Dear Editor:
It is time for our premier to settle with the teachers and recognize the decision of the courts. Of course, class size and composition is a critical issue for teachers especially given that at least 50 per cent of the students in a class could be English language learners and another 10 per cent could be learning disadvantaged. Can you imagine trying to teach history, math concepts or literature to people who do not understand what you are saying?
At the same time, there are others in the class that cause constant disruption because they are autistic, have ADHD or other related problems.
In fact, there are many issues related to class size and composition. There may be cases where some children should not be mainstreamed, and teachers should have input into these decisions.
I have teachers in my family. I have learning disadvantaged family who require one-on-one assistance. It is fine to want to integrate these children into the mainstream, but there may be cases where these children may never be able to learn in the mainstream situation. Putting them in the classroom may be more stress on them than what they may learn. And whatever we adults may think, the other children will see them as different and act accordingly.
The school budget should be a priority as education is the future of our society. Over the years,
there have been cuts to funding while the current government thinks nothing of spending billions on new roads and bridges, Bollywood film festivals, trips to foreign countries and fat government expense accounts.
Our premier and other MLAs send their children to private schools and have no idea about the education system. They should be required to send their children to the same schools that they insist on underfunding.
I hope voters remember this issue when they next go to the polls. Our premier must go!
Norma Vachet, Burnaby
