The Editor,
Re. “Such thing as a free trip?” (The Tri-City News, Dec. 8) and “China conflict should be apparent to SD43” (Letters, The Tri-City News, Dec. 15).
Further to the ethical ramifications raise by professor Michael McDonald and legal questions raised by letter writer Joerge Dyrkton, I would like to address practical and moral considerations regarding the international education program.
School District 43 trustees and administrators were well aware of the need for extra classroom space to meet the requirements of the 2016 Supreme Court ruling, so why on Earth did they undertake this recruitment junket during 2017 spring break?
Last year, there were 2,000 international students for whom we provided 100 classrooms. The defence for this program has been that this program makes good financial sense but this may not be true when we factor in the many other expenses our community incurs when you consider the provision of housing, transportation, etc.
The current provincial government is trying to right the wrongs of 15 years of neglect of special needs students and overcrowded classrooms. Trustees and administrators are obligated to co-operate as the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling takes place. Adding more students is not helpful — it serves to overwhelm the education system.
Seven daycares in six schools received vacating notices to make room for extra classrooms and here we are recruiting more students. Were there other one-year leases that could have been terminated, such as independent school leases?
I’m of the opinion that international education be put on hold for at least one year to give the Ministry of Education an opportunity to assess classroom space and teaching staff requirements.
My last comment is that we already have immigrant families and refugees from many countries with whom we can engage in a more meaningful way, where we can be kinder, more generous and compassionate. Many immigrants and refugees are struggling, let’s get to know them better, support them and learn from them if diversity is our goal.
Nadya Shore, Port Coquitlam
