Education
Friends, family, and personal interests are important influences on the type of life we have, but the work that we do is a major force that defines how we live. Most of us will end up as workers. A large number of us already are, and in British Columbia some of us are as young as 12. However, limited opportunities exist for learning about why certain rights and responsibilities exist (or even knowledge that they exist at all!), the historical struggles around working conditions and wages, or how working people have organized to bring about positive change.
This lack of awareness is unfortunate. History informs us of why things are the way they are at present, while shaping visions of the world we want to inhabit in the future.
Operating from this perspective, the history of work and workers is an important subject of study. It is impossible to understand the social, economic and political context of the province without knowledge of what life was like for workers of the past. With this knowledge, we are better equipped to make change, and to recognize the importance of the decisions we make.
As we continue to develop our educational programme, the LHC’s Education Committee has been busy locating resources for teachers, students, and others wanting to learn more about the history of work and workers. We are happy to share out findings with you and encourage you to pass along your own links of interest!
