... on my own time." — Alison Smith (credit:Alison Smith)
Grade 1 classroom, West Kelowna(87 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Alycia Soukeroff)
Grade 1 classroom, West Kelowna(88 of148)
Open Image Modal"What I walked in to when I first acquired my room and then what I turned it into." — Alycia Soukeroff (credit:Alycia Soukeroff)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Duncan(89 of148)
Open Image Modal"I walked into my new room mid-August and was shocked. There wasn't even a teacher desk or any books at all. I bought, scrounged and borrowed (mostly from my own kids) materials to make it work. Over the year many wonderful teachers passed on things to me that they had purchased and weren't using and retiring teachers happy to share their supplies." (credit:Monica Birch)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Duncan(90 of148)
Open Image Modal"I walked into my new room mid-August and was shocked. There wasn't even a teacher desk or any books at all. I bought, scrounged and borrowed (mostly from my own kids) materials to make it work. Over the year many wonderful teachers passed on things to me that they had purchased and weren't using and retiring teachers happy to share their supplies." (credit:Monica Birch)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Duncan(91 of148)
Open Image Modal"I walked into my new room mid-August and was shocked. There wasn't even a teacher desk or any books at all. I bought, scrounged and borrowed (mostly from my own kids) materials to make it work. Over the year many wonderful teachers passed on things to me that they had purchased and weren't using and retiring teachers happy to share their supplies." (credit:Monica Birch)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(92 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(93 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(94 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(95 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(96 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Grade 4 classroom, Fort St. John(97 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Angela Gatt)
Secondary school classroom, Nanaimo(98 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Drea Laj)
Secondary school classroom, Nanaimo(99 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Drea Laj)
Secondary school classroom, Nanaimo(100 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Drea Laj)
Middle school band classroom, Salt Spring Island(101 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Michelle Footz)
Middle school band classroom, Salt Spring Island(102 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Michelle Footz)
Grades 8, 9, 10 math classroom, Burnaby(103 of148)
Open Image Modal"I use the games to teach logic, spatial and sequential reasoning, and to have fun with math. In addition to the games, I bought a tablet, software for geometry, software for algebra, and software for posting grades on my website. The website is also paid for and maintained by me. The books and magazines in French in the background are also mine, and so is a classroom set of small whiteboards which I forgot to put in the picture." — French Immersion teacher (credit:Submitted)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Abbotsford(104 of148)
Open Image Modal"Spent over two thousand [dollars]." — Andrea Dove (credit:Andrea Dove)
Grade 1/2 classroom, Abbotsford(105 of148)
Open Image Modal (credit:Andrea Dove)
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Open Image ModalHundreds of B.C. teachers, parents and other union supporters rallied on the lawn of the B.C. legislature on June 16, 2014 in Victoria to protest against Premier Christy Clark and the government's latest contract offer. (credit:Chad Hipolito/CP)
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Open Image ModalClick here for stories on the contract dispute. (credit:Chad Hipolito/CP)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Chad Hipolito/CP)
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Open Image Modal (credit:Chad Hipolito/CP)
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Open Image ModalMembers of the B.C. Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress gather to support teachers outside Cambie Secondary School in Richmond, B.C. on June 2, 2014. (credit:Glen Hansman/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalMembers of CUPE join teachers on the picket line at Mitchell Elementary in Richmond, B.C. on June 2, 2014. (credit:B.C. Teachers' Federation/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalUnion leaders speak to media on June 2, 2014 in Richmond, B.C. (credit:B.C. Teachers' Federation/Facebook)
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Open Image ModalTeachers picket in West Kelowna on June 2, 2014. (credit:Castanet.net)
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Open Image ModalA teacher pickets on horseback in 150 Mile House on May 27, 2014. (credit:Shannon Rerie/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalTeachers on strike speak to a supporter outside Templeton Secondary School in Vancouver on May 26, 2014. (credit:Tobey Steeves/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalTeachers in the central Okanagan were part of rotating strikes on May 27, 2014. These are educators from Constable Neil Bruce Middle School in West Kelowna. (credit:Trevor Rockcliffe/Castanet)
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Open Image ModalSupporters of B.C. teachers rally in the Sooke School District. (credit:Georgette Walker/Twitter )
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Open Image ModalSurrey teachers pose with their growing pile of marking during the first day of rotating strikes. (credit:Laura C. Barker/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalGrade 12 Eric Hamber Secondary student Sarah Bercic wears a T-shirt supporting B.C. teachers. (credit:Carrie Bercic/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalAnya Prokopeva, 8, a Grade 3 student in New Westminister, and her mom Julie Prokopeva, right, a member of the support staff at Killarney Secondary School, pass by striking teachers as they leave after walking the picket line outside the school in Vancouver on May 26, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
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Open Image ModalOne of the earliest picket lines on the first day of the teachers' walkout was in Golden, B.C., which is in the Mountain time zone. (credit:B.C. Teachers' Federation/Facebook)
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Open Image ModalStriking teachers man a picket line outside Killarney Secondary School in Vancouver on May 26, 2014. Public school teachers across British Columbia started rotating strikes Monday, a move that will put more than half a million students out of class for one day each this week. (credit:Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
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Open Image ModalB.C. NDP Leader John Horgan poses with teachers in the Sooke School District. (credit:Georgette Walker/Twitter)
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Open Image ModalA rally in Coquitlam on May 25. (credit:Twitter @missamandalong)
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Open Image ModalPremier Christy Clark's face is seen on anti-bullying T-shirts at a rally in Coquitlam. (credit:Twitter @missamandalong)
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Open Image ModalSurrey teachers at Johnston Heights Secondary rally on May 23, 2014. (credit:Laura C. Barker/Twitter)