Editor:
Re: Burnaby teachers a hypocritical ‘nuisance’ with parade, NOW Letters
I have to say that the air was pretty blue around here when I first read his letter, but then I decided that Mr. Savage must be a rather poorly socialized, angry and pathetic individual.
I have two grandsons in elementary school. Mr. Savage clearly has no clue that beyond their family and buddies, their school teachers, are the most important persons in their lives. The boys have profoundly missed their school and their teachers.
I reside in North Burnaby with my kids and grandsons. Quarantine has been very difficult for the boys, but we are making the very best of it. And when the news that their beloved Aubrey school teachers and support personnel were planning a parade through the neighbourhood, the kids were overjoyed.
There was a week of preparation. They boys painted signs, dug up some noise-makers, blew up balloons, called their friends to be sure that they would all be outside on their own streets.
The excitement to see their special teachers was thrilling. As we waited on our street corner for the "parade," the boys were vibrating with excitement. And then came the cars, each with a special teacher and beautifully decorated, waving and acknowledging each child as they passed in their vehicles.
This was a glorious outpouring of love between the teachers and staff and the elementary school kids.
You call this a "nuisance"? A nuisance? The entire parade of teachers and staff (and RCMP escort) passed our house in two to three minutes. How did this impose or impinge on your life Mr. Savage?
As far as "hypocrisy" is concerned, let me set you straight. Since the quarantine and school closures was announced during spring break, the dedicated teachers have struggled to put together lessons plans for their students that can be sent out online. They have never had to do this before, and they have never had to try to teach some of us parents and grandparents how to connect them via computer. Teachers did all that, too.
And now they are working to respond to the students whose "homework" is being delivered to them via computer.
I am profoundly proud of the Aubrey Elementary school teachers and staff for putting together their parade which meant the absolute world to my grandsons.
This was the most exciting thing that has happened for them since the quarantine started, and they were thrilled, as were their parents and I, to witness and cheer the parade and the obvious outpouring of love.
Well done. We love Aubrey.
Vickie Timmers, Burnaby
