Numbers skew education picture

Re: Setting the school seismic record straight in B.C. (Letters, Sept. 12)

Recent comments in your paper about the effectiveness of Bill 33 on class size and composition deserve further response. While Education Minister Shirley Bond says she wants to “clarify misconceptions” about her government’s mismanagement of our public education system, what is clear is she is more interested in misrepresenting the realities in B.C.’s classrooms than in actually addressing the very real problems that exist.

I have been both a teacher and a principal and have taught in B.C. as well as in other countries. I came to provincial politics after many years working in the school system. Based on experience I can say that classes need to be a reasonable size and that special needs students need to be supported with specialist teachers and special education assistants.

Standards for the size and composition of a class were already set prior to 2001 and all classes in the province met those educationally sound standards. Let me repeat that: all classes in all districts across the province met the standard prior to 2001. The Campbell government removed those standards and ignored the results for four full school years.

The Campbell government’s record on education has been the removal of standards for class size and composition and a pattern of under-funded schools. This short-sighted action has seen class sizes soar and special needs services decline to the detriment of all B.C. students.

When you combine larger classes with less services you reduce positive outcomes for all students. The Education Minister’s only defence to this turmoil is a flurry of numbers that do nothing to address the real issues in local schools.

Norm Macdonald

NDP Education Critic

MLA Columbia River-Revelstoke

Give us back our parks, please

I cannot believe that homeless people are now allowed to camp in our beautiful parks.

I have two small children who enjoy playing, hiking, feeding the ducks at Beacon Hill Park, now I have to worry about needles, human feces, garbage and Tatonka the pitbull in the park. What about my rights and the rights of the children? Don’t they deserve a safe place to play? Don’t I deserve a place to go for a walk or a morning run?

It seems that from reading the articles that nothing will ever satisfy David Johnston who says 7 a.m. is too early for him to get up, as he has no routine. Now he expects the city, my taxes, to provide him with a place equal or better to the camp at Beacon Hill. Enough is enough. I believe nothing will suit his needs, they have opened up more beds, and that’s not good enough.

In my opinion, David Johnston and his fellow tenters in fact do not want to stay in shelters, they prefer camping.

Why don’t Irene Faulkner, Catherine Boies Parker and the rest of the do-gooders invite the homeless to camp in their yards for aweek and let me know if they set up their tents at 9 p.m. and pack up their tents, carts, dogs and other belongings by 7 a.m., leaving their yards as clean as they were before they set up camp.

The camping in parks ruling does not consider the rest of the community (especially the children), tourism, crime and the increased workload for our city parks dept and police that now have to clean up, wake up and move the homeless out of our parks after a night of camping.

Please give us back our parks and stop shuffling the homeless problem onto my back door.

Robyn Biggers

Victoria

Views on economic development sought

The upcoming municipal election has the candidates reeling with responses to a plethora of concerns from homelessness to dog parks.

In this economic climate, which can be complex and confusing, it is critical that candidates clearly articulate their stand on economic development in the Capital Region.

Victoria’s Values-based Business Network, whose mandate is to develop and promote a responsible, sustainable and thriving business culture in Victoria’s Capital Region, extends to all candidates these challenges that can be addressed at the upcoming public forums and through the local press:

• What is your vision of economic development for this region?

• What are your proposed strategies to foster this economic development?

While the VBN supports a triple bottom-line approach to business (social responsibility, environmental consciousness and economic viability), it is essential for our potential governing officials to define a clear plan for sustainable economic development and growth.

We urge mayoral and council candidates to respond to these challenges in the public forums, and in the local press.

Sally Glover, Ian Baker

co-chairs, Values-based Business Network

Sewage treatment is an election issue

Re: Residents want region to operate sewage plant (Vic News online)

Public sewage treatment is an election issue!

While I applaud Chris Clement’s support for public sewage treatment, I have to say that I am surprised he doesn’t think it will considered by voters.

As chair of the Core Area Liquid Management Committee (the CRD steering committee on this issue) he well knows that the decision on whether operation of the sewage treatment plant is public or private will be made by December 2009 – only one year into a three-year term for the people we elect on Nov. 15.

If ever there was a time to be thinking about sewage treatment and the protection of public services it is now.

At a cost of $1.2 billion, this project is the single biggest expenditure in Capital Regional District history.

Nov. 15 is our opportunity to vote for candidates who will stand up and protect our public services. Let’s surprise Chris Clement and consider this an election issue now.

Kim Manton, Saanich

co-ordinator, Keep it Public campaign

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