If we were to build a brand-new newspaper office with all the best equipment money can buy, but at the same time cut all our staff to balance a budget, you’d be reading a blank page right now.
Unfortunately, the provincial government doesn’t seem to understand this principle as it applies our school system.
Normally, an announcement that the province will spend $550 million dollars to upgrade schools and build some new ones would be wonderful news and a strong indication that our government understands the importance of our education system in keeping our youth competitive in a global marketplace.
Unfortunately, the $550 million is only half the story. While provincial officials were gladhanding and congratulating each other on a job well done, our school board trustees at the Pembina Hills school division, and in fact many of their counterparts across the province, are telling a different story.
They spoke about which staff members to cut, which infrastructure improvements to forego for another year, and which special education programs to cut in an effort to balance their already-stretched-too-thin budgets.
There’s no denying the importance of having top-notch facilities for our students, in order to offer them every opportunity to excel. New schools and upgraded schools are obviously an essential component of that.
However, a building by itself doesn’t mean much. Many of the pioneers in our community will be able to tell you of life in the one-room school house when a map on the wall, and a chalkboard at the front of the room were the top-of-the-line equipment, and a well-educated and talented teacher was what made the difference. In fact, few among us cannot point to at least one teacher who’s passion for their profession made all the difference in our young lives — whether the class was filled with computers, shop equipment, paintbrushes or a stage.
It has been said time and time again, to the point where it almost starts to sound cliché, but the younger generation is the future of this province, this nation, and even the world. Laying off teachers to build schools to deal with an anticipated boom in the student population is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
