Dear Editor,
“Diversity is a beautiful thing.” That’s the immaculately handwritten message scrawled several times on the chalkboard atop the Burnaby School District’s eye-catching new “classroom on wheels” float, which made its debut at the recent Pride Parade in Vancouver.
But why celebrate diversity? Why talk about it as an advantage? Well, do you want to prepare your children for the real world? Of course, every parent does. The facts are that Burnaby’s public schools accurately reflect the complex global village we live in today and ready young people for the changing and challenging reality of tomorrow.
And we continue to open our doors to international students (such as the summer group visiting from Burnaby’s sister city of Zhongshan) to build cross-cultural understanding with friends abroad as well as develop informed and compassionate global citizens here at home.
And although our float, booth and banners are done for the summer, the good news is there are still a few weeks left for us all to enjoy the beautiful diversity that Burnaby has in abundance. See you in September!
Harman Pandher, vice-chair, Burnaby board of education
