Dear Sir:
“The purpose of the British Columbia school system is to enable all learners to become literate, to develop their individual potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society.”
So, you might think that Job 1 for local Boards of Education (and for the trustees that serve on them) would be to facilitate that prime objective of the School Act.
Regrettably, the wusses that we’ve elected to run the Coast Mountain School District on our children’s behalf seem to lack the intestinal fortitude to follow through on that commitment. Recently, ‘our’ provincial premier announced one thousand million dollars to increase British Columbians’ umbilical web connection to Telus from 94 per cent to 97 per cent. Last week, ‘our’ trustees voted to further reduce resources destined for students in need of special assistance by a whopping 20 per cent.
We’ve gradually become numbed to the perverse priorities of ‘our’ provincial governors. But we expect more responsible policies from our local trustees. After all, we have handed them our beloved kids, with the expectation that their individual potentials will be challenged and developed.
So, let’s insist that our trustees stand up for our students. Stand up and, when circumstances demand, walk out. Loudly. Let’s get the hot-shot bully-boys (and –babes) from Victoria to step up and equitably educate all our learners. Or leave it to those who can; hey, Victoria: Yes, WE Can!
John How
Terrace, B.C.