Education is the cornerstone of our society; it should be a priority in any political election.
Anyone familiar with our public education system today knows it requires a serious overhaul, on all levels. Accusations of book banning by a political party requires further scrutiny, rather than just believing a headline. Books such as, “Of Mice and Men” and “To Kill A Mockingbird” have already been removed by some school districts, as they, not provincial parties, are responsible for curricular resources.
But while these books are being thrown out, other books have taken their place. “Gender Queer” is one of many graphically explicit books targeting kids as young as 11 years old. Kindergarten resources, illustrating sexual activities that wouldn’t pass a restricted label for general movie viewing, are being used with greater frequency. Lessons on sexism and gender identity are being taught to seven-year-olds, while spelling bees, long division and learning how to write, have all been discarded. Priorities have shifted, and our declining student achievement reflects that.
The classroom, once a place revered for learning, has turned into a battleground for identity politics and ideological concepts, much to the dismay of parents, teachers, and students alike. And maybe take a closer look at who’s joined the Conservatives. Former education critic for BC United, Elenore Sturko, recently crossed the floor.
As a proud gay mum to her wife and three kids, she had a rude awakening to the realities of our schools and the resources being used. Her initial support of SOGI, and other resources, quickly turned to dismay, after hearing countless stories about what kids are being exposed to on a regular basis. Something has to be done.
Banning books is never a good idea, but reviewing schoolbooks and resources is. This responsibility was abandoned by the province long ago, using your kids as guinea pigs in our classrooms. Raising the alarm on this is a good thing, and the only party willing to tackle this responsibility is the Conservatives. This doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me.
Tara Houle
North Saanich
